Ottawa - Beginning this month, Canadians can show their support for our best skiers and skaters when they purchase domestic Priority Courier and Xpresspost Prepaid envelopes featuring athletes of the Canadian Freestyle Ski team and the Canadian Speed Skating team. Canada Post is a proud sponsor of both teams.
Available until February 2006, or while quantities last, the envelopes will feature full-colour action shots of Long Track skater Clara Hughes, Moguls skiers Stephanie St. Pierre and Jenn Heil, and Aerials competitors Jeff Bean and Deidra Dionne. In addition to team sponsorships, Canada Post also sponsors these individual athletes.
"As all of Canada prepares to cheer on our athletes at the Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy this February, this initiative is the perfect union between two great Canada Post products and our support of the Canadian Freestyle Ski and Speed Skating Teams. Canada Post is proud to support these dedicated, hard-working athletes, and the incredible support teams behind them," says Bob Waite, senior vice-president of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at Canada Post. "As these envelopes travel across the country with their exciting new look, they will bring increased visibility to Canada Post, the individual athletes and Canada's teams. This is an opportunity that only Canada Post can deliver."
"Like all amateur sports, the Canadian Freestyle Ski team depends on corporate sponsors to help us develop our athletes and bring our sport to all of Canada. Corporate sponsorship, like Canada Post's, is often the difference between a good team and a great team, and we're proud to count Canada Post among our supporters," said Grant McDiarmaid, VP Marketing of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. "This unique initiative provides great exposure for Stephanie, Jenn, Jeff and Deidra and the rest of Canada's Freestyle Ski team as we prepare for Torino."
"The Canadian Speed Skating team has over 65 high-performance athletes who train year-round. The support from our sponsors, like Canada Post, is vital to their success and our future," said Jean R. Dupré, Director General (Ottawa) at Speed Skating Canada. "The attention Clara will receive from this initiative is not only vital to her career but to the popularity of speed skating across Canada and this is good for each member of our team. Get ready Canada, your speed skating team is ready to kick ice in Torino."
The post office's support for the Canadian Speed Skating team began in 2003. Last weekend, the team won three bronze medals in the first stop on the short track speed skating World Cup circuit. Canada Post has sponsored the Canadian Freestyle Ski team since 1999. During its support for the team, the athletes have won a combined 170 World Cup medals, 14 World Championship medals and 2 Olympic medals.
For further information, contact:
Canada Post Cindy Daoust, Ottawa, Ontario (613) 734-4258 cindy.daoust@canadapost.ca
Speed Skating Association of Canada Jean R. Dupré, Ottawa, Ontario (613) 260-3669 ssc@speedskating.ca
Canadian Freestyle Ski Association Michele Deslandes, Manager Media Relations (778) 772-0161 michele@freestyleski.com
