Sport leader and veteran businessman Dan Thompson joins team

    TORONTO, Oct. 11 /CNW/ - The Canadian Tire Foundation for Families' Board
of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Thompson to
president, Canadian Tire Foundation for Families.
    As a world-class swimmer and former member of the Canadian National Swim
Team, Mr. Thompson has been actively involved in sport throughout his life. He
was a gold medalist in the 100-metre butterfly at the 1978 and 1982
Commonwealth Games and a member of the 1980 Canadian Olympic team. With his
competitive swimming days behind him, he continues his involvement with
swimming by serving as the president of Swimming Natation Canada, helping to
lead the resurgence of the sport across Canada.
    Mr. Thompson joins the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families from
MacLaren McCann Inc., Canada's largest integrated marketing firm. As president
of MacLaren Momentum, he led the development of experiential marketing and
integrated sponsorship programs for some of Canada's largest corporations.
    In his new position, Mr. Thompson's previous involvement in physical
activities will be a complement to the Foundation for Families JumpStart
program, which helps children in financial need participate in organized
sports and recreation.
    "Dan's passion for sport and recreation and his extensive experience in
marketing, strategy development and community engagement, makes him the
perfect fit for the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families," says Martha
Billes, chairman, Foundation for Families. "This is an exciting time for us
and under Dan's leadership, we are confident the Foundation's contribution to
communities across Canada will continue to grow."
    Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Health and
Education from the University of Toronto.

    About Canadian Tire Foundation for Families

    Since the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families was launched in 1999,
over $27 million has been donated to help people in the greatest need with the
necessities of life. In 2005, the Foundation launched JumpStart to enable
families in need to involve their children in organized sports and
recreational activities. To date, over 100,000 children across Canada have
been helped through this program.

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