MEDIA ADVISORY - Rick Hansen to join 25th Anniversary Relay in Edmonton, AB

Will be recognized at Alberta Legislature; Hansen to travel to Whitehorse for Northern events

WHITEHORSE AND EDMONTON, March 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Twenty-five years to the date of his Man In Motion World Tour traveling through Alberta, Rick Hansen will return to Edmonton to join-up with his cross-Canada Relay. Hansen will join the Relay for events in Edmonton on March 12 and 13, 2012. Prior to the Edmonton events, Hansen will visit Whitehorse, YT - a city he did not originally reach on his original Tour - for events with the Yukon Council for DisABILITY and the 2012 Arctic Winter Games.

As the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay makes its way across the country, the 12,000 kilometre route that retraces Rick's original Man In Motion Tour - which started on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, NL - is being completed over a nine month-span by 7,000 Canadians who have made a difference in the lives of others.

Rick Hansen will be joining a number of these difference makers at the following events below:

Friday, March 9, 2012 (Non-Relay day; Whitehorse events)

• Yukon Council for DisABILITY Reception - 4:00pm (PT) [Location: Yukon Government Building. 2071 Second Avenue, Whitehorse, YT]
• Hosted by the Yukon Council for DisABILITY, this afternoon reception is an opportunity for accessibility groups to meet, exchange ideas, and hear from Rick Hansen
• Attending: Rick Hansen, the Honourable Darrell Pasloski, Premier of Yukon; the Honourable Mike Nixon, Minister of Justice, Minister of Tourism and Culture; the Honourable Elaine Taylor, Minister of Community Services, Minister of the Public Service Commission
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available following the formal event.

Saturday, March 10, 2012 (Non-Relay day; Whitehorse events)

• 2012 Arctic Winter Games Gold Medal Hockey Game - 1:00pm (PT) [Location: Takhini Arena. 345 Range Road, Whitehorse, YT]
• Rick Hansen to conduct ceremonial puck-drop along with the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)
• 2012 Arctic Winter Games Closing Ceremony - 6:00pm (PT) [Location: Canada Games Centre Gym, 200 Hamilton Blvd, Whitehorse, YT]
• Rick Hansen to deliver speech at the Closing Ceremonies

Monday, March 12, 2012 (Day #202: Relay traveling Leduc to Edmonton)

• Relay school stop - 11:12am (MT) [Location: École Bellevue School. 5103 50 Ave, Beaumont, AB
• Rick Hansen to join the Relay wheeling past École Bellevue School and address the students on the route. Hansen will wheel with school student Emma Cooper, a member of the school's leadership and health programs
• Rick Hansen to be introduced in the Alberta Legislature - 1:30pm (MT) [ Location: 10800 97 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, AB]
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews outside the chamber, following the introduction
• Rick Hansen to wheel with Relay participants
• Phil Allen (2:49pm MT) - starting along: 82 (Whyte) Ave from: 8528 82 (Whyte) Ave to: Relay Route Marker (100m past 87 St) on: 82 (Whyte) Ave. (Phil coached men's college basketball for 25 years and coached the 1979 Canadian Basketball Wheelchair team at the Gold Cup in Florida, of which Rick Hansen was a team member)
• Brian Hesje (3:08 pm MT) and Scott Hesje (3:11pm MT) - starting along: 82 (Whyte) Ave from: 9750 82 (Whyte) Ave to: 99 St on: 82 (Whyte) Ave. (Brian, Chairman of the Board of Fountain Tire, will be participating along with his nephew Scott, whom has a brain injury)
• End of Day Celebration - 3:30pm (MT) [Location: University of Alberta, Main Gym W1-62 Van Vliet Centre. 87^th Avenue and 114^th Street, Edmonton, AB]
• Rick Hansen to begin wheeling with the third-final Medal-Bearer, Bryce Clarke, at 3:50pm (MT) starting along 112 St from U of A Hospital, traveling along 112 Street. Clarke, a member of the Edmonton Police Service, was injured in 2001, becoming quadriplegic. He has remained with the Edmonton Police Gang Unit and will be joined by trainees from the force. Hansen will then continue wheeling with the final two Medal-Bearers into the End of Day event for 4:00pm (MT)
• The Final Medal-Bearer is Dr. Robert Steadward (founder of the Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement, has received the Order of Canada and the International Olympic Order, and is the Founding President of the International Paralympic Committee)
• The Relay will end for the day in Edmonton by making its way into the University of Alberta. Rick Hansen and others will give brief remarks. The event will also feature performances by the Edmonton Police Service Pipe and Drum Band, the Braille Tones Choir and iDance
• As part of the End of Day celebration on March 12, Rick Hansen and David Chartrand, Vice President of the Métis National Council, will sign a collaborative agreement that will foster leadership and engagement among Métis youth in the areas of accessibility, inclusivity, health and wellness, and sustainability.
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews following the formal event
• Edmonton Oilers NHL Game - 7:30pm (MT) [Location: Rexall Place. 7423 118 Ave, Edmonton, AB]
• Prior to the game versus the San Jose Sharks, Rick Hansen to perform the ceremonial face-off puck-drop along with Oilers-nominated difference maker Joey Moss. Moss, born with Down Syndrome, has been assisting the hockey club's training staff since 1984
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available for interviews prior to the game and during the first and second intermissions

Tuesday, March 13, 2012 (Non-Relay day; Edmonton events)

• Public Lecture - 4:00pm (MT) [Location: Edmonton Clinic Health Academy. University of Alberta. 11405 - 87 Ave, Edmonton, AB]
• Rick Hansen to give a special guest lecture to the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
• NOTE TO EDITORS: Rick Hansen will be available following the Q&A portion of the lecture at approximately 5:00pm (MT)

Rick Hansen Flash Quotes:

Rick Hansen reflecting on Edmonton 25 years ago:

"A fond memory was when Premier Don Getty greeted me at the Alberta border on my original Tour. To me, this was a profound statement on behalf of all Albertans in welcoming me into their great province. It also set the tone for an unbelievable response from the entire province as momentum built and we got closer to Edmonton."

Rick Hansen's reflecting on Wayne Gretzky 25 years ago:

"Wayne was involved in a fundraising event with the Oilers along with Mayor Laurence Decore. I believe it was called 'score with Decore.' The Gretzky moment stands out because the 'Hansen Highways' project had been organized, and Wayne had just purchased kilometre 99. It has been great to still call him a friend after 25 years."

Rick Hansen on his excitement to visit Whitehorse, YT:

"From the onset of our 25^th Anniversary, we wanted to engage with communities that were not just on the original Tour. For Whitehorse, I am excited for the visit, particularly because the notion that people with a disability could not be included in northern communities has been shattered over 25 years. It has been represented by progress, and while there is still work to be done, it is encouraging for the future."

Rick Hansen on the 2012 Arctic Winter Games:

"It will be great to celebrate and honour the local champions and youth, and encourage them to pursue their goals and encourage them to continue to their best, through the values of sport - all while recognizing that everyone can make a difference in the lives of others."

Rick Hansen reflecting on the health and medical innovations of Alberta:

"The Province of Alberta has made incredible strides on the two big dreams: spinal cord injury (SCI) cure and accessibility. Alberta has done a great job in developing SCI research, acute care rehabilitation, and leading in developing new clinical trials. We have also been very fortunate to have amazing partners such as the Alberta Paraplegic Association and the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation."

Rick Hansen on the Government of Alberta:

"The Government of Alberta has been a significant partner. They contributed $2.6 million in matching contributions to the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation during the original Tour. They also infused another million dollars into the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation at the 10^th Anniversary, and made a $12 million contribution in partnership with the Alberta Paraplegic Foundation for the 20^th Anniversary. This has created the capacity to get the job done and connect with Canada and the world, and we look forward to our future collaboration with the Government of Alberta, as our best work is still in front of us."

Rick Hansen on the 25^th Anniversary Relay:

"The goal of the Relay has been to celebrate and recognize the work of local difference makers across the country, and part in parcel to this has been the participation of youth. I continue to be blown away by the response of young Canadians and the youth from around the world. The participation of these young difference makers has been inspiring and the resonance they have to our journey is encouraging for the future."

Media Materials:

The following items will be available in the Media Centre on www.RickHansenRelay.com:  Relay route map, full list of communities and dates, list of Medal-Bearers, Media Highlight Sheets with Medal-Bearer stories (one per day, uploaded at least 48 hours in advance), and high resolution images/video.

About the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay:

Launched on August 24, 2011 in Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Rick Hansen 25^th Anniversary Relay is retracing the Canadian segment of the original Man In Motion World Tour, traveling 12,000 kilometres, through 600 communities and concluding in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 22, 2012. This time, one will inspire many in motion; engaging 7,000 participants from across Canada who have made their own difference in the lives of others. Please visit www.RickHansenRelay.com.

Rick Hansen Foundation
John Gibson (in Whitehorse/Edmonton)
1-604-644-0811
[email protected] 

Rick Hansen Foundation
Lisa Clement (with Relay)
1-604-351-4279
[email protected] 

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