Media Advisory / Photo Opportunity - Canadian Tire Jumpstart Kicks-Off Pedal for Kids Cycling Tour in Ottawa to Give Kids Across Canada a Sporting Chance

Canadian Olympians and Paralympians join 80 Cyclists as they Gear-Up for the 5^th Annual Pedal for Kids Ride at the Canadian Tire Centre

Riders and Special Guests Celebrate First 25 km of Ride with a Jumpstart Games for 100 Ottawa-area Children on Parliament Hill

OTTAWA, Sept. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - On Monday, September 15, over 80 cyclists will gather at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa to kick-off the 5^th Annual Pedal for Kids – a five day, 500 km cycle from Ottawa to Quebec City – to give kids from financially disadvantaged families the chance to play. Canadian Olympians Meagan Duhamel, Eric Radford and Andréanne Morin as well as Paralympian Robbi Weldon will join riders for a kick-off celebration at the Canadian Tire Centre and will ride the first 25 km with the team to Parliament Hill.

At Parliament Hill cyclists will be met by government representatives and over 100 Ottawa-area children who will be participating in a Jumpstart Games – a fun day for children featuring physical activities, giveaways and a boxed lunch. The Jumpstart Games will be staffed by volunteers from the Canadian Tire Family of Companies and Ottawa-area Community Partners.

Starting on September 15, Pedal for Kids cyclists will ride through Ottawa, Lachute, Joliette and Trois-Rivières before they finish at Parliament Hill in Quebec City on September 19, 2014.To follow the cyclists on their 500 km journey, please visit http://jumpstartpedalforkids.ca/.

EVENT ONE: STARTING LINE KICK-OFF AT CANADIAN TIRE CENTRE

DATE:	Monday, September 15, 2014
	8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
WHAT:	Pedal for Kids Kick-off
	8:00 a.m.		Media Registration
	8:15 a.m.		Interview opportunities
	8:30 a.m.		Formal remarks
	8:45 a.m.		Photo opportunities
LOCATION:	Canadian Tire Centre 1000 Palladium Drive Ottawa, Ontario K2V 1A5
WHO:	Landon French – Vice President, Community Relations, Canadian Tire Corporation; Executive Director, Jumpstart Charities
	Robbi Weldon – 2012 Paralympic gold medallist (road race cycling)
	Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford – 2014 Olympic silver medallists (figure skating, team mixed)
	Andréanne Morin – 2012 Olympic silver medallist (Rowing)
	80 Pedal for Kids cyclists

EVENT TWO: Pedal for Kids 25 KM Parliament Hill Celebration

DATE:	Monday, September 15, 2014
	11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHAT:	Pedal for Kids 25 KM Parliament Hill Celebration
	10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	Jumpstart Games
	10:45 a.m.	Media registration
	11:00 a.m.	Formal remarks
	11:30 a.m.	Photo and interview opportunities
LOCATION:	Parliament Hill 111 Wellington Street
	Ottawa, Ontario
WHO:	Landon French – Vice President, Community Relations, Canadian Tire Corporation; Executive Director, Jumpstart Charities
	Marc Wolvin, Jumpstart Regional Manager – Northern and Easter Ontario
	Robbi Weldon – 2012 Paralympic gold medallist (road race cycling)
	Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford – 2014 Olympic silver medallists (figure skating, team mixed)
	Andréanne Morin – 2012 Olympic silver medallist (Rowing)
	Federal and local government representatives
	80 Pedal for Kids cyclists
	100 Ottawa-area children

SOURCE: Canadian Tire Jumpstart

Carley Tietolman, North Strategic, Montreal, 514-825-6333, [email protected]; On-site contact (Canadian Tire Centre): Candice Bruton, Canadian Tire Corporation, 416-520-3184, [email protected]; On-site contact (Parliament Hill): Cindy Hoffman, Canadian Tire Corporation, 514-295-1202, [email protected]