Local Events Bring 100^th Anniversary Event to life for Skate Fans

OTTAWA, Jan. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Skate Canada (@SkateCanada) and Canadian Tire today launched the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships, which take place from January 9 -15 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. This marks the 100^th anniversary of the event and is the final skating competition used to determine who will compete as part of Canada's National Team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

The Canadian Tire Family of Companies has been a supporter of Skate Canada since 2012, and is proud to celebrate with skating fans across the country through the following activities:

Senior Practice Sessions School Day

January 9: Canadian Tire and Skate Canada will host nearly 300 kids from local area schools at Canadian Tire Centre to watch the skaters practice. Following practice, the young fans will have lunch with various Skate Canada Alumni before leaving with an Olympic branded gift.

Jumpstart Teddy Bear Toss

January 10 - 12: By making a small donation to Jumpstart Charities, Championship attendees will receive a plush toy to use to show support for their favourite competitor. Plush toy stations will be positioned around the 100 Level Concourse at Canadian Tire Centre over the course of the competition. A young clean-up crew of local skating club members will collect the toys following each performance and donate them to a local charity post-event.  All funds raised will be donated back to Canadian Tire Jumpstart, a charitable organization that removes financial barriers so children can participate in organized sport and recreation.

Canada Skates! Rink of Dreams

January 10 - 12: Skate Canada will host a number of events at the public outdoor skating rink located outside of Ottawa City Hall - including Learn to Skate lessons and skating demonstrations from local clubs. During this time, Canadian Tire and Mark's will run a 'Warming Tent,' which will give visitors a place to sit down and change into their skates while warming up with hot chocolate. Visitors will also receive a special gift from Mark's for dropping by.

Novice/Junior Championship Bursary Program

As a part of its commitment to supporting skating from backyard and community rinks to the podium, Canadian Tire will again reward both younger athletes and their local regions with bursaries.  Winners from the Novice and Junior levels will receive a bursary of $500 each with an additional $1000 awarded to their Skate Canada Section.  Local Canadian Tire Dealers will present to Novice recipients on Tuesday January 15 and Junior recipients on Wednesday January 15.

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, Pro Hockey Life, National Sports, S3 and Atmosphere), Mark's, Canadian Tire Financial Services, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. With nearly 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

For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca

SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED