MEDIA ADVISORY - Provincial plaque to commemorate The Flying Frenchmen and Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette

BELLEVILLE, ON, June 21, 2016 /CNW/ - Join the Ontario Heritage Trust, in partnership with the City of Belleville and the Hastings County Historical Society, for the unveiling of a provincial plaque commemorating "The Flying Frenchmen," a group of three original players for the Montreal Canadiens. This unveiling takes place in Belleville, the birthplace of "Flying Frenchman" Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette.

Date:	Thursday, June 23, 2016
Time:	11 a.m.
Location:	Quinte Sports & Wellness Centre 265 Cannifton Road Belleville, Ontario
Photo op:	Official unveiling of the provincial plaque

Following the formation of the Montreal Canadiens in 1909, the team's playing-manager and captain, Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette of Belleville, assembled a roster that included Cornwall native Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde and Didier "Cannonball" Pitre from the Renfrew Creamery Kings ('Renfrew Millionaires'). During the Canadiens' first decade, Laviolette, Lalonde and Pitre formed the core of the team, establishing its signature playing style and leading the Canadiens to their first Stanley Cup in 1916. Dubbed "The Flying Frenchmen," the three players later earned a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame for their prolific careers.

This provincial plaque is the first of three to be unveiled in honour of "The Flying Frenchmen." The other two, in recognition of Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde and Didier "Cannonball" Pitre, will be unveiled later this year.

The Ontario Heritage Trust's Provincial Plaque Program commemorates significant people, places and events in Ontario's history. Since 1956, over 1,270 provincial plaques have been unveiled.

The Trust gratefully acknowledges the Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs for its assistance and the Department of Canadian Heritage for its financial contribution to this provincial plaque through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French-Language Services.

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SOURCE Ontario Heritage Trust

Catrina Colme, Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]