Clara's Big Ride for Bell Let's Talk arrives in Nova Scotia on Monday on the road to a stigma-free Canada

Setting out from Charlottetown, PEI on Monday morning, Clara Hughes brings the mental health message to Truro, NS and then on to Halifax, New Glasgow, Port Hawkesbury and Sydney

CHARLOTTETOWN, April 13, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - On Monday morning, six-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let's Talk national spokesperson Clara Hughes arrives in Nova Scotia to spend the week bringing the mental health message to communities around the province.

Today, Clara is in Charlottetown on Day 31 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.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting people in Nova Scotia to share our mental health stories and talk about how we can all contribute to making Canada stigma-free," said Clara. "I've been truly inspired by the people I've met at school events and community gatherings in Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and most recently in Prince Edward Island and would like to thank everyone here in Charlottetown so much for their warm welcome."

As part of her visit to Charlottetown, Clara will attend the Canadian Mental Health Association's Spring Gala tonight at the Delta Charlottetown, 18 Queen Street at 6:30 pm.

Clara's Big Ride in Nova Scotia
Clara will visit the following communities during her Ride through Nova Scotia:

Truro - April 14 to 15
Halifax - April 15 to 16
New Glasgow - April 16 to 17
Port Hawkesbury - April 17 to 18
Sydney - April 18

Clara will start each day of the Big Ride in Nova Scotia with presentations at schools and other community events 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 Nova Scotia and across Canada for their leadership and hard work in helping to make their communities stigma free," said Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "With the support of our 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
The Bell Let's Talk mental health initiative is a national charitable program that promotes Canadian mental health across Canada with Clara's Big Ride, the Bell Let's Talk Day anti-stigma campaign and significant funding for community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

SOURCE: Bell Canada

Media inquiries:

Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Media Relations
613 785-1427
[email protected]

Christine Manore
Bell Aliant
Corporate Affairs
506 859-3171
[email protected]