Media Advisory - Former Ontario Rangers to rally in Huntsville Aug. 24

TORONTO, Aug. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - Hundreds of former Ontario Rangers and their supporters will rally in Huntsville on Aug. 24 to participate in an eco-trail building event and to raise awareness of the value of the now-cancelled program.

Citing its austerity agenda, the McGuinty government cancelled the $1.5 million Ontario Ranger Program (formerly known as the Ontario Junior Ranger Program) in Sept. 2012. The move triggered a grassroots movement by former rangers to organize a campaign to restore the program, which counted more than 70,000 participants over its 68-year history.

Speakers scheduled to attend the event include Bruce Hyer, federal MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, Tim Whitey, councillor, town of Huntsville and others. The event is open to the public and will feature music and fun competitions.

Media Availability

The following former rangers are organizers of the movement Friends of the Ontario Rangers and are available for media interviews:

Donna Fry, Thunder Bay, 807-630-2851
Emily Kerton, Thunder Bay, 807-631-4076
Martin Dubuc, Sudbury, 705-562-3029
Lindsay Finnie, Toronto, 647-267-4880
Emily Harris-MacLeod, Toronto, 416-972-1922
Cynthia Smith, Ottawa, 613-979-2304
Allison Hauser, London, 226-268-9253

Event Details

Former Ontario Rangers to host Jamboree Aug 24 to raise awareness of campaign to Save the Rangers

Date:	Saturday Aug.24
Time:	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location:	Lion's Lookout Soccer Field (adjacent to the Waterloo Summit Centre for the Environment, 87 Forbes Hill Dr.)

To learn more about Friends of the Ontario Rangers please visit:
www.savetherangers.ca

SOURCE: OPSEU

Greg Hamara, 647-238-9933