Announces Premier Eight Year Partnership with Canada's Olympic Team and the Largest
Commitment of its kind to Amateur Sport in Canada
- Announces new and expanded partnerships with the Canadian
Soccer Association, Skate Canada, Hockey Canada, Alpine Canada
Alpin, Canada Snowboard and the
Canadian Paralympic Committee
- 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
- New national employment program will benefit elite Canadian
athletes with flexible work schedules to support training
- 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.
SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED
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., Benoît Huot, Paralympian.
(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 left) 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