• From competition to corporate Canada, Rosie Joins Team at Canadian Tire Corporation to Help Shape the Company's Sports Offering and boost Jumpstart Activations
• As a Canadian Tire Jumpstart Ambassador, Rosie MacLennan focuses on month-long campaign in May to raise $1.5 million that helps children in need to participate in sports and recreational activities

TORONTO, May 3, 2013 /CNW/ - Building on a commitment to advance the state of sport in Canada, Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (CTC.A, CTC) announced today that Canadian Olympic gold medallist Rosie MacLennan will join the Company's Sports Partnership team. Working around her athletic training, competition and school schedule, Rosie's new part-time role will draw on her experiences, from the playground to the podium, to help shape Canadian Tire's sports, community and employee engagement strategies.

"Rosie has been extremely successful in the sports world and it is an honour to help launch her successful career in the corporate world," said Doug Nathanson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. "Canadian Tire has long been committed to building the state of sport in Canada and given our shared belief in the power of sport, Rosie being part of our team is a natural fit."

"I am so excited to be joining the Canadian Tire Family of Companies.  My new role helps me develop and share my love of sport in an entirely new way," said 25 year-old Rosie MacLennan. "Joining Canadian Tire gives me the opportunity to be part of a different kind of team than I am used to and I look forward to jumping in and rising to the challenge."

While Rosie's primary responsibilities on the Company's Sports Partnership team will surround partnership development, event planning and grassroots programming, her first official assignment will be to help promote Jumpstart's annual Red Ball campaign. Jumpstart Charities is a national charitable program dedicated to providing financially disadvantaged kids with the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sport and recreation.

The month long May Red Ball campaign aims to raise $1.5 million in customer donations and culminates with the fifth annual Jumpstart Day on May 25, 2013. Throughout the campaign, customers can visit any of Canadian Tire's family of retail locations - including Canadian Tire Retail, Sport Chek, Atmosphere, Mark's and Gas+ - to make a $2 donation and take home their own iconic Jumpstart red ball. All funds raised through the campaign stay in the community where they are received and go towards benefitting local children.

About Rosie MacLenann
Rosannagh (Rosie) MacLennan is a trampolinist and Canada's only gold medallist at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Rosie is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Health. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in exercise science at the University of Toronto. As the youngest of four, Rosie grew up in an active, sports-oriented family in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  Even off the trampoline, she remains active through some of her favourite sports like skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding or dancing.

About Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.a) (TSX:CTC) is a Family of Companies that includes Canadian Tire Retail, PartSource, Gas+, FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, S3 and Atmosphere), Mark's, Canadian Tire Financial Services, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.  With more than 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast, our primary retail business categories - Automotive, Living, Fixing, Playing and Apparel - are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division. More than 85,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada's most recognized and trusted brands. Canadian Tire Retail, Sport Chek and Sports Experts are proud to be Premier National Partners of the Canadian Olympic Team. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca

About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charitable program dedicated to providing financially disadvantaged kids with the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sport and recreation. With an extensive, national network of more than 332 local chapters and 2,600 community partners, Jumpstart helps kids in communities across Canada help cover the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation. Supported by the Canadian Tire Family of Companies, which includes Canadian Tire Retail, Partsource, Gas+, FGL Sports (Sport Chek and Atmosphere), Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial Services, Jumpstart has enabled more than 570,000 (and counting) Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005. For more information or to lend your support, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

SOURCE: CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED