/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - Paralympic Medallist to visit École Madeleine-Bergeron in Sainte-Foy/

Josh Vander Vies to meet local students and play boccia with them for 2013 Canadian Paralympic Schools Week

SAINTE-FOY, QC, Feb. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - It is with great pride and enthusiasm that l'École Madeleine-Bergeron, a specialized school, will welcome Paralympic medallist Josh Vander Vies to speak to students and play boccia with them, as part of Canadian Paralympic Schools Week 2013, presented in partnership with Petro-Canada.

L'École Madeleine-Bergeron is thrilled to have been chosen as one of 25 schools across the country to receive a free Paralympic athlete visit as part of Paralympic Schools Week.

Vander Vies, originally from Sarnia, Ontario, now lives in Vancouver, B.C. At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Vander Vies and teammate Marco Dispaltro won the bronze medal in pairs boccia. Vander Vies is bilingual and will make the school presentation in French.

L'école Madeleine-Bergeron is a specialized school for students with a disability aged 4 to 21. Many students at the school play boccia, making it a perfect fit to host Josh Vander Vies as guest speaker.

Media are invited to attend the athlete presentation, to take photos, and to conduct interviews with students, staff and Josh Vander Vies.

WHAT: Athlete presentation as part of Canadian Paralympic Schools Week
WHO : Josh Vander Vies, London 2012 Paralympic Games bronze medallist in boccia
WHERE: 1088, route de l'Église, Sainte-Foy, Québec
WHEN : Friday, February 22, 10 :00 a.m. to 11 : 00 a.m.

MEDIA CONTACT ONSITE :
Kim McLachlan, Canadian Paralympic Committee. Cell : 613-883-1477. Email: [email protected]

Paralympic Schools Week is timely as there is just over one year until Team Canada competes at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, while preparations for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games are well under way.

Spreading the message of "Get Involved," Paralympic athletes and Paralympic hopefuls will deliver inspiring and motivational presentations to students from Victoria, British Columbia, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and up to Iqaluit, Nunavut.

SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

For more information, please visit www.paralympic.ca/schoolsweek or contact :

Claire Savard
Conseillère en communication
Direction générale, Commission scolaire des Découvreurs
418 652-2121, poste 4173
[email protected]

Kim McLachlan
Senior Coordinator, Athlete Relations & Protocol
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tél [phone], ext. 225 / Cell 613-883-1477
[email protected]

Martin Richard
Executive Director, Communications & Marketing
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tél. : [phone], ext. 224 / Cell : 613 725-4339
[email protected]