Join a Mascot Creation Challenge workshop this weekend!
All welcome in Toronto, Ajax, Caledon, Hamilton, Markham and Mississauga
TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - A crack team of top Canadian athletes and award-winning illustrators is warming up their coloured pencils and getting their game faces on to host a series of workshops—starting this Friday—to help inspire young people to enter the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge, which closes in just four weeks' time!
The workshops on Friday and Saturday will be held in libraries and community centres throughout Toronto, Ajax, Caledon, Hamilton, Markham and Mississauga. The town of Milton is also holding a workshop on February 18 as part of Ontario's Family Day.
Four-time Paralympic medallist Summer Mortimer, Olympic silver-medal-winning trampolinist Jason Burnett and high jumper Nicole Forrester are among the athletes taking part in the workshops, along with Jellaby comic book artist Kean Soo, author/illustrator Patricia Storms, creator of The Pirate and the Penguin, and Kevin Sylvester, creator of the Neil Flambé series.
"We've had a great response so far to the Mascot Creation Challenge since it opened on January 7. It's a lot of fun to see what arrives in the mail and in our inbox every day," said Steve Wallace, Vice-President of Brand Activation for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015). "We've had hundreds of entries from as far away as Gatineau, Quebec, and even Tiny, Ontario. We've had raccoons, moose, mice and lots of Maple Leaf-themed creatures and even a giraffe!
"But we'd like to encourage more young teams out there to get drawing and writing down their mascot story. Don't wait until the last minute to send us your entries!"
Entry forms, mascot creation tips and contest rules are available at toronto2015mascot.ca. Special four-page entry form brochures are also available across southern Ontario through local school boards, YMCAs, regional libraries and other community groups.
About the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge
The contest is open to teams of children and youth aged 16 and under. Teams can range in size from two to six people, including budding artists, storytellers, mascot researchers and colouring experts—you name it! To be considered, all hand-drawn entries and 250-word mascot life stories must be mailed to TO2015 by March 8, 2013.
As the official ambassador of the Games, the mascot will visit communities and schools throughout Ontario and Canada, welcome athletes and visitors from 41 countries in 2015 and appear on signage and merchandise, including the always popular collectible pins and plush toys.
The mascot could be an animal, an inanimate object or even a space oddity that captures the excitement of the Games and the imagination of the public. Think fun, colourful and community spirit!
All participants in the TORONTO 2015 Mascot Creation Challenge will receive a special certificate. The teams behind the top six designs, as chosen by a special TO2015 panel after the contest closes in March, will also have the chance to work with a professional illustrator to bring their creations to life. These six designs will then be featured in a nationwide online voting contest this spring.
On August 7, 2013, the winning mascot design and its story will be revealed in time for the two-year countdown to the 2015 Parapan Am Games.
Mascot Creation Challenge Workshops
TORONTO
Toronto Public Library—Northern District
40 Orchard View Blvd.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Start time: 2:00 p.m.
Athlete: trampolinist Jason Burnett, Olympic silver medallist
Author and illustrator: Patricia Storms, creator of The Pirate and the Penguin
Toronto Public Library—Richview
1806 Islington Ave.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Start time: 1:00 p.m.
Athlete: swimmer Summer Mortimer, four-time Paralympic medallist and world record holder
Author and illustrator: Kevin Sylvester, creator of the Neil Flambé series
Toronto Public Library—Cedarbrae
545 Markham Rd.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Start time: 2:00 p.m.
Athlete: Zsofia Balazs, Olympic and Pan Am marathon swimmer
Author and illustrator: Sean Cassidy, creator of Kazaak!
Toronto Public Library—York Woods
1785 Finch Ave. West
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Start time: 2:00 p.m.
Athlete: high jumper Nicole Forrester, Olympian and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist
Artist: Eric Kim, creator of the comic strip series Battle Academy
AJAX
Central Library
55 Harwood Ave. South
Friday, February 8, 2013
Start time: 10:00 a.m.
Athlete: Warren Sawkiw, five-time veteran of Canada's senior men's national baseball team
Artist: Eric Kim, creator of the comic strip series Battle Academy
CALEDON
Albion Bolton Branch of Caledon Public Library
150 Queen St. South, Bolton
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Start time: 1:00 p.m.
Athlete: trampolinist Jason Burnett, Olympic silver medallist
Artist: David Arrigo, renowned sports artist
HAMILTON
Westmount Community Centre
35 Lynbrook Dr.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Start time: 2:00 p.m.
Athlete: Warren Sawkiw, five-time veteran of Canada's senior men's national baseball team
Artist: Becky Katz
MARKHAM
Cornell Community Centre
Bur Oak Avenue and Church Street
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Start time: 2:00 p.m.
Athlete: Natalie Johnson, former professional boxer
Author and iIllustrator: Kean Soo, creator of Jellaby
MILTON
Milton Centre for the Arts
1010 Main St. East
Monday, February 18, 2013
Start time: 10:30 a.m.
Artist: Ted Heeley, creator of the Toronto Raptors mascot
MISSISSAUGA
Central Library
301 Burnhamthorpe West
Friday, February 8, 2013
12:30 p.m.
Athlete: Claire Carver Dias, Canadian synchronized swimmer and Olympic, Pan Am and Commonwealth Games medallist
Author and illustrator: Kean Soo, creator of Jellaby
About the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games
The Pan American and Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and 26 member nations of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC). The Pan American Games are comprised of all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports, while the Parapan American Games are comprised of the majority of Paralympic Summer Games sports. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games will draw more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials and feature 51 sports in municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10−26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14. For more information about the Games, please visit toronto2015.org.
SOURCE: Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games
Carlene Siopis
Communications Advisor, TO2015
C: 647.206.0259
[email protected]
Share this article