June 19, 2013
OTTAWA—On Saturday, June 22, 2013, the grounds of Rideau Hall will be transformedinto a playground when it hosts the 30th Annual Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Teddy Bears’ Picnic, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, is inviting residents and visitors to our nation’s capital to get active and participate in this family-friendly event.
The day will kick off at 8 a.m. with a celebrity pancake breakfast followed by an opening ceremony. At 9:50 a.m., His Excellency will thank all volunteers for their outstanding work and dedication. Joined on stage by Mrs. Suzanne Pinel, C.M., Honorary Chair of the CHEO Teddy Bear Picnic, and Mr. Max Keeping, Community Ambassador, the Governor General will read a story to children.
Throughout the day, the young and the young-at-heart will enjoy stage entertainment, rides and games. Children are invited to bring their teddy bears and other stuffed animals for check-ups and minor repairs at the B*A*S*H tent—Bear Ambulatory Surgical Hospital.
This year, Frontier College volunteers will be on-site to promote “Story time at Rideau Hall”, a summer activity that will officially kick off on June 29. Volunteers from the college will read books in English and in French to childrenfrom 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Reading Tent, located near the Visitor Centre.
Once again, Canadian Olympians and Paralympians will be back on the grounds to share their their experiences on the occasion of International Olympic Day. Don’t miss the opportunity to interact with Olympians like Alexandre Bilodeau (2010 Freestyle Ski); Michael Tayler (2012 Canoe/Kayak); Kathy Tremblay (2008 and 2012 Triathlon); Annabelle Langlois (2010 Figure Skating), and Paralympians like Jason Dunkerley (2012 Para-Athletics)and Amy Kneebone (2012 Goalball). From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,they will also host over 10 sport demonstrations such as soccer, tennis, taekwondo, athletics, triathlon and field hockey, just to name a few. The public is invited to visit the speaker’s corner to send good luck wishes to our Canadian athletes who will compete at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Tours of the Residence
From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., visitors will be able to tour the historic residence and its State rooms, where they will learn about the history and the role of the governor general.
Shuttle
Park-and-ride shuttle buses will be in operation from the National Research Council Canada (NRC), located at 100 Sussex Drive, starting at 7:30 a.m., and from the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum (CASM), located at 11 Aviation Parkway, starting at 9:30 a.m. The last shuttle bus from the NRC and CASM leaves at 2:15 p.m. and the last shuttle bus leaving from Rideau Hall will be at 3:15 p.m. Please note that there are limited spaces at both parking lots. For more information, contact the CHEO Foundation at 613-737-2783.
Limited parking for mobility-impaired guests will be available on the Rideau Hall grounds via Princess Anne Gate. For more information, please contact 1-888-842-4422, 613-991-4422 or guide@gg.ca.
About the CHEO Foundation
The sole purpose of the CHEO Foundation is to raise funds to help support the work of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Donations help the hospital provide a wide variety of pediatric programs, research, state-of-the-art equipment, medical and nursing education, and assistance for families in crisis. For more information, visit www.cheo.on.ca/en/ourfoundation.
About the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC)
The COC leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team’s podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the COC delivers resources that Canada’s elite athletes need to perform at their best and to give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada’s Olympic movement, the COC works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. For more information, visit http://olympic.ca/canadian-olympic-committee.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)
The CPC is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and Parapan American Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.
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