Countdown to the Games! Wow! It’s an unbelievable feeling and privilege to be here in Vancouver during the final countdown to the Games. Here in Vancouver, the anticipation is building to a pitch. Hundreds of elite athletes from Canada and over 80 countries have arrived to compete. For us at our involvement with the Games goes way back and to celebrate International Olympic Day last June, we fired up the grill and hosted barbecues for employees in Montreal, St-John’s, Moncton, Toronto and Vancouver. It was a way to shine a light on our role as the Official Beer Supplier of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games and get everyone in the company excited about the Games.
Not only are we cheering for Canada to win, we handpicked ten deserving Canadian athletes, to receive our hands-on financial support. In today’s report, you get to meet our “Fund a Champion” athletes and we bring you an interview with Rene Holt our Vancouver Brewery Manager who tells us all about their preparation for the Games.
Compte à rebours des Jeux! L’anticipation est à son comble à Vancouver ces jours-ci. Des centaines d’athlètes de haut niveau du Canada et de près 80 pays sont arrivés et prêts pour la compétition. Molson Coors et ses employés à travers le pays y encouragera évidemment nos athlètes canadiens, mais plus particulièrement aussi à dix d’entre eux, ainsi qu’à toute l’équipe nationale féminine de hockey, à qui nous avons décidé d’offrir notre appui. Dans le Bulletin d’aujourd’hui, nous vous proposons une entrevue avec Rene Holt le directeur de notre brasserie à Vancouver. Il nous parle de la préparation requise afin d’être fin prêt à bien servir les Jeux. On vous aussi nos athlètes récipiendaires de notre campagne « Appuyons un champion ».
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.
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
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.
A couple months ago, Ferg wrote about one of our upcoming Olympic activities called the Fund a Champion Campaign. Today, in honour of International Olympic Day, Molson is thrilled to announce that the select group of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Winter athlete hopefuls have been identified! Today is the official introduction of the Molson Canadian/Molson Export (Quebec) Fund a Champion Campaign. Molson is committing up to $20,000 each to a group of 10 emerging athletes from across Canada to help them in their pursuit for excellence at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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Jeff Batchelor – Snowboard
The designated 10 athletes (7 Olympian and 3 Paralympian) represent Canada’s four regions (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Western provinces). Each athlete will receive an initial $8,000 from the Molson Donations Fund in support of Molson’s Active Lifestyles community pillar. Molson will now call upon our employees to ‘adopt’ the athletes and encourage staff to raise additional funds in support of the athletes. Our athletes:
Mark Arendz – Paralympic Nordic Skiing – Hartsville, PEI
Brittany Webster – Cross Country Skiing – Caledon, ON
Billy Bridges – Sledge Paralympian – Mississauga, ON
Jeff Batchelor – Snowboard Halfpipe – Oakville, ON
Francois Louis Tremblay – Speed Skating – Montreal, QC
Joannie Rochette – Skate Canada – Ile Dupas, QC
Jean Labonte – Sledge Paralympian – Hull QC
Denny Morrison – Speed Skating – Calgary, AB
Tom Velisek – Snowboard Cross – Vernon, BC
Melissa Hollingsworth – Bobsleigh Skeleton, Eckville, AB
Today, Molson employees are celebrating the news and commemorating International Olympic Day with a series of Olympic BBQs at each of our breweries and sales offices across Canada – complete with Fund a Champion athlete appearances!
More pics and deets to come. Cheers and Happy Olympic Day!
