2010 Athletes to be Honoured by the Government of Canada
Over 150 Athletes to be Received in the House of Commons
Just weeks after the close of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the Government of Canada will be honouring Canada’s 2010 Olympians and Paralympians with a Tribute in the House of Commons on Thursday, April 22nd, 2010.
Olympians and Paralympians to Visit Ottawa and Gatineau Schools
As part of their visit to the Nation’s Capital, a number of Olympians will be visiting local schools in the Ottawa and Gatineau region. Two of these school visits will be open to members of the media.
Ottawa: Thomas D’Arcy McGee Catholic School, 635 LaVerendrye Drive, Gloucester ON K1J 7C2
Athletes: Scott Niedermeyer (2010 Olympic gold medallist, men’s hockey), Colette Bourgonje (2010 Paralympic double medallist, cross-country ski)
Time: 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Gatineau: École secondaire Du Versant, 808, boul. de la Cité, Gatineau QC J8T 3S8
Athletes: Charles Hamelin (2010 Olympic double gold medallist, short track speed skating), Jean Labonté (2010 Paralympic sledge hockey)
Time: 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Availability at the Hilton Lac Leamy
The athletes will be available for informal meetings with members of the media at the Hilton Lac Leamy, in the Foyer of the Conference Centre, lower level.
Time: 1:15 p.m. – 1:45p.m.
Tribute in the House of Commons
The Olympians and Paralympians will be honoured in the House of Commons at 3:15pm, following Question Period. Media accredited for the House of Commons Press Gallery will be welcome to attend. Non-accredited media will need to request accreditation from Colin Lafrance at the Parliamentary Press Gallery at (613) 992-6517.
Following the athletes’ visit to the House of Commons, the Government of Canada will host a reception in their honour in Room 200, West Block. This reception will be open to the media at 3:45pm, who will need to be accredited through the Parliamentary Press Gallery in order to access the venue.
On the Road to Montreal
Athletes will be travelling to Montreal following their visit to Parliament Hill, in order to take part in a parade hosted by the City of Montreal at 11:30am on Friday, April 23rd. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to be on site to greet the 2010 Olympians and Paralympians. The athlete parade will culminate with a show hosted by Gregory Charles at Phillips Square.
