Tourism Whistler joins local community in celebrating Pangea Day

Whistler, B.C. - Tourism Whistler is pleased to be working in partnership with the local community to support Pangea Day, an international event aimed at using the power of film to unite people from all over the world.

As a community that welcomes the world every day, participation in Pangea Day provides Whistler with a unique opportunity to contribute towards bridging the many disconnects created by borders, differences and conflict. This global event seeks to showcase what the international community shares in common - to help people see themselves in others - through the power of film.

Pangea Day takes place May 10, 2008 with locations in Brazil, Egypt, India, Israel, Rwanda and the United States linking together via videoconference to produce a live four-hour program of 24 powerful films, inspirational music and visionary speakers, including Queen Noor of Jordan, CNN's Christiane Amanpour, musician/activist Bob Geldof and Iranian rock phenomenon Hypernova. The program will be broadcast live in seven languages through the internet, television, digital cinemas and mobile phones, connecting millions of people from different socio-economic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

In Whistler, Pangea Day will be celebrated at the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre where the four-hour show will be broadcast in the Sea to Sky Ballroom from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on May 10, 2008. This is event is being supported by Tourism Whistler, Centerplate Catering, AVW-Telav and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

Pangea Day was created in 2006 when documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim won the Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Prize, awarded annually to three individuals who receive a $100,000 cash award in addition to the granting of "one wish to change the world."

Noujaim's wish was to create a day in which the world came together through film. Pangea Day is the result of that wish. Since June, 2007, people from around the world have been asked to create short, powerful films that deal with universal themes. The deadline for submissions was February 15, 2008 with submissions reviewed and selected by Noujaim and a jury of top filmmakers.

"Pangea" is the name given to the supercontinent said to have existed more than 200 million years ago - before all the continents were separated by oceans. On Pangea Day, the world will come together again, through film, reminding everyone that we are all part of the same global community. For more information about Pangea Day and to view a two-minute video about the event visit www.whistler.com/pangea

Members of the Whistler community are encouraged to come out and celebrate with their global neighbours - to share with millions of others the common experience of watching films made by the world for the world.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre, the Whistler Golf Club, the Whistler Visitor Centres and tourismwhistler.com, as well as 1-800-WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

-30-