Un beau défi philanthropique pour nos équipes “Bâtir la relève” (au Québec) ou “Build the Bench” (au Canada)

 Trois équipes de relève au Québec auront pour mission de faire une différence dans le cadre de notre partenariat pour les Jeux d’hiver 2010 à Vancouver. Ces équipes devront collaborer à ramasser 10,000$ (objectif national) pour nos dix athlètes canadiens sélectionnés, tout en mobilisant nos employés(es) à prendre part à chacun des événements organisés.

ENSEMBLE, nous leur souhaitons la meilleure des chances … chez Molson Coors, le développement de nos employés(es) et l’investissement communautaire sont des priorités!

Sur cette photo, on aperçoit Yves Rozon des Ressources humaines, Marieke Tremblay des Affaires corporatives et Geoff Molson entourés de nos équipes de relève du Québec (votre toute dévouée Monique Dépatie se chargeait de prendre la photo):

 De gauche à droite: Caroline Filiatrault, Guillaume Hamer Lavoie, Georges Barrette, Alexandre Gagnon, Mathieu Larocque et Marie-Christine Hétu

De gauche à droite:  Simon Cloutier, Jessica Lukian, Richard Lacroix, Mario Hince et Michel Gauthier

De gauche à droite:  Paul Guichard, Daphné Jobin Savard, Jean-Charles Villeneuve, Pierre Ducharme, David Reddy et Robert Héroux

Thanks to our latest guest blogger, Jennifer Botterill! Jennifer is a member of Team Canada, Olympic and World Champion…we appreciate her taking the time to update us on her Olympic training.  Cheers, Tonia

It’s been a very motivating week here in Calgary for all of us with the National team! After moving early August to train full time in preparation for Vancouver 2010, our Olympic training is in full swing. We have had a rather demanding few weeks. Hockey Canada has put us through some pretty intense training, but I think we’ve all improved because of it.

After 3 weeks that included fitness testing, on ice practices, off ice training, nutrition and sport psychology meetings, and Olympic meetings we have arrived at the last full week of August! In order to celebrate, it was nice of the sledge hockey team to join us for some training out west. It just so happened there was another small scale event happening… right, the Men’s Olympic team camp!

This week started out pretty tough with our on ice Gatorade sweat testing. The coaches decided this would be a great time to have one of the toughest practices of the year. We could not catch our breath for an hour, but the Gatorade crew was thrilled as they got great sweat samples from us. So glad we could please! Have a look at Tessa Bonhomme and I (below) – if you look closely enough you can see our sweat testing patches in the middle of our foreheads. This was us getting ready for Gatorade pre practice. This is one of our token moves… we refer to this as our ‘split squat cely’.

Hockey Canada organized a couple of special days for all three teams. We had a team photo with our team, the sledge hockey team, and the men’s team taken at the Saddldome on Wednesday. We also had a fun team skate there that day. Our trainer, Doug, took a shot of the group from the back – if you look closely you can see a few of us in front of the men’s team. A great dinner for the Hockey Canada Foundation was later that evening.

Thursday evening was also incredible as we were fortunate enough to attend the Men’s Red/White scrimmage game. We walked into the Saddledome and the atmosphere was amazing!! Everyone dressed in red and white… and I most certainly got chills when our national anthem was sung. It was a thrill to watch so many tremendous hockey players on the ice at the same time. I think we all left feeling more proud than ever to be Canadian, and more motivated than ever to be our best.

There are a few pictures from the game:

An action shot during the game

Billy Bridges (one of Molson’s athletes from the sledge hockey team) and I.

Men’s team saluting the crowd at the end of the exciting game – that concluded with a spectacular shootout.

Needless to say, we are really looking forward to the next few months of training! We are off to Vancouver this week for a pre Olympic tournament… should be a lot of fun as part of our journey!

Will be great to share more experiences along they way,

Jennifer

C’est 5,000$ que nous avons réussi à amasser au profit de nos athlètes québécois et canadiens lors de deux activités de levée de fonds qui se sont déroulées du toit de Molson basée à Montréal. Plus de 260 personnes ont pu admirer, en compagnie de nos athlètes québécois, en l’occurrence Joannie Rochette (patinage artistique), François-Louis Tremblay (patinage de vitesse) et Jean Labonté (hockey sur luge). Nathalie Lambert, chef de mission canadienne, a également assisté à une de ces soirées que l’on peut très certainement qualifier d’inoubliable … des feux d’artifice enrichis d’éclairs dans le ciel!

Merci à tous les employés Molson d’avoir contribué à ces levées de fonds, visant à faciliter le chemin à des athlètes de chez nous en route vers les Olympiques 2010 à Vancouver.

Above pictured on the left; Francois–Louis Tremblay, Short Track Speed Skating and three time Olympic Medalist with Geoff Molson, Vice President Marketing at Molson.

Bring on summer! To celebrate International Olympic Day on Tuesday, June 23,  Molson fired up the grill and hosted Olympic barbecues for employees in Montreal, St-John’s, Moncton, Toronto and Vancouver (click to see all pictures). Not only the burgers were sizzling. It was a way to spark greater awareness of Molson’s role as the Official Beer Supplier of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games.

At the barbecues, we took the opportunity to announce the Molson Fund a Champion Campaign, in which the company has committed an initial amount of $80,000 to support 10 designated Canadian athletes. we also announced the names of the ten Molson employees who will be representing us on the Olympic Torch Relay as torch bearers, and everyone got a taste of the exciting fundraising, sponsorship and promotional activities that are upcoming.

Molson Canadian/Export Fund a Champion Athletes:

(click on link to view video with athletes)

• Mark Arendz – Paralympic Nordic Skiing – Hartsville, PEI
• Brittany Webster – Cross-Country Skiing – Caledon, Ontario
• Billy Bridges – Sledge Hockey – Mississauga, Ontario
• Jeff Batchelor – Snowboard Halfpipe – Oakville, Ontario
• François-Louis Tremblay – Short Track Speed Skating – Montreal, Quebec
• Joannie Rochette – Figure Skating – Île Dupas, Quebec
• Jean Labonté – Sledge Hockey – Gatineau, Quebec
• Denny Morrison – Speed Skating – Calgary, Alberta
• Tom Velisek – Snowboard Cross – Vernon, BC
• Melissa Hollingsworth – Skeleton – Eckville, Alberta

The events also included raffles for great prizes, ball hockey, and other games, while employees in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver had a chance to meet some of our Olympic athletes recipients of the Fund a Champion Campaign. With the Games fast approaching, our Canadian athletes have a pressing need of vital funds necessary to complete their final months of intensive training leading up to the Games in Vancouver. At the BBQ in Toronto Scott Ewart, Molson Chief Officer Legal and Public Affairs said, “Our donations will make a difference to these extremely talented athletes, and help them realize their dreams.”

In Montreal, Geoff Molson, Vice President Marketing Molson spoke to employees and said, ” Molson is proud to be an official supplier of the Vancouver 2010 Games but more importantly we are great fans of our Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Athletes and we are excited to be able to meet and support them in their quest for an Olympic medal.”

Watch a video of the event and Geoff Molson’s speech in Montreal (in French).

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Proud to play our part

The 2010 Olympic Games belong to Canada, and they belong to us.  At Molson, we are proud to play our part in uniting Canada’s Olympic spirit from coast to coast. We are looking forward to sharing a true taste of Canada with the world in 2010. Not only is Molson an official supporter of Canada’s Games but we’re also fans – let’s go, Team Canada!

Cheers! @MolsonSeb

Molson Hockey Cup players and CWHL players – Sami Jo Small and Sarah Love

Happy to report that in ongoing support of our commitment to athletes, teams and sports associations over the years, Molson’s Fund a Champion Campaign has also been extended to include the Canadian Women’s Hockey League! (CWHL) Molson is supporting the association with a $20,000 donation.

At our Olympic Day BBQ in Toronto on Tuesday, Team Canada Olympians Jennifer Botterill and Sami Jo Small dropped in to chat with employees and take some pics.  And in true hockey spirit, we had a road hockey tournament in our parking lot!

Earlier this year, Sami Jo and Sarah Love (Sami’s teammate from the Mississauga Chiefs) stopped by Molson’s Annual Hockey Cup to take some pics with the players and officially accept our donation.

L-R: Beata Tomczyk (Molson) Sami Jo Small, Tim Young (Molson), Sarah Love, Brent Walkter (Molson), and Me! (yes….I’m wearing flip flops on the rink….)

It was so great to meet the ladies in person, and we’re thrilled to support the league as Team Canada goes for the Gold in Vancouver! GO TEAM CANADA!  Cheers, @MolsonTonia

Molson Cup 2009

Only 2010 pins available!! To get yours and support our athletes visit:

Molson 2010 Pins

In addition to internal fundraising efforts, Molson is providing an opportunity for consumers to help fund champions with a commemorative Olympic pin where with a donation of $20.10 to the athletes, Molson will send you TWO pins – one to keep and one to share/trade.  We’re very proud to partner with The Canadian Olympic Foundation and VANOC to provide Canadians with this opportunity to support our team’s success.

Cheers, @MolsonTonia

Jennifer Botterill’s (Team Canada – Women’s Hockey) Olympic medals

Wooooow! Yesterday was awesome.  In celebration of International Olympic Day, Molson held BBQ’s across the country and invited Olympic and Paralympic athletes from our Fund a Champion Program to join us.

In Toronto, Jeff Batchelor (Snowboard), Billy Bridges (Sledge Hockey) and Jennifer Botterill (Team Canada – Women’s Hockey) dropped in to chat, take photos, sign autographs and play some ‘Olympic’ games with our employees.  We even had a road hockey tournament in our parking lot!

Molson is a proud supporter and the Official Beer Supplier of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, and, after getting to meet the athletes in person, chat with them, and even hold their GOLD medals, the feeling of pride is even greater.  Thank you to ALL employees who joined in the games and donated to our athletes; to the organizers of the BBQs – your hard work was truly appreciated; and to our Fund a Champion Athletes across the country who took the time to visit our offices and breweries and hang out with the Molson crew – an unforgettable day.

Here are a few of many photos of the day.  Check out our Flickr page to see more. Cheers, @molsontonia

Billy Bridges speaking to Molson Employees in Toronto – Sledge hockey Gold Medalist

Jennifer Botterill speaking to Molson Employees

Molson Extreme Team

Molson Employee Road Hockey Tournament!