Ottawa Senators and Canadian Tire launch the Jumpstart Equipment for Kids
program

Canadian Tire Ottawa dealers named presenting sponsor of the 2010-11 Senators pre-season

OTTAWA, Sept. 18 /CNW/ - The Ottawa Senators and Canadian Tire Jumpstart, in partnership with the Sens Foundation and the Ottawa District Hockey Association, have announced today the launch of the Jumpstart Equipment for Kids program. The initiative, which begins today, is designed to collect donations of new and used hockey equipment from the community to distribute it to disadvantaged area youth.

The Senators and Canadian Tire also announced a renewal of their partnership for the 2010-11 hockey season - naming Canadian Tire Ottawa dealers as the official sponsor of the Senators pre-season, including all three home games.

"We're excited that our continuing partnership with Canadian Tire has allowed us to introduce the Equipment for Kids program," said Cyril Leeder, Ottawa Senators president. "With the help of our fans and the Ottawa community, this program will allow us to share the hockey experience with those children who would not have the opportunity to play."

"For nearly 90 years, Canadian Tire has equipped millions of first-time hockey players with their first skates, stick, helmet and pads," said Duncan Fulton, vice-president, corporate affairs for Canadian Tire. "We're happy to continue this tradition and to again partner with the Sens as the official sponsor of this year's pre-season."

As part of Canadian Tire's sponsorship of the 2010-11 pre-season, tickets to all three home pre-season games will be available at half price for children 16-years-old or younger. Individual tickets to all three home pre-season games are on sale now.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart, in conjunction with the Sens Foundation and the City of Ottawa, is developing a learn to skate program for youth in Ottawa's priority neighbourhoods. The program details are being finalized and will be launched in early 2011.

Ten Ottawa region Canadian Tire stores will accept used hockey equipment donations for the duration of the 2010-11 season. The equipment will then be provided to the Ottawa District Hockey Association, which will work with local associations to have it cleaned, serviced and redistributed to area youth. As part of this program, the Sens Foundation will accept cash donations to help the ODHA offset cleaning and distribution costs and with the purchase of new equipment. The Sens Foundation is also able to work with companies with the capacity to donate new equipment to the program. Charitable tax receipts will be issued for both types of donations.

On Saturday, Sept. 18, and Sunday, Sept. 19, 10 area Canadian Tire stores will host Sens Weekend, where visitors will be eligible to win prizes from both the Senators and Canadian Tire, including tickets to pre-season games and Senators memorabilia. Sens players will visit each store on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. to meet fans and sign autographs.

Ottawa region Canadian Tire stores accepting used hockey equipment include:

    
    Barrhaven - 2501 Greenbank Road
    Blair Road - 2010 Ogilvie Road
    Bells Corners - 85 Robertson Road
    Carling - 1660 Carling Avenue
    Kanata - 8181 Campeau Drive
    Merivale - 1820 Merivale Road
    Orleans - 3910 Innes Road
    Ottawa East - 330 Coventry Road
    Ottawa South - 1170 Heron Road
    Perth - 45 Dufferin Road
    

About Canadian Tire Corporation

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX: CTC.a, CTC), is one of Canada's most shopped general retailers with 480 Canadian Tire stores across the country. Our core retail and automotive operation is strengthened by PartSource, an automotive parts specialty chain; Canadian Tire Petroleum, one of the country's largest independent retailers of gasoline; Mark's "Clothes That Work," a leading retailer of men's, women's and work apparel; and Canadian Tire Financial Services, which has issued over five million Canadian Tire MasterCard credit cards. More than 58,000 Canadians work across Canadian Tire's organization from coast-to-coast in the enterprise's retail, financial services and petroleum businesses.

For further information: Brian Morris, Ottawa Senators, [email protected]; Liz Hamilton, AVP Communications, Canadian Tire, [email protected]