Canadian Tire Makes Initial $1 Million Investment in New Brunswick Schools to Help 'Premier's Challenge' Come to Life
Company Congratulates Province for Initiating Bold Plan and Vision to Get Kids One Hour a Day of Physical Activity at School
FREDERICTON, Dec. 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC, TSX:CTC.a) today joined New Brunswick Premier David Alward to launch the 'Premier's Challenge' - a bold new plan from the Government of New Brunswick to ensure the province's youth get one hour of physical activity before, during or after school every day. To help the Premier's Challenge come to life, the Canadian Tire Family of Companies is pledging an initial $1 million in funding for new sports equipment in schools, in addition to offering access to Company resources and ongoing support as it works alongside the government to get kids in New Brunswick active.
Canadian Tire is a founding member of ACTIVE AT SCHOOL, a group of over 60 influential, credible organizations from across Canada with an expertise in health and wellness, sport and recreation, industry and education. Launched two weeks ago, ACTIVE AT SCHOOL is a multi-year movement by the organizations involved - which include Nike, the NHL, the Canadian Medical Association, ParticipACTION and Physical Health & Education Canada - to work with governments and offer access to their considerable networks, resources, investments and marketing efforts to reverse the staggering trend of inactivity amongst millions of Canadian children and youth.
New Brunswick is the first jurisdiction to take advantage of ACTIVE AT SCHOOL's unprecedented offer of help and support, and today the Canadian Tire Family of Companies is proud to support the New Brunswick Government on its journey.
"As a company that embraces healthy and active living, we are exceptionally proud to associate ourselves with the Premier and Government of New Brunswick to get the province's youth more active," said Stephen Wetmore, Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Tire Corporation. "Just two weeks ago, we assembled an unprecedented group of private sector companies and not-for-profit organizations to offer our resources to governments to get our kids active. Premier Alward shares our vision and we are very pleased to be able to support this journey to get New Brunswick youth active at school."
"Helping young people be healthier and more active is a key part of our government's plan to rebuild New Brunswick, and it is a responsibility we all share as a province," said the Hon. David Alward, Premier of New Brunswick. "I commend the leadership Canadian Tire is demonstrating by partnering with our government to give kids more opportunities to have fun and be active."
"I never would have reached the podium in London had I not developed a love for physical activity as a child," said Olympic Gold Medalist, Rosie MacLennan. "The benefits of developing healthy habits when you're young go far beyond health and wellness - they build self-confidence, leadership skills and inspire kids to take on new challenges. Congratulation to the Government of New Brunswick for understanding the importance of physical activity and taking action to ensure we have a next generation of Olympic hopefuls."
Supporting the Cause
To help ensure the Premier's Challenge becomes a reality for schools and youth across the province, today Canadian Tire Corporation is committing to:
Building on a Legacy of Support
For over 90 years, sport and physical activity have been core to how Canadian Tire has supported Canadian families. It opened its first New Brunswick store in Sussex 77 years ago and since that time its Associate Dealers have become the lifeblood of communities across the province.
From sponsoring hockey teams and coaching youth soccer, to running track and field teams, the Canadian Tire Family of Companies - including Canadian Tire, Mark's and Sport Check - have been huge supporters of getting kids active for decades. Dealers and store managers across the province have pledged their total support to the Premier's Challenge at a local level, continuing to mobilize their communities through grassroots efforts that aim to get kids active.
Canadian Tire's charity, Jumpstart, has raised over $2 million in New Brunswick and has invested it in more than 17,000 children across the province whose families have had difficulties affording organized sports programs. In 2013 alone, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities has already enabled over 4,800 New Brunswick kids participate in a range of activities like hockey, ballet, soccer and karate.
ABOUT CANADIAN TIRE
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.A) (TSX:CTC) is a Family of Companies that includes Canadian Tire Retail, PartSource, Gas+, FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport, Pro Hockey Life and Atmosphere), Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial Services. With nearly 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast, our primary retail business categories - Automotive, Living, Fixing, Playing and Apparel - are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division and CT REIT. Over 85,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada's most recognized and trusted brands. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.
Image with caption: "Olympic Gold Medalist Rosie MacLennan plays with local Fredericton students at the launch of the Premier's Challenge, a program designed to get kids ACTIVE AT SCHOOL. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131203_C7082_PHOTO_EN_34267.jpg
Image with caption: "Today in Fredericton, New Brunwick Premier David Alward announced the Premier's Challenge, a program designed to get kids ACTIVE AT SCHOOL. He was joined by Stephen Wetmore (CEO, Canadian Tire Corporation), Kelly Murumets (President & CEO, ParticipACTION), the Hon. Marie-Claude Blais (Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development), the Hon. Dorothy Shephard (Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities), Olympic Gold Medalist Rosie MacLennan and local Fredericton students. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131203_C7082_PHOTO_EN_34269.jpg
SOURCE: CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED
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