RBC Play Hockey invites you to skate for free this Family Day, Monday, Feb. 20

Skate with Canadian hockey Olympians and cheer on four RBC Play Hockey grant recipients

TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - The RBC Play Hockey program is proud to help families get active this Family Day by sponsoring free pleasure skating at eight rinks across southern Ontario. Families are invited to join RBC employees for ice skating, a chance to win Team Canada jerseys autographed by Steve Yzerman and Steve Stamkos and to meet Canadian Olympic hockey gold medallists on February 20^th.

Participants are invited to bring their skates and helmets to enjoy an afternoon of skating with family and friends at the locations below. Other RBC Play Hockey Family Day events are being held in Barrie, Whitby and other cities across Ontario.  See www.rbc.com/familyday for more details.

• Bradford - Bradford West Gwillimbury Leisure Centre - 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Cheryl Pounder (3 p.m. - 4:30)
• Brampton - Powerade Centre - 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Becky Kellar (1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• Markham - Milliken Mills Community Rink - 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Megan Agosta
• Mississauga - Mississauga Celebration Square - 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
• Gillian Apps
• North Toronto - Leaside Memorial Community Gardens - 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Jayna Hefford
• Toronto - Harbourfront Centre - 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Jennifer Botterill (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.)
• Uxbridge - Uxbridge Arena and Recreation Centre - 12 noon - 3:30 p.m.
• East Toronto - Ted Reeve Community Arena - 12 noon - 4 p.m. - Please note - at this location there will be a skate sharing program available to those who wish to participate and do not have skates.
• Vicky Sunohara (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.)

In addition, RBC will be presenting four RBC Play Hockey grants. RBC Play Hockey funds projects that keep hockey vibrant in communities across Canada and the United States. In 2011, $1 million was allocated to support eligible hockey programs.

Grant presentations will be made to the following groups on February 20^th:

• Harbourfront Centre will receive a $25,000 grant to help sustain their Learn to Skate program; offered to kids and adults of all ages and skill levels to ensure anyone who wants to learn to skate has the opportunity.
• Moss Park Hockey League will be presented with a grant for $10,000 towards their free hockey league that caters to families who would not otherwise be able to afford to put their children into the sport. (This presentation will happen at Harbourfront Centre).
• Leaside Memorial Community Gardens will be receiving $10,000 to support their Learn to Skate program in the Thorncliffe community.
• Bradford West Gwillimbury Minor Hockey will receive a $5,000 RBC Play Hockey grant to put towards their grassroots hockey program, geared towards kids aged 5-12 who got a late start playing organized hockey.

About RBC Play Hockey
RBC is committed to helping hockey happen in communities across North America. As a premier partner of Hockey Canada and USA Hockey, RBC is an official sponsor of each country's men's and women's national teams, the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, Canada's National Junior A Championship - RBC Cup - and the Hockey Hall of Fame. RBC sponsors amateur sport in communities across North America, from grassroots programs to national sport associations and elite-level athletes. For more information, visit rbcplayhockey.com.

Mark Hamill, RBC
[email protected] / 416-974-3900

Jess Rutledge, Stellick Marketing Communications
[email protected]
416-603-9452 x 304
416-436-3192