BUILDING on the success of the BC Parks licence plates unveiled earlier this year, ICBC is working to expand its specialty plate program to include support for charities and not-for-profit organizations.
“The response to the BC Parks plates from British Columbians has been tremendous, with more than 14,000 Parks plates sold since the launch at the end of January to help support provincial parks,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, on Monday. “The expanded program will let even more British Columbians support other worthwhile causes.”
A Request for Expression of Interest was posted on icbc.com and BC Bid on Monday seeking feedback from interested potential sponsor organizations to help guide the expanded program’s development. Interested organizations have until May 19 to provide input. A formal call for applications from sponsors is anticipated for the fall of 2017, with plates available for purchase in 2018.
Potential new plate sponsors could include registered charities, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, as well as commercial organizations and professional or amateur sports teams that are affiliated with a charitable cause. Organizations must have a province-wide reach.
“These new specialty plates will help customers customize their vehicles, while providing important funding to charities and not-for-profit organizations, said Mark Blucher, ICBC’s president and CEO. “This is a unique way for ICBC to help support causes important to our customers.”
In addition to the BC Parks plates, ICBC currently has specialty plates for Veterans, Memorial Cross recipients, Collector vehicles, Vintage vehicles, HAM radio operators as well as personalized plates. Between 2007 and 2010, ICBC also offered the hugely successful 2010 Olympic plates, selling approximately 208,000 plates, of which approximately 59,000 are still on the road today.