Molson in the Community

Last week, I had the pleasure to accompany in Moncton one of our Canadian athletes Jean Labonte. Jean is a Paralympian and Captain of the Canadian Sledge Hockey Team. As an official supplier to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, as well as a sponsor for the Paralympics, we introduced the Fund a Champion campaigna few months ago and committed up to $20,000 each to 10 athletes from across Canada, to help them close the competitive gap in their respective sports heading into the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. One of those athletes is Jean Labonté and he was our guest for this two day visit in Moncton. An important part of the program is to engage Molson Coors employees with Canadian athletes in the months leading up to the Vancouver Games next winter. So it was the primary reason why Jean was in Moncton, but while in town we took the opportunity to raise awareness of the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics and demonstrate the sport of sledge hockey. As part of Jean’s visit, Molson Coors also made a $5,000 donation to the Moncton Wheelchair Sports Association to help support sports activities for the physically disabled in the area.

So Jean’s visit was a busy one indeed. It began on Wednesday afternoon with a private tour of our brewery in Moncton lead by its brew master, David Hamel. The visit was followed by a “meet & greet” with all of the Moncton employees in the Brewery’s hospitality room. Jean had the opportunity to discuss with them about the life and preparation of an athlete in the months leading to the Games and talk about Sledge Hockey. Then we went on to dinner where we hosted Jean and some of our key local stakeholders and business partners. Amongst the many guests present George Leblanc, Mayor of Moncton and Clarence Sweetland, the Riverview Mayor. After dinner Jean and I went for a beer at one of our good customers in Moncton where he and I got to know each other a little more and share some good laughs.

On Thursday morning, we gathered at the University of Moncton arena to present our $ 5,000 donation to the Moncton Wheelchair Sports Association which Jean and Steve Dykeman, Molson Coors Regional Sales Manager for N.B. & P.E.I. presented to its President Peter Cameron. Peter was not only happy to receive our donation but also to meet Jean and discuss with him about sledge hockey. That was an important discussion since the Association plans start their own sledge hockey team.

Following the usual photo op, we arranged for the media, we were joined by some of Molson Coors sales representatives and players of “les “Aigles Bleus” the men and women’suniversity hockey team. It was for all a first try at playing hockey on a sledge and no matter if you were young, old, athletic or not so much, it proved to be quite challenging at first. But with Jean’s advice and coaching all were able to quickly get the hang of it and maneuver their sledges well enough to engage in a friendly game. I myself got on the ice and experienced sledge hockey…In my short shift I managed to score a goal, not a “highlight reel candidate” but still… Then I quickly came to the conclusion that I couldn’t keep up the pace with Jean and the younger athletes on the ice, so I opted to stick to my defensive zone and guard our team’s goal.

Jean and players of the “Aigles Bleus” men and women’s université de Moncton hockey team getting ready for face off in presence of the local media.

Game on!

Molson Coors sales representatives and players of the “Aigles Bleus” had a great time playing a sldge hockey game with Jean Labonté

It was a whirlwind visit but all who met him were very pleased with his visit and Jean was very pleased with the hospitality he received in Moncton. Some news fans who might be in attendance cheering for Jean and his teammates at the upcoming World Sledge Hockey Challenge in nearby Charlottetown, Nov 17-21. I sure am now a fan of our sledge hockey team and plan to follow them closely all the way to the Games. I told Jean I was going to be at the final gold medal game of the Sledge Hockey in Vancouver on Saturday March 20, 2010 and I semi-jokingly turned back to him and asked if he would be there? I have no doubt that he and the entire team is committed to do whatever it takes to be there…

Cheers to our Canadian Sledge Hockey Team!

Sebastien – follow me on Twitter @MolsonSeb

The wait is over!  It’s time to reveal what’s under the curtain!

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As you may know, Molson is an Official Supplier of the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, and today we’re launching the Molson Canadian 2010 Mural Project out at Molson’s Kitsilano brewery in Vancouver. Many people were commenting yesterday online about the huge black curtain covering the brewery along Burrard St., prompting Ferg, to take a photo and write a quick note about it.

So….drum roll please…..

The Molson Canadian 2010 Mural Project (#2010MolsonMural):

A GIANT mosaic canvas of individual pictures will cover almost 4,000 square feet of the Kitsilano brewery in Vancouver. Thousands of Canadian’s faces will make up the mural, and as the photos are gradually collected over the next few months, a surprise Olympic themed image and message will slowly emerge – the final ‘reveal’ will be on the eve of the Games!  We’re inviting Canadians (of legal drinking age) to upload their personal photos to help us create a nation’s worth of support for Team Canada at the Games.

Let’s do it Canada!  Let’s welcome the world to Canada in a truly unique way.  You can upload your personal photo at http://www.molsoncanadian.ca/2010muralproject/ Once your image is uploaded onto the mural, you will be sent a personal set of mural “coordinates” enabling you to find your photo in the sea of other Games fans on the digital version of the mosaic.

The final mural will remain on the brewery wall during the Games, and the image will be made available for purchase as a poster with proceeds donated to the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams.

More pics and video to come of the launch out in Vancouver as the day goes on.  Can’t wait to see your ‘face’ at the Games!

I had an opportunity to chat with our President and CEO, Kevin Boyce, just prior to the holidays. We asked if he would like to write a blog post related to our official supplier status for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic games. He worked with Tonia and I on creating this message and we are delighted to post it on his behalf. Kevin looks forward to reviewing your responses and Tonia will make sure that we get back to you in a timely manner…over to Kevin…

(Voir en français ci-après)

I am delighted to post this blog today formally announcing that Molson will be the official beer supplier to Canada’s Games in Vancouver in 2010.  Molson is proud to play our part in celebrating with Canadians leading up to and including the games.  It is a proud moment for all of our employees, customers and suppliers to be hosting this world event in British Columbia and with Canadians from coast to coast to coast. No doubt you will see that pride showing through in the videos accompanying this post.

Molson will be supporting a number of initiatives leading up to the games through various employee and brand activities.  Please join with us in supporting the games and Team Canada as we count down to February 12, 2010 in Vancouver.  We look forward to playing our part to make this a truly memorable event for all Canadians.

Our social media team will be highlighting a number of our activities right here on our Molson Community Blog in the weeks and months to follow (Thanks to Tonia for inserting the links for me in this post!).

Cheers,

Kevin Boyce

(Traduction intégrale du message original de Kevin en anglais ici-haut)

Je suis ravi de profiter aujourd’hui de notre blogue communautaire pour vous annoncer formellement que Molson sera le fournisseur officiel de bière des Jeux d’hiver de Vancouver 2010. Molson est fière de faire sa part dans les célébrations qui précéderont et entoureront les Jeux. Tous nos employés, clients et fournisseurs d’un océan à l’autre sont fiers d’accueillir le monde en Colombie-Britannique dans le cadre de ce grand événement planétaire — une fierté qui ne fait d’ailleurs aucun doute dans les vidéos qui accompagnent le présent message.

Molson organisera de nombreuses activités centrées sur ses employés et sur ses marques d’ici le grand jour de l’ouverture des Jeux. Je vous invite donc à vous joindre à nous pour exprimer votre appui au Comité organisateur ainsi qu’à l’équipe olympique canadienne pendant le décompte vers l’ouverture officielle, qui aura lieu le 12 février 2010 à Vancouver. Nous sommes impatients de faire notre part pour faire de cet événement un moment réellement inoubliable pour tous les Canadiens.

Notre équipe des médias sociaux vous présentera d’ailleurs plusieurs activités ici même, sur le blogue communautaire de Molson, au cours des prochaines semaines et des prochains mois (merci à Tonia pour son aide dans l’insertion des hyperliens!). Demeurez à l’écoute!

Salutations,

Kevin Boyce

English VLOG

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French VLOG

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