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Skate to Great Collects Skates for Kids at Nathan Phillip Square

Source: Marketwire – Media Advisory | August 22, 2014


New Initiative Committed to Bringing the Joy of Skating to Those Who Might Never Experience It

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – March 1, 2012) – Two young Torontonians are launching a new charity to collect used skates for kids this weekend at Nathan Phillips Square. Kaitlyn Weaver – rated second in Canada’s Senior Dance Figure Skating, and Evan Kosiner, a young entrepreneur and Radio and Television Arts student from Ryerson, joined forces to encourage people to donate their used skates to those young people that simply can’t afford them.

“Canadian winters are all about getting together with friends for a quick game of shinny or labouring over a figure eight on the ice,” said Kosiner. “But there are a lot of kids that will never have a chance to skate and that just isn’t right if you’re a kid in Canada.”

Partnering with Lowe Home Improvement’s, Skate To Great will have a “mini-rink” beside the skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square where they are asking people to drop off their gently used, but no longer fitting, figure and hockey skates that will be passed on to youngsters anxious to learn to skate. FedEx Express Canada is providing Skate To Great with free shipping services to get all skates received from this event to their new home. FedEx Express Canada is also donating $5,000 towards the purchase of new skates in support of this initiative.

“There are so many children in Canada whose families cannot afford skates, lessons or necessary ice time to learn how to skate. This is where Skate to Great comes in,” says, Weaver. “By helping out these families and giving these children a free pair of skates, this organization is opening up their minds to dream.”

This Sunday, March 4, join these young people as they collect skates to donate to children who are blind and visually impaired across the country from Courage Canada.

John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, Tyler Armes of the popular Canadian band Down with Webster and figure skaters Piper Gilles and Paul Poirer will be on hand at 3 pm to receive the public’s used skates and FedEx Express Canada’s generous donation.

WHO: Skate to Great

WHAT: Skate donation event

WHEN: Event from 12 noon – 8 pm. Photo op – 3 pm

WHERE: Nathan Phillips Square – Toronto

WHY: To collect gently used skates for disadvantaged youth across Canada


Visually Impaired Kids Learn to Play Hockey

Source: Toronto Sun | August 22, 2014


TORONTO – They strapped on their knee and elbow pads, tied up their skates and then they hit the ice.Sounds like the thing to do for any hockey-loving Canadian boy or girl, but this was a little different.Blind and visually impaired children spent Wednesday afternoon learning to skate and shoot the puck at the Weston Lions Arena.

Several Ryerson University hockey players volunteered to guide the children on the ice. While some kids had trouble adapting to the new activity, others were able to do laps around the rink independently.”I think I’m doing better than the Toronto Maple Leafs, even!” said Alex Marlet, a nine-year-old blind student.

The event was held by Courage Canada for the benefit of children from the Toronto District School Board. Courage Canada was founded three years ago by a 24-year-old blind hockey player named Mark DeMontis, of Toronto.Two of their partners, Accessible Media Inc. and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, were also present.”CNIB’s mission is to provide confidence skills and opportunities, and today is a perfect example of that,” said John Rafferty, President and CEO of CNIB.

Rafferty emphasized visually impaired and blind children are often told they cannot participate in certain activities at school. By attending events like these, they able to learn the skills necessary for these games and sports.”For us it’s about normalcy for kids… It’s about inclusion,” Rafferty said. Marlet said he was having a lot of fun and trying to be brave. He was not the only one who enjoyed himself. “It’s a lot of fun to be here… I’m making great friends,” said David Errington, president and CEO of AMI.

This event is one of the 13 Courage Canada plans on holding this year. Upwards of 200 kids coast-to-coast are expected to learn to skate and participate in blind hockey programs.


CP24 Breakfast

Source: Youtube | August 22, 2014


CP24 Breakfast

Skate To Great Promo of Skate To Great with Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier


Canada Ice: Skate to Great

Source: Canadaice Blog | August 22, 2014


Senior silver medalist Kaitlyn Weaver and Ryerson University student Evan Kosiner have joined forces to establish Skate To Great, a new charity aimed at gathering figure and hockey skates for young Canadians who cannot afford equipment.

Senior bronze medalists Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier appeared on CP24 Breakfast this morning to discuss the Skate To Great drive at which they’ll be participating, set for Sunday, March 4 from noon-8 p.m.


CityTV @ 11:00pm News

Source: Skate To Great’s YouTube | August 22, 2014


CityTV – CityNews at 11pm

Intro and then report from our event.


CTV @ 11:30pm News

Source: Skate To Great’s YouTube | August 22, 2014


CTV News at 11:30


CTV @ 6:00pm New

Source: Skate To Great’s YouTube | August 22, 2014


Event Coverage of Skate To Great’s event at Nathan Phillips Square on March 4, 2012


CP24 Live @ 5:30

Source: Youtube | August 22, 2014


Skate To Great Live On CP24 at 5:30pm


CP24 Live @ 5:00pm – Sponsor Feature for On-Site Sponsor Reps

Source: Youtube | August 22, 2014


Skate To Great Live On CP24 at 5:00pm.


CP24 Repeat @ 4:30pm

Source: Youtube | August 22, 2014


Skate To Great Live On CP24 at 4:30pm.


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