After a surge of national pride demonstrated during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, an enthusiastic Langley businesswoman Maria Martini was inspired to keep the pride alive.

Joining forces with some big-named professionals in the entertainment world, Martini set the plans in motion for a memorable Canada Day celebration.

She’s teamed up with Marlise McCormick, associate director of choreography for the 2010 Olympic’s opening and closing ceremonies, as well as award-winning songwriters Bob Buckley and Brian Gibson, to create an event like no other seen in Canada Days across the nation – and it’s going to be performed in her hometown of Langley during the local two-day Canada Day festivities June 30 and July 1 at McLeod Athletic Park.

Enthusiastic people, athletes, dancers and energetic performers (16 years old and older) are invited to perform a 1,000-person flash-mob dance choreographed to a new and unique Canadian song.

Buckley, also a composer, has written the bilingual song entitled Keep the Pride Alive – recorded by 28 musicians.

The new single will be performed by six of B.C.s best vocalists, including Langley’s own, 11-year-old Cole Armour.

Martini believes her musical celebration will truly touch the hearts and minds of Canadians, reigniting the euphoria of national pride.

The song was recently recorded and is primed for dance rehearsals, starting in late June.

The time has come to sign-up a thousand people to perform the flash-mob dance. Registration is open at www.keepthepridealive.ca. The deadline is June 20.

With an impressive team, who were involved in the creation and production of the Olympic ceremonies, this Canada Day celebration is destined to make an historic imprint on the hearts and minds of Canadians, said Martini.

“My greatest desire is that Canadians will rekindle the euphoric national pride we all felt during the Olympics, and keep the pride alive,” said Martini, also the event producer,

Join the celebration, and Keep the Pride Alive:

• Registration to be part of the flash-mob dance can be done online at: www.keepthepridealive.ca.

• Deadline for registration is June 20, 2010.

• The new Keep the Pride Alive song, and the dance will be performed during the Langley Canada Day celebrations at McLeod Athletic Park, at 56th Avenue and 216th Street.

• It will be performed three times during the event, 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, then again at 3 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 1.

Bio on event producer Maria Martini:

Maria Martini is all about passion.

With a huge heart and the means to make a difference, the business woman believes in feeding the hungry, saving the planet, and encouraging national pride.

With a love of making things happen, Martini has taken on several passionate projects throughout the years.

Inspired by an Anderson Cooper report on 60 Minutes, she started the Food for Famine (FFF) Society, producing a ready-to-use therapeutic food product called Cibo: www.foodforfamine.org.

She also initiated a community recycling program, designing, building and providing the Langley City and Township with custom built recycling containers.

Her most recent passion project is Keep the Pride Alive – the slogan, song and flash-mob dance – inspired by the euphoria we all felt as Canadians during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver: www.keepthepridealive.ca.

Bio on choreographer Marlise McCormick:

Recently associate director of choreography for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, McCormick’s career began at Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal and took her throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. A designer, director and choreographer, her credits include the 2007-08 European Dance Festivals and the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria.

McCormick also creates works for dance, theatre, music, circus arts, television and films.

Bio on composer Bob Buckley:

Bob Buckley composed This Is My Home for the Canada Pavilion at the Expo 86, and the music for the ceremonies of the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

Having written many top-10 songs, he received a gold record with the number one single Letting Go. As well as having created string arrangements for Bryan Adams, Simple Plan and Aerosmith, Buckley has scored award-winning television programs, movies and live stage shows.

He recently composed music for the opening ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Bio on Brian (Hoot) Gibson

Hoot Gibson is co-founder of Vancouver’s most famous recording studio, The Little Mountain Sound Company, where international super groups such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Motely Crue and AC DC. recorded albums.

Gibson also co-wrote many famous advertising jingles such as the Great Root Bear’s Ba Dum Ba Dum and Sunrype Blue Label’s You Couldn’t Be More Beautiful.

He co-wrote and produced with Bob Buckley, Expo ’86 Canada Pavilion theme, This Is My Home, as well as music for Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics.

Gibson has won two Leo awards for his music in YTV’s multi-award winning cartoon series, Being Ian, as well as winning numerous International Broadcasting Awards for radio and TV music themes throughout the world.