Canadian Paralympic Committee invites schools to join in the Paralympic
Spirit

VANCOUVER , Nov. 2 /CNW Telbec/ - With five months to go until the opening of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, and on the occasion of Paralympic School Week, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is encouraging teachers and students across the country to show their support for Paralympic Team Canada .

The CPC runs year-round programs to help teachers engage students in the Paralympic Spirit. The Petro-Canada Paralympic Schools Program provides teachers with the resources to educate students on Paralympic Sport and establish positive perceptions of people with a physical disability. Developed for elementary school students, paralympiceducation.ca provides student activities and lesson plans, including six specifically related to 2010:

    
    -   Visual Arts: Flat Flag Postcards to send to Paralympic Athletes
    -   Visual Arts and Language Arts, Science or P.E: Paralympic Sport
        Trading Cards
    -   Science/Language Arts: Understanding Disabilities of the Paralympic
        Athletes at 2010
    -   Geography / Social Studies: Mapping Paralympic Countries
    -   Mathematics: Representing Paralympic Success
    -   History / Geography: Paralympic Torch Relay

    

The Paralympic Heroes program arranges school visits by Paralympic Athletes to share their stories. These resources have been designed to give children a better understanding of Paralympic sport and encourage children and youth with a disability to become involved in sport.

The CPC programs are now complemented by the activity guide launched today by the Ministry of Education for the Province of British Columbia in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and VANOC to help teachers and students celebrate Pan-Canadian Paralympic School Week. B.C. is joined by Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Yukon, and Newfoundland and Labrador in proclaiming Pan-Canadian Paralympic School Week.

"We are very proud to be partnering with VANOC, the Ministry of Education for the Province of British Columbia, and Education Ministries across Canada to celebrate Paralympic School Week," said Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Henry Storgaard. "With Canadian athletes ready to go for gold, now is the perfect time for Canadian teachers to get children to show their support and prepare to cheer for Paralympic Team Canada 2010."

For more information on the CPC programs for teachers and students please visit www.paralympiceducation.ca or www.paralympic.ca

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee ("the CPC") is a non-profit, private organisation with 43 member sports organisations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and ParaPanAmerican Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organisations. The Canadian Paralympic Committee is currently preparing for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, taking place from March 12 - 21, 2010 and where 55 Canadian Paralympic athletes will compete in Para-Alpine skiing, Para-Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing and biathlon), sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

Follow the Canadian Paralympic Committee by becoming a fan on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Canadian-Paralympic-Committee/12396 0565020?ref=ts), and following CDNParalympics on Twitter.

For further information: Andrée Dion, Communications Coordinator, Canadian Paralympic Committee, [email protected], [phone] x228