Announces Premier Eight Year Partnership with Canada's Olympic Team and
the Largest Commitment of its kind to Amateur Sport in Canada
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Announces new and expanded partnerships with the Canadian Soccer
Association, Skate Canada, Hockey Canada, Alpine Canada Alpin, Canada
Snowboard and the Canadian Paralympic Committee
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Expansive new grassroots "Learn to" series by Canadian Tire and "Skills
Development" series by Sport Chek and Sports Experts will significantly
grow participation and competition in skating, hockey, soccer, skiing
and snowboarding
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New national employment program will benefit elite Canadian athletes
with flexible work schedules to support training
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Company to inspire Canadians by promoting Canadian athletes year-round
in marketing and advertising across Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Sports
Experts and Mark's
TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (CTC)
today announced that Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Sports Experts have
entered into an eight-year agreement as a Premier National Partner of
the Canadian Olympic Team, while also announcing six other major
amateur sport partnerships that together represent the largest
commitment of its kind to amateur sport in Canada.
In addition to its new premier partnership with the Canadian Olympic
Committee, the Company confirmed new and expanded partnership
agreements with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Soccer
Association, Skate Canada, Hockey Canada, Alpine Canada Alpin and
Canada Snowboard - all designed to inspire Canadians and encourage
lifelong healthy and active living through the 'power of sport'.
Canadian Tire and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities also plan to work
with Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Foundation to help more
kids get in the game. The Canadian Tire Family of Companies will also
be announcing new athlete sponsorship agreements in 2013, supporting
Canada's best and brightest up and coming talent.
These new partnerships build on a strong foundation of existing
partnerships with Canada Games, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the
National Hockey League, NASCAR and athlete partnerships with Sidney
Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Brett Lawrie.
New Grassroots Sport Movement
In committing to support amateur sport from the playground to the
podium, Canadian Tire also announced an expansive new grassroots "Learn
To" series that will be developed with its sport partners to ensure
that more children in need have the opportunity to learn and
participate in sports at an early age. Sport Chek and Sports Experts
also announced a new grassroots "Skills Development" series that will
build on core skills and support amateur athletes as they compete in
hockey, soccer, skiing and snowboarding.
Athlete Employment
To further support Canada's elite athletes, CTC announced a new national
employment program across its 1,700 retail outlets and in its corporate
offices that will offer employment to athletes with flexible work
schedules to accommodate training obligations.
Elevating and Celebrating Canadian Athletes
The Canadian Tire Family of Companies believes today, as it has for
decades, that sport enriches family life and builds communities across
Canada. The company intends to inspire its customers and Canadians by
promoting Canadian athletes year-round in marketing and advertising
across all its retail banners and in all marketing channels, including
Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Sports Experts and Mark's.
"At Canadian Tire, we believe in the power of sport to inspire greatness
and change the lives of all Canadians. Our involvement in sport goes
back decades and is part of our DNA. From the products and apparel we
bring to Canadians everyday in our stores to the local teams we sponsor
in our communities, no other company gets sports like Canadian Tire,"
said Stephen Wetmore, President and CEO, Canadian Tire Corporation,
Limited. "Our companies embody the spirit of our best athletes, we
have championed the ideals of sport and we have earned the right to be
associated with the highest levels of sport in Canada."
"From playground to podium, we will play a role in helping Canadian
families and amateur athletes succeed," continued Wetmore. "From
learning to play, loving the game and competing to win, everyday sport
in Canada depends on us. Whether it's parents teaching their children
how to skate on a backyard rink or supporting Canadian athletes
pursuing dreams of Olympic gold, sport has the power to unite families,
communities and the entire nation."
"Thanks to the long-term investment of Canadian Tire Corporation, our
Canadian Olympic athletes will have more of what they need to be
Canada's champions — here at home and around the world," said Canadian
Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut. "It is fitting that a company
which, over the decades, has supplied so many Canadian children with
their sport equipment will now be going even further — it will be
helping them reach the podium. Their long-standing commitment to sport
and to providing Canadians with all they need to live active lives will
help further engage Canadians in support of all our athletes."
More than 70 sports organizations across Canada currently receive
support from Canadian Tire, FGL Sports, Canadian Tire Financial
Services and Mark's. Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, also addresses
barriers to sport and has helped over 500,000 children in need to
participate in sports and recreational activity.
"As the largest single contributor to sport in this country, our
Government understands the importance of supporting our athletes from
the playground to the podium," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister
of State (Sport). "That is why our Government is pleased to see
partners from private industry, such as Canadian Tire Corporation, take
a leadership role with their commitment to continued Olympic and
Paralympic success."
The Canadian Tire Corporation is a Family of Companies that includes
Canadian Tire Retail, FGL Sports Ltd. (Sport Chek, Sports Experts,
National Sports, Intersport and Atmosphere), Mark's and Canadian Tire
Financial Services. As Canada's largest retailer of sporting equipment
and a brand steeped in Canadian history, Canadian Tire is the retailer
Canadians have trusted for more than 90 years to give aspiring Canadian
athletes their start in sports.
About Canadian Tire Corporation
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 and Atmosphere), Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial
Services. With more than 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. Nearly 68,000 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.
About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charitable program
dedicated to providing financially disadvantaged kids with the
opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sport and
recreation. With an extensive, national network of more than 315 local
chapters, it provides families in communities across Canada with a
hand-up to help cover the costs associated with registration, equipment
and/or transportation.
Supported by the Canadian Tire Family of Companies, which includes
Canadian Tire Retail, Partsource, Gas+, FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Sports
Experts, National Sports, Intersport, Atmosphere, Intersport and Hockey
Experts), Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial Services, Jumpstart has
enabled more than 500,000 Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005.
For more information or to lend your support, visit Jumpstart.CanadianTire.ca.
About the Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of the Canadian
Olympic Team's podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada.
Independent and predominantly privately funded, the Canadian Olympic
Committee delivers resources that Canada's elite athletes need to
perform at their best and give their everything every day. The backbone
of Canada's Olympic movement, the Canadian Olympic Committee works with
National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth
Olympic and Pan American Games. By sharing our athletes' stories, we
inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year.
Image with caption: "Canadian Tire announces eight year partnership with Canada's Olympic Committee. Pictured from left to right: Clara Hughes, Olympian, Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee, Stephen Wetmore, President and CEO, Canadian Tire Ltd., Benoit Huot, Paralympian, The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130123_C8001_PHOTO_EN_22904.jpg
Image with caption: "Adding to its new Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Team partnerships, Canadian Tire celebrates its support of Hockey Canada, Canada Games, Alpine Canada Alpin, Snowboard Canada, Skate Canada and the Canadian Soccer Association. Stephen Wetmore, Canadian Tire Ltd. President (fourth from right) is joined by representatives from these organizations. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130123_C8001_PHOTO_EN_22906.jpg
Image with caption: "Marcel Aubut, Canadian Olympic Committee President, Stephen Wetmore Canadian Tire Ltd. President, and David Legg, Canadian Paralympic Committee President, are joined by some of Canada's brightest Olympic and Paralympic athletes for the announcement of Canadian Tire's eight year partnership with Canada's Olympic Team. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130123_C8001_PHOTO_EN_22908.jpg
SOURCE: CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED
