GOVERNMENT OF CANADA GOES EXTRA MILE TO COMMEMORATE SPORTS LEGEND JOHNNY MILES

SYDNEY MINES (NS) – September 2, 2008 – Sports legend Johnny Miles will have a place of honour in Sydney Mines with a statue and town square to commemorate his achievements as a result of a Government of Canada investment announced today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“The Government of Canada, through Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, is pleased to invest $48,500 in a project that will preserve the memory of this local sports icon and enhance the commercial core of Sydney Mines,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay. “This square will draw more visitors to the area and create positive economic spinoffs.”

The Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority (CBCEDA) has received funding to erect a statue of Johnny Miles and to develop a town square and boulevard surrounding the statue in downtown Sydney Mines.
Johnny Miles was a talented athlete and a beloved citizen of Sydney Mines. At only 20 years of age he broke the world marathon record by over four minutes. Miles won the 1926 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:25:40. He returned to run the Boston Marathon on four occasions, winning again in 1929.

“Johnny Miles was a dedicated runner, a proud Canadian and a favorite son,” said CEO of CBCEDA, Eileen Lannon-Oldford. “This commemoration captures the true sense of a local champion, Johnny Miles, who author Floyd Williston featured in his book Nova Scotia’s Marathon King.”

The total cost to erect the statue and the Johnny Miles Town Square that surrounds it is $80,000. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation invested $48,500 in the project.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

INFORMATION:

Eileen Lannon-Oldford
Executive Director
Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority
Tel: 902-562-2201

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
Tel: 902-564-3617