Calgary Couple Wins Trip to Fly Back Friends During Alberta's centennial

Ray and Jean Schmitt from Calgary are the winners of the Premier's Centennial Invitation Program Contest Draw held July 1 and as a result four of their friends will be flown in to help them celebrate Alberta's centennial.

The Schmitts are among more than 12,000 Albertans so far to submit invitations to family members and friends living outside of Alberta to receive a personalized invitation from Premier Klein to visit the province during Alberta's centennial year. As part of the program, TELUS presented a contest where Albertans submitting the names of family and friends by June 29 were eligible for the July 1 draw. The winners receive airfare and five nights accommodation to fly out up to four family members and/or friends to come visit Alberta.

With their invitation, the Schmitts are inviting friends from Salt Lake City, Utah and Savoury Island, British Columbia to visit Alberta this fall. This September, the Schmitts and friends are reuniting as a group by attending the University of Alberta's Homecoming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation.

The Premier's Centennial Invitation Program runs the entire year and Albertans can continue to have Premier Klein invite their family and friends to visit the province and share in the centennial. Since the program's launch on April 1, 30,000 invitations to visit Alberta have been sent around the globe to 110 different countries including China, England and Saudi Arabia.

Albertans can submit the names and addresses of people they want to invite to Alberta by registering online or using free, postage-paid postcards. The people whose names are submitted will receive a personalized letter from the Premier, as well as a two-for-one admission pass to Alberta historic sites, interpretive centres and museums. There is no fee to participate in the program.

Postcards and posters promoting the Premier's Alberta Centennial Invitation Program are available at public libraries, municipal offices, Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centres, most banks and MLA offices. Information on the program and online registration is available by visiting www.albertacentennial.ca. or by calling the Alberta Centennial office toll free at 1-888-257-2005.