Bombardier Joins Vancouver 2010

June 2008 - Bombardier, a world leader in designing and manufacturing planes and trains, has joined the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) as an official supporter of the 2010 Winter Games and the first signature supporter of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays.
As part of the agreement, Bombardier receives exclusive rights in both product categories of aircraft manufacturer and vehicle manufacturer for all passenger transit systems for the 2010 Winter Games. The company also receives sponsorship rights for the Canadian Olympic team for Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012. In counterpart, Bombardier will be designing and manufacturing the iconic torches and cauldrons for the 2010 Winter Games. The selected torch design will be unveiled in early 2009, and the cauldrons will be unveiled to the world at the Opening Ceremony on February 12, 2010.
Bombardier is already involved in sport sponsorship in Canada. The company supports Alpine Canada Alpin, and has shared its engineering and aerodynamic expertise with the Canadian Bobsleigh Team for the design of their equipment.

NFL Toronto Sponsorships Grow

Budweiser, Reebok Canada and Samsung Electronics Canada have scored sponsorship deals with the Buffalo Bills Toronto Series, which kicked off in August with a pre-season game between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Budweiser will serve as title sponsor of the Bills Toronto Series tailgate parties, organizing pre-game festivities for each of the eight games-three pre-season and five regular season games that the Buffalo Bills will play at Toronto's Rogers Centre over the next five seasons.
The Bills Toronto Series has also tapped Reebok Canada as its official apparel and headwear supplier. The Bills will wear special Reebok-designed uniforms, complete with Bills Toronto Series logos, during each game of the series. Reebok has also created a line of caps and apparel to commemorate the series, items that will be sold at SportChek in Toronto.
Budweiser and Reebok were already sponsors of NFL Canada, but Montgomery said the companies wanted to develop partnerships specific to the Bills Toronto Series. "The interesting thing is that, as NFL Canada sponsors, technically they don't need to step up to another level of sponsorship," said Montgomery. "But both are passionate supporters of the Bills Toronto Series and the fact that we're finally bringing meaningful NFL games to Toronto."

Forzani Group Partners with Canada Games

Last month The Forzani Group and the Canada Games Council (CGC) announced a ten-year two million dollar partnership, designating The Forzani Group as a National Partner of the Canada Games and Official Retailer of the Canada Games. Under the agreement, The Forzani Group, the largest and only national sporting goods retailer in Canada, will supply a yearly cash contribution from 2008 until the end of the year 2017, will leverage Forzani brand media buying rates and be named a major sponsor at the next five Games.

"The Canada Games in our opinion is an exceptionally well run unique Canadian event that provides our athletes with the opportunity to experience a first class competitive multi sport experience," said Tom Quinn, President and COO, The Forzani Group. The announcement comes at a time when the Canada Games Council and the current Prince Edward Island 2009 Canada Summer Games and the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax are celebrating individual Games partners, but also leveraging sponsorships longer-term and building multiple Games partnerships."We are thrilled with this announcement," says Quebec's own Larry Smith, Chairman of the Canada Games Council. "Building longer term partnerships allows us to create better relationships with the corporate community, allows our partners to activate between and over more than one set of Games and places less pressure on future Host Societies when a percentage of the fundraising has already been secured. To have a partner of the Forzani Group's caliber is a wonderful accomplishment."

Capital One Hooks Title Sponsorship

This summer Insight Sports and the World Fishing Network (WFN) announced that Capital One Canada has secured title sponsorship of Canada's premier, world class fishing event, the Capital One Canadian Open of Fishing. Insight Sports and WFN also announced that Shimano Canada has partnered with the Capital One Canadian Open of fishing as a presenting sponsor.

"Capital One is proud to sponsor the Canadian Open of Fishing," said Ian Cunningham, Chief Operating Officer, Capital One Canada. "Sports and a love of the great outdoors are a big part of life in Canada and there is no better combination of the two than sport fishing. This tournament is a terrific event and a great opportunity for us to reach anglers and fans of one of the most popular sports in the country."

The inaugural Capital One Canadian Open of Fishing, presented by Shimano, will featured more than 120 anglers including Canadian professionals Bob Izumi, Wayne Izumi, Dave Mercer and J.P. DeRose as well as a variety of international competitors from the United States and Japan. During the event, professional anglers competed for a tournament purse of $130,000 while amateurs will battle for a variety of prizes.

"We're thrilled to extend our partnership with both Capital One and Shimano to include the Canadian Open of Fishing," said Kevin Albrecht, President and Chief Executive Officer of Insight Sports. "Capital One has been an ideal partner for the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series while Shimano has been intimately involved with WFN since the launch of the channel. Together with Capital One and Shimano, we looking forward to building on these successes with the development and growth of the Capital One Canadian Open of Fishing, presented by Shimano."

Ironman Arrives in Calgary

The WorldTriathlon Corporation (WTC)announced an addition to the global Ironman 70.3 Event Series, Ironman 70.3 Calgary. This inaugural event will take place on August 2, 2009 and will offer 40 qualifying slots to the 2009 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3. "As an active, athletic community with an outstanding reputation for hosting sport events, Ironman 70.3 is a great fit for our city. Joining a strong portfolio of sport events already scheduled for 2009, we expect the Ironman 70.3 Calgary to enjoy tremendous success in our city." said Doug Mitchell, Chairman of the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority.
With the Rocky Mountains as a powerful, yet scenic backdrop, the 1.2 mile/1.9km swim course will consist of one-loop in the crystal clear waters of Ghost Lake. Followed by a point-to-point 56 mile/90km bike course that embraces the Rocky Mountain foothills and Alberta ranch country, athletes will transition in the heart of Calgary. The course offers an out-and-back 13.1 mile/21.1km run that circles the scenic Glenmore Reservoir. Ironman 70.3 Calgary will host 1,500 athletes. Designed for all levels of competition, the race is anticipated to be a sold-out event.

Montreal To Host 2009 NHL Entry Draft

The National Hockey League announced that the Montreal Canadiens will host the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The event will be held over two days, Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 at Bell Centre.
"In December 2009, the Canadiens will become the first professional hockey team to celebrate a century of history. Thanks to the NHL, the Entry Draft is back in Montreal after 17 years. We are excited about this occasion, knowing the past history of the Draft and its origins in Montreal." said Canadiens President Pierre Boivin.
For the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, NHL club executives, scouts and coaches will be present on the Entry Draft floor while over 10,000 fans and more than 500 print, television and radio media also are expected. The event will be televised by TSN, RDS, VERSUS and NHL Network. A Top Prospects Preview, which provides hockey fans a glimpse of the young athletes expected to be selected by the 30 NHL clubs, also will be one of the highlight events held in conjunction with the 2009 Entry Draft.

Saskatchewan to Host 2010 World Junior Championships

Hockey Canada has announced that Saskatoon and Regina will host the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship. The bid from Saskatchewan beat out those of Halifax/Moncton and Winnipeg/Brandon. The tournament will host 10 competing nations; 31 games will take place from late December 2009 to early January 2010 at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon and the Brandt Centre in Regina.
Key elements of the bid from Saskatoon/Regina included a projected attendance of more than 300,000, an estimated economic impact of more than $25M in the province, committed government and business support in excess of $5M and a projected $500,000 to be contributed from the event profit to support the Saskatchewan Hockey Association Scholarship and Legacy Fund as well as toward player development initiatives and athlete educational support through the Saskatchewan Development Mode. In addition they have developed a unique community event program called World Fest that will extend the reach of the World Juniors throughout the province as well as a projection for more than $53M in facility upgrades and new construction at the two main venues, which will be completed prior to the championship
Saskatchewan's bid includes a guaranteed profit commitment of $12.5M to Hockey Canada, with a projection to establish a financial return that will be in excess of $13M. Hockey Canada will receive 50% of net profits, the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) will receive 35% and the remaining 15% will be shared between the host committee, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association and the other 12 branches of Hockey Canada. The 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship will be hosted by Ottawa from December 26, 2008 to January 5, 2009.

Taser Sponsors Police Chief Conference

Taser International was a major sponsor of the recent police chiefs conference at which new research into electronic stun gun safety will be presented. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police commissioned a review into conducted energy weapons last fall, after Robert Dziekanski of Poland died at Vancouver International Airport after being hit with the device by RCMP. At least five other Canadians have since died after being Tasered by police.
Steve Palmer, executive director of the Canadian Police Research Centre presented an overview of the report at the conference in Montreal, but said the full review into the weapons commonly known as Tasers is not yet complete. "It's an update," said Palmer, who declined to give details. A final report is expected by next year after a full and independent peer review.
The review compares Tasers with other methods police use to subdue difficult people. Taser International was one of the platinum sponsors of the conference, which ran Aug. 24-27. The corporation has sponsored similar events in Canada and around the world. For a minimum $25,000 fee, platinum sponsors can display their name on banners and signs, provide promotional items in delegate kits, be given an advance list of participants and attend conference sessions.
Steve Tuttle, vice-president of Arizona-based Taser International, said the company's presence is important. "You have to be there. It is a major sales event. It is advertising," said Tuttle, who was at the conference to answer questions about his company's products. Tuttle said that while the new Canadian research is important, he has DVDs containing 130 studies that have found the devices to be safe. "You want to be there to be a conduit for information because clearly we have controversial issues in Canada, and the last thing that we want to be is shy. We stand behind our technology."

SOBEY'S SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER

Sobeys has signed on as the presenting sponsor of The Weekend to End Breast Cancer for its Atlantic Canadian debut. As part of the sponsorship, the grocery retailer and food distributor will have its stores in Nova Scotia host fundraising activities throughout the summer. "Breast cancer knows no boundaries and affects the lives of far too many women and their families," Bill McEwan, president and CEO of the Stellarton, N.S.-based chain, said in a release. Since 2003, Weekend walks in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal have raised more than $160 million.