Jennifer Heil, Dominick Gauthier, Sami Jo Small and Canadian Olympic School
Program Win "Live Positively Award"

VANCOUVER, Feb. 23 /CNW/ - Today, Coca-Cola Canada honours Jennifer Heil and Dominick Gauthier, founding members of B2ten, Sami Jo Small and the Canadian Olympic School Program with its "Live Positively Award" at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Coca-Cola's Live Positively Awards were designed to remind us that while the Olympic Games may come and go, the ideals of the Games -- the lessons they offer and the positive inspiration they provide -- never wane.

Jennifer Heil and Dominick Gauthier - Founding Members of B2ten

Jenn Heil works relentlessly with many charitable organizations. She has travelled the world to underscore the importance of education and play in childhood development and she has raised awareness for girls' rights in places like West Africa. Jenn serves as an athlete ambassador for the David Suzuki Foundation's Play It Cool program and her "Dare to Dream" theme is shared with school children across Canada.

Dominick Gauthier, co-founder of B2ten and Heil's coach is a former world cup athlete and Olympian. Each and every day he displays acts of kindness that reflect his passion for sport, play and the importance of children staying active. There are few things he enjoys more than spending time in schools speaking about the important role physical activity should play in everyday life.

Jennifer and Dominick will receive the Live Positively Award for their role as founding members and active participants in B2ten. B2ten is a not-for-profit organization that supports Canadian athletes so that they succeed at the highest level of competition. By providing athletes with access to training resources, support services and technology that meets their needs, they are not only able to realize their goals, but leverage their participation in elite competition to inspire others.

"As someone who is committed to playing a role beyond that of an Olympian, I am honored to be recognized by Coca-Cola for living positively," said Jennifer Heil. "I feel as though I have been given the opportunity not only to succeed, but to share my success with others. The work I have done with B2ten has taught me that it is through sharing our success that new dreams are realized. I look forward to contributing more of myself to B2ten and other worthy causes to help create a better, more positive society."

"I am honored to have been nominated by Coca Cola for this award," said Dominick Gauthier. "Hard work and passion are two of the most important things that make an athlete an Olympian. They are the same two pieces necessary when trying to make a positive change in society. B2ten not only helps athletes harness these qualities, but provides them with the tools necessary to share them with the wider public. I have learned that in realizing one's dream, one can excite a nation."

Sami Jo Small

Sami Jo Small is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, one-time silver medalist and 2009 recipient of the AthletesCAN Leadership Award. Sami Jo is also the co-founder of the Canadian Women's Hockey League. Her commitment to sport and her involvement in developing the Canadian Women's Hockey League has helped create a forum for women across the country to participate in our nation's sport at an elite level. As a means of giving back, Sami Jo runs hockey schools in four provinces across the country and works as a motivational speaker.

"I would like to thank Coca-Cola for this honour," said Sami Jo Small. "My Olympic story is one of perseverance, but it has been through my athletic trials that I have learned it's not all about the medal. It's about being proud of what you put into each and every day. It's about living positively and helping those around you achieve their goals."

Canadian Olympic School Program

The Canadian Olympic School Program (COSP) is the Canadian Olympic Committee's main education program that works to spread the positive message of the Olympics to all students between grades two and 12. As Canada prepared to host the world at these Winter Games, the COSP offered our students and teachers a front row seat to Olympic excitement with free lesson plans, polls, contests, interactive components and interactions with Canada's finest athletes. It is through programs like this one that Canadian youth are inspired to live out the positive ideals of the Olympic Games in their everyday lives, in their work, in their goals and in their interactions with others.

"On behalf of the Canadian Olympic Committee and the more than 1 million students and 50,000 teachers we inspire through the Canadian Olympic School Program, we are honoured to receive this award," said Bruce Deacon, Manager, Education and Community Relations, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). "We take great pride in the fact that we are bringing the excitement of the Olympic Games and the transformative message of Olympic values to classrooms from coast to coast to coast."

"Today's recipients are an inspiration to all Canadians. They truly live the Olympic Spirit in their everyday lives," said Nicola Kettlitz, General Manager, Coca-Cola Vancouver 2010 Olympic Team. "Both the Olympics themselves and our Olympians have the power to engage and inspire people around the world. To see the way the COSP brings the Olympic Spirit to life amongst the youth in this country and the way athletes like Jenn Heil, Dominick Gauthier and Sami Jo Small are able to leverage their participation in the Olympics to create a better, more positive world is an inspiration to us all."

The Live Positively Awards grew out of Coca-Cola's commitment to make sustainability an integral part of its business operations and to develop initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance economic development. Coca-Cola's Live Positively Awards recognize organizations and individuals who turn their passion for improving the well-being of Canadians into actions that have a positive impact in their local communities. Additional recipients will be announced throughout the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The award is a frosted Coca-Cola bottle set in a shadow box, depicting the Coca-Cola emblem for Live Positively. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games marks the third edition of the Coca-Cola Live Positively Awards. The program was inaugurated as "The Coca-Cola Award: Live Olympic" during the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games and was presented for the first time as "The Live Positively Award" during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

About Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement

The Coca-Cola Company has been an Olympic Games partner since 1928 and is the longest continuous corporate supporter of the Olympic Movement. In addition, The Coca-Cola Company is a seven time sponsor of the Olympic Torch Relay. The Company works with National Olympic Committees in more than 200 countries to help athletes train and compete. More than 90 percent of the Coca-Cola system's investment in the Olympic Games is directed to athlete development and to assist in staging the Games. Products of The Coca-Cola Company refresh athletes, volunteers, officials and spectators during the Olympic Games; and supporting programs such as the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay allows Coca-Cola to help share the Olympic Spirit around the world. The Coca-Cola Company is the exclusive nonalcoholic beverage provider to the Olympic Games through 2020.

NOTE TO EDITORS: All accredited and unaccredited media are invited to attend the Coca-Cola Live Positively Awards ceremonies between February 13 and February 28 at various times at the BCMC Media Theatre at Robson Square.

Today's recipients will be presented with their Live Positively Awards today, February 23 at 4p.m. PST at the BCMC Media Theatre at Robson Square.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Media Contact: Jill Batie, Hill & Knowlton, [email protected], [phone]