MEDIA ADVISORY / PHOTO OPPORTUNITY - Plan Canada celebrates the International Day of the Girl with 3D-styled experiential art installation

Canadian Olympic Champion and Because I am a Girl Ambassador Jenn Heil set to join Ottawa festivities

OTTAWA, Oct. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - October 11, 2013 marks the second International Day of the Girl. This day was made possible by Canadians and formally declared by the United Nations to recognize girls' rights globally and support action to address discrimination and other barriers faced by millions of girls around the world, including being denied access to an education.

To mark this day in Ottawa, Plan Canada is hosting a free interactive art installation at the St. Laurent Centre. Hand-painted by the legendary 'Chalkmaster Dave' Johnston, the piece will allow passersby to participate in a three-dimensional optical illusion and raise their hands in support of girls' access to education globally.

Canadian Olympic Champion and Because I am a Girl celebrated ambassador Jenn Heil will also be at the installation to participate and celebrate the International Day of the Girl. Jenn recently achieved her ambitious goal of raising one million dollars in support of Because I am a Girl's education and health programs. These programs have benefitted more than 388,188 women and children in developing countries.

Photos taken at the art installation and shared on social media through the #DayoftheGirl hashtag will drive awareness for the International Day of the Girl and Plan Canada's Because I am a Girl initiative, a global initiative to end gender inequality, promote girls' rights and lift millions of girls and everyone around them out of poverty.

We invite you to join us for a photo opportunity at the St. Laurent Centre.

WHAT:

• A free, three-day interactive art installation open to the public to mark the International Day of the Girl

WHO:

• Members of the public
• Canadian Olympic Champion and Because I am a Girl celebrated ambassador Jenn Heil

WHEN:

• Wednesday, October 9, 2013 through Friday, October 11, 2013, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Photo Opportunity with Jenn Heil: Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 pm

WHERE:

• Roots Court inside the St. Laurent Centre
  1200 St. Laurent Blvd,
  Ottawa, Ontario K1K 3B8
• Plan staff will be available to greet and direct members of the media at the installation

To learn about other ways Canadians can celebrate the International Day of the Girl across the country around October 11, 2013, visit becauseiamagirl.ca/dayofthegirl

About Plan and the 'Because I am a Girl' Initiative
Founded in 1937, Plan is one of the world's oldest and largest international development agencies, working in partnership with millions of people around the world to end global poverty. Not for profit, independent and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, Plan has only one agenda: to improve the lives of children. Because I am a Girl is Plan's global initiative to end gender inequality, promote girls' rights and lift millions of girls - and everyone around them - out of poverty. Visit www.plancanada.ca and www.becauseiamagirl.ca for more information.

SOURCE: Plan Canada

Media Contacts:

Abigail Brown, Media and Public Relations Manager, Plan Canada
T: 416 920 1654 ext 277  |  C: 647 971 3764  |  [email protected]

James Kenny, Hill and Knowlton Strategies
C: 613 612 7488  |  [email protected]