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Barkerville and Bowron up for Canada’s greatest place

Some of the best-loved streets, neighbourhoods and public places in B.C.’s Central Interior have already been nominated as Canada’s greatest places. But there’s still time to make sure your favourite locale is in the running.

Some of the best-loved streets, neighbourhoods and public places in B.C.’s Central Interior have already been nominated as Canada’s greatest places. But there’s still time to make sure your favourite locale is in the running.

Barkerville, the Bowron Lakes, Wells Gray Provincial Park, Mackenzie’s Morfee Lake, Scout Island Nature Centre and Park in Williams Lake, Quesnel Forks and Candy Cane Lane in Prince George have all received nominations for this first annual contest to find the “Great Places in Canada.”

The contest is being run by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) as a way to recognize the work of professional planners, and to join with all Canadians in a celebration of this great country. The Planning Institute of B.C. (PIBC) is the CIP’s westernmost affiliate.

“PIBC supports this contest because we think it’s a wonderful idea that reminds us of all the beautiful places there are in this country we call home and of the contribution of registered professional planners in making great communities happen,” PIBC President Lindsay Chase said.

“We encourage all British Columbians to get involved and nominate their favourite places, streets and neighbourhoods in the best province of all, British Columbia.”

The contest is open to anyone. To participate, go to go to www.GreatPlacesInCanada.com where you can nominate, write about and post images of the place that inspires you. And by making a nomination, you’ll be entered into a draw for fabulous prizes. You can also vote for places already nominated.

Votes will be tallied in real time so it will be easy to track the leading locations. Nominating and voting will close March 25, 2011. A judging panel of planning experts will then select the finalists in late April, and the winners will be announced in May.

Each winning location receives a plaque, presented to the local mayor or reeve and winning nominators will also be awarded.

“I’ve been fortunate to live and work as a planner across Canada, including in many of the communities nominated,” FCIP, principal in CitySpaces Consulting and a PIBC member Linda Allen said.

“It’s exciting to see so many British Columbians taking an interest in a contest that really underscores the value of registered professional planners in making our communities more livable, helping to create and realize a community’s vision for the future and finding big picture solutions for people, communities and the environment.”

The Planning Institute of B.C. is the association of professional planners in B.C. and Yukon. Members work in a variety of fields, including land use planning, environmental resource management, land development, heritage conservation, social planning, transportation planning and economic development.