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In October 2011, we received a phone call from a mom. She wanted to know if some people at KidSport were available for her son to come and talk to.

She told us about her amazing 6-year old son, Caleb. He told his friends not to buy him birthday presents for his party. Instead, Caleb asked his friends to give him money for a cause. The cause was KidSport. He had decided that he didn’t want a birthday present, – he just wanted to help another child play a sport!

His mother had explained to him that he was able to play a sport because KidSport helped him. So, he decided that he “just wanted to give back!”

Caleb and his mother presented all of the money collected from his birthday party ($40) to KidSport.

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UBCO Heat graduating players Simon Pelland and Steve Morrison flank Athletic Director Rob Johnson at the Heat’s final home game of 2012. The Heat held a KidSport fundraising event and donated $50 to KidSport for every 3 pointer made by the Heat. Playing perhaps their best game of the year, the guys hit nine 3 pointers and raised $450 for KidSport!

Way to go Heat and best of luck to Simon and Steve in the real world!

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A cheque presentation to KidSport Surrey/White Rock during the recent Grey Cup tour. Representatives of the Bryan James Foundation, Jordan James, Andrew James and Charlotte Paul, present a cheque for $1200. Also in the photo are BC Lions Paul Mccallum, JR Larose, Angus Reid and Geroy Simon.

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Vancouver Canucks players Burrows, Hamhuis and Raymond served as honourary KidSport coaches…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Monday, October 17

The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Goals & Dreams fund hosted the Goals & Dreams Cup at Hillcrest Arena in Vancouver today to launch their annual equipment donation (50 complete sets) to KidSport BC.  The Goals & Dreams Cup featured children from KidSport BC and Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS), who are all past recipients of NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations. The kids hit the ice for a fun hockey game that was coached by Alex Burrows, Dan Hamhuis and Mason Raymond of the Vancouver Canucks.

“It was great to be out there with the kids. It is so rewarding to be part of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams initiatives. There is nothing better than seeing the kids with huge smiles on their faces because they are finally getting the chance to play hockey,” said Alex Burrows, Vancouver Canucks forward and Team KidSport member. “KidSport™ BC does a great job of helping kids play all sports and I’m glad I can lend my support.”

The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund has partnered with KidSport™ programs in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and the Maritime provinces. In total, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $400,000 worth of hockey equipment to KidSport™ nationally since 2003. Across the country, many NHL players have participated in Goals & Dreams Cup celebrations and KidSport events.

“The ongoing support from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is a tremendous assistance to KidSport™ in removing some of the barriers that otherwise would prevent Canadian children from playing hockey. Through the donation of brand-new hockey equipment, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund has demonstrated their commitment to helping us give more kids a chance to participate in sports,” said Pete Quevillon, KidSport BC Director.

KidSport™ was founded in 1993, as the charitable arm of Sport BC, to provide financial aid to children who could not afford sport registration fees. In 2010, KidSport BC helped more than 5400 kids play a season of sport through grants totaling over $900,000.

In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 11 years, more than 60,000 deserving children in 25 countries have benefited from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations of full sets of hockey equipment. To date, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $20-million to grassroots hockey programs around the world making it the largest program of its kind.

Visit the NHLPA website here for more information.

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KidSport would like to thank another great volunteer, Marg Kinrade, for her hard work and dedication.

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Marg has been a valuable committee member of KidSport Nelson since 2006. She retired from School District #8 following an extensive career as classroom teacher and school counselor. Presently, she is living and working at Hidden Chapel Winery in the Okanagan.

Thank you again for all the time you spent making a difference with KidSport Nelson!

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All of us at KidSport would like to extend our warmest thanks to  KidSport Nelson volunteer, Laura Torrans.

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Without her hard work and dedication, KidSport Nelson would not be the driving force it is within their community today.

Presently, Laura is a long time member of the Nelson Regional Sports Council. She has been very instrumental in the development of KidSport Nelson, and has been their treasurer since 2006. Laura leaves KidSport Nelson at this time with the option to certainly return in the future.

You presence will always be welcome at KidSport and we wish you all the best! Thank you Laura for your support with KidSport Nelson!

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In honor of the Whistler Spirit Run this year, a wonderfully designed trophy was specially created for the event. A special thanks goes to First Nations Artist , Aaron Nelson-Moody for this beautiful piece of art. From now on, the Perpetual Trophy will be permanently  displayed in the day lodge at Whistler Olympic Park for all to see.

The trophy features a red cedar base from the Squamish Valley, basalt from Callaghan Valley and hand etched aluminum in a wave/swirl pattern. This specifically represents the Sea to Sky Region and the swirls of the Spirit Run logo. It also acknowledges the Spirit Run’s presenting sponsor, Rio Tinto Alcan.

Who will win this trophy for the very first time? Find out on September 24th! The Whistler Spirit Run is supporting KidSport with their proceeds for the third time! We can’t thank them enough for their great help each year!

Want More Information? Whistler Spirit Run Website
**Online Registration is extended till 8PM TONIGHT!

2nd annual Corporate Kids Challenge will help close to 2,700 kids play organized sports

NEWS RELEASE

VANCOUVER, BC (September 12, 2011) – On Saturday, September 10, 2011, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA) welcomed hundreds of people to the 2nd annual Corporate Kids Challenge at its Burnaby, BC headquarters, raising over CA$530,000 for KidSport BC™. During the event Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, presented a cheque on behalf on the Province of British Columbia for CA$400,000.

“The government of British Columbia believes in the power of sport and KidSport BC helps remove the financial barrier so kids can participate,” said Minister Chong. “Sports teach kids team work and self esteem.”

BC Olympic athletes and 22 corporate teams from the Greater Vancouver area competed in games and sports activities including tug of war, an egg and spoon race and an obstacle course. WPCG was the winning corporate team of this year’s challenge. The day ended with a live auction featuring an Olympic torch and other unique items. Event information can be found at www.rbauction.com/kidschallenge.

“This is the biggest fundraiser of any KidSport™ chapter in Canada,” said Pete Quevillon, Director, KidSport BC™. “The money raised at this event will help close to 2,700 kids participate in a season of sport.”

Ritchie Bros. COO Bob Armstrong kicked off the event by expressing the company’s commitment to helping create a foundation for community sport participation.

“At Ritchie Bros. we try to give back by supporting groups that are focused on amateur athletics and youth leadership development,” said Mr. Armstrong. “KidSport is all about making sure there are no kids left on the sidelines and that every child gets the chance to play an organized sport.”

Ritchie Bros. also conducted a live charity auction featuring sports experiences, trips and other unique events donated by local companies and business people. The auction took place on-site during the event, and was also available to the public through Ritchie Bros.’ real-time online bidding service at www.rbauction.com. Highlights included a 3-day pacific salmon fishing trip at Warm Springs Resort on Stuart Island, B.C. that was donated by Ritchie Bros. co-founder Dave Ritchie.

Ritchie Bros. plans to hold the 3rd annual Corporate Kids Challenge in late summer of 2012.

“I was here last year and it’s great to be a part of it again,” said Olympian Brian Johns. “It’s such a great cause and I look forward to being a part of it indefinitely.”

About KidSport™

KidSport™ is a community-based sports funding program that provides grants for financially disadvantaged children ages 6 to 18 to participate in amateur sport and learn valuable life lessons and skills. The organization operates 175 chapters across Canada, 39 of which are based British Columbia. For more information about KidSport™ and how you can help in your community, please visit www.kidsport.ca.

About Ritchie Bros.

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is the world’s largest industrial auctioneer, selling more equipment to on-site and online bidders than any other company in the world. Ritchie Bros. offers services that enable the world’s builders to easily and confidently exchange equipment. The Company conducts hundreds of unreserved public auctions each year, selling a broad range of used and unused equipment, trucks and other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, agricultural, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum and marine industries. Ritchie Bros. has over 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 43 auction sites worldwide. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com and sponsors an equipment wiki at www.RitchieWiki.com.

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For more information contact:

Vicki Cunningham, Supervisor, Corporate Communications, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Phone: +1.778.331.5464 or email vcunningham@rbauction.com

Members of the public and the media can follow Ritchie Bros. on Twitter @RitchieBros.

Erin van der Lee

Corporate Communications Coordinator

T: +1.778.331.5345

E: evanderlee@rbauction.com

www.rbauction.com
9500 Glenlyon Parkway
Burnaby, BC V5J 0C6

 

Organizing Group for The Spirit Run makes donation in support of KidSport ™ BC

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2011 – Vancouver, BC – The organizers of the Whistler Spirit Run recently presented KidSport BC with a cheque for $2,500.00, a portion of the net proceeds from the 2010 event held last September at Whistler Olympic Park.

The Whistler Spirit Run, part of the Vancouver Sun Run Series and Lower Mainland Cross Country Series, is a Cross Country and Trail running event featuring something for everyone at Whistler Olympic Park. It is the realization of the late coach Frank Reynolds’ vision to have a mass participation cross country event while encouraging and supporting British Columbia high school and University athletes through charitable donations and scholarship programs.

“We are very grateful to our partners at the Whistler Spirit Run & Festival for their continued support of KidSport, said Pete Quevillon, KidSport BC Director. These funds will ensure that at least 10 kids in the Whistler corridor will have the opportunity to enjoy a season of sport.”

Since the first Whistler Spirit Run three years ago, the event has attracted people of all ages and built strong relationships. This year’s version will consist of cross country events of various distances for school and club teams, a fun 4x2KM team relay and individual competitive races where substantial prize money will be offered. The Whistler Spirit Run is part of the Lower Mainland Cross Country Series, where runners have the opportunity to collect points towards the overall series.

“We started this event with one thing in mind and that was giving back to sport and the community in every way possible, said Linda Bakk, Board Member of the organizing committee for The Whistler Spirit Run.  “The support we have received from the local community through donations, volunteers and corporate sponsors, has been invaluable. It is because of them that we are able to make another donation this year to KidSport BC”.

Everyone is encouraged to take part and register in this year’s exciting event. The Whistler Spirit Run sees a variety of athletes cross the finish line. One of this year’s exciting attractions is the “The Whistler Spirit Relay Challenge”. All teams – corporate, school, family and fun teams are encouraged to register for this event. A permanent trophy has been created and it will proudly and permanently be on display at Whistler Olympic Park. Who will win this trophy for the very first time? Find out on September 24th!

 

About KidSport:

KidSport™ was established in 1993 by Sport BC as a community based sport-funding program that provides grants for children ages 6 – 18 to participate in a sport season of their choice. There are now 28 community chapters in BC and 177 chapters across Canada. KidSport™ works to fulfill its mission of eliminating the financial barriers to sport participation, ‘So ALL Kids Can Play!’ For more information, or to get involved, visit kidsport.ca

For more information, visit www.whistlerspiritrun.com or contact us at whistlerspiritrun@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.