Starting tomorrow, Clara Hughes
continues the journey to a stigma-free Canada in the Northwest Territories and Yukon
IQALUIT, NU, May 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Bell Let's Talk spokesperson
and 6-time Olympic medalist Clara
Hughes is bringing the conversation about mental health and
a stigma-free Canada to Yellowknife tomorrow, before heading out on
May 7 to ride the Dempster Highway
across the Arctic Circle – 776 kilometres from Inuvik, NT to Dawson
City, YT. Clara wraps up her Ride across Canada's North in
Whitehorse, YT on May 12.
Today, Clara is in Iqaluit on
Day 50 of her Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk, the unprecedented
110-day, 12,000-kilometre bike journey around Canada to achieve a
nation free of the stigma around mental illness.
While in Iqaluit, Clara
announced $1 million in funding from
Bell Let's Talk for community mental health resources in
Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. Over the next 5 years, Bell will work
with local healthcare and community leaders to support mental
health care and anti-stigma programs, with a focus on assisting
Inuit and First Nation youth at the community level.
"I'm delighted to be back in Nunavut meeting so many great people here in
Iqaluit – and connecting with more
than 5,000 students across Canada during today's mental health
webcast at Inuksuk High school," said Clara. "I look forward to
sharing mental health stories with people in the Northwest Territories and Yukon as I once
again ride the beautiful Dempster Highway. I would like to thank
everyone here in Iqaluit so much
for their warm welcome and look forward to visiting Rankin Inlet tomorrow on my way to
Yellowknife."
Northwestel a partner on the Ride
Helping to connect
Clara's Big Ride with communities in the territories is
Northwestel, Bell's subsidiary serving Canada's North and a partner
in the Ride.
"Northwestel is very proud to be a part of Clara's Big Ride,"
said Paul Flaherty, President and
CEO of Northwestel. "Mental health needs to be discussed openly and
we're glad to be helping Clara on her journey to build a
stigma-free Canada. Clara's visit to the territories starts here in
Iqaluit and we're very excited to
see the momentum build as she continues across all 3
territories."
Clara's Big Ride in the Northwest
Territories
Yellowknife - May 3 to
6
Clara will attend a welcome event at 3:50 pm on May 3 at
the Yellowknife Airport.
On May 5, Clara will visit 2
schools and will meet with community members in Behchoko and
Dettah.
Inuvik – May 6 to 7
Clara will attend a community
feast at 6 pm on May 6 at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex, 194
Loucheux Rd.
Riding the Dempster Highway from Inuvik to Dawson
City
Clara will spend 5 days riding the Dempster
Highway, starting in Inuvik on
May 7, crossing the Arctic Circle and
arriving in Dawson City on
May 11.
Clara's Big Ride in Yukon
Dawson City – May 11 to 12
Upon arrival into
Dawson City at 5 pm on May 11 at
the Front Street gazebo, Clara will participate in a community
event celebrating the launch of a community mental health program
called 'Making Connections'.
Whitehorse – May 12 to 14
While in Whitehorse, Clara will attend a welcome event
on May 12 at 4:10 pm at the Eric Neilsen Whitehorse
International Airport.
On May 14, Clara will meet with
members of the community at a community walk starting at
11:50 am at the Main Street
Wharf.
Starting at 5:30 pm, Clara will
attend a barbeque and concert at Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre,
200-1 Sumanik Drive.
Events in communities along Clara's route are organized by local
Community Champions. More details on daily events and the Big Ride
Community Champions can be found at Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide.
"We thank our Community Champions in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and across the country for their
leadership and hard work in helping build a stigma-free Canada,"
said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell
Let's Talk. "With the support of so many partners across Canada,
Clara's Big Ride is growing awareness, acceptance and action in
communities at the grassroots level."
Share in Clara's Big Ride
Clara's Big Ride for Bell
Let's Talk began on March 14 and will
cover 12,000 kilometres through every province and territory before
concluding in Ottawa on
Canada Day, July 1. Everyone can participate in the Ride
through community events and social media. Please visit
Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide or follow the latest Ride news on Twitter at
@Bell_LetsTalk or on Facebook at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk.
Clara's Big Ride is powered by our National Partners – Aimia,
BMO, Canadian Tire, Cisco, Lundbeck, President's Choice and Samsung
– who are providing significant support for the Ride. For more
information, please visit Bell.ca/ClarasBigRide/Partners.
Bell Let's Talk
Bell Let's Talk promotes
Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma
campaigns, like Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk and Bell Let's
Talk Day, and significant Bell funding of community care and
access, research, and workplace initiatives. To learn more, please
visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Northwestel
In 2013, Northwestel contributed more than
$550,000 in cash and in-kind
donations to a variety of northern community groups. Throughout its
history, Northwestel has played a key role in the economic, social
and cultural development of the North. Northwestel is recognized as
a key contributor to the well-being of northern communities through
its community investment program and the volunteer contributions of
its employees.
SOURCE Bell Canada