Royal Canadian Mint and Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium invite Canadians to vote on favourite Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The Royal Canadian Mint and Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium are inviting Canadians to celebrate the rich and storied history of the Olympic Winter Games by voting on the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments of all time for a chance to win one of two trips for two to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The Top 3 moments will be featured on 25-cent coins, each with a mintage of 22 million, and will enter into circulation in the fall of 2009, leading up to Vancouver 2010. The results of the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments will be revealed in a one-hour prime-time broadcast special, in English and French, in September 2009 on CTV, TSN and RDS.
"Whether they recently witnessed it in real-time or read about it decades later, Canadians from coast to coast can recall that special moment in our country’s winter sports history that instilled a sense of pride like no other," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "We’re proud to give Canadians the opportunity to determine the most extraordinary Olympic Winter Games moments to complete our Vancouver 2010 circulation coin program."
"Canadian Olympic athletes have the profound ability to make an emotional connection with fans and instill a tremendous amount of national pride. Their stories are awe-inspiring and their accomplishments are exceptional. We celebrate and pay tribute to Canada’s Olympic heroes who have helped shape the Olympic Winter Games for Canadians nationwide," said Keith Pelley, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.
Voting for the Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments begins today (February 12) and runs through March 25 at CTVOlympics.ca & RDSolympiques.ca. Canadians are encouraged to cast their votes and rank their favourite moments, while also sharing their memories about each moment. A random draw will take place in early April to determine two winners, each of whom will each receive a trip for two to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
The Top 10 Canadian Olympic Winter Moments finalists, as selected by an independent voting panel are:
- Nancy Greene – gold medal and silver medal, alpine skiing, Grenoble 1968
- Gaétan Boucher – two gold medals and one bronze medal, speed skating, Sarajevo 1984
- Marc Gagnon – gold medal, short track speed skating, Salt Lake City 2002
- Catriona Le May Doan – gold medal, speed skating, Salt Lake City 2002
- Men’s Hockey Team – gold medal, Salt Lake City 2002
- Women’s Hockey Team – gold medal, Salt Lake City 2002
- Jamie Salé and David Pelletier – gold medal, figure skating, Salt Lake City 2002
- Beckie Scott – gold medal, cross-country skiing, Salt Lake City 2002
- Cindy Klassen – one gold medal, two silver medals and two bronze medals, speed skating, Turin 2006
- Clara Hughes – gold medal, speed skating, Turin 2006
The 25-cent coins featuring the Top 3 moments are part of the Mint’s extensive circulation program commemorating the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Launched in January 2007, the collection includes 17 coins featuring designs related to the 2010 Winter Games. Canadians can share in the pride and touch the Games by collecting and saving these special coins.
For more information on the moments, the voting panel and for full contest rules, please visit www.CTVOlympics.ca and www.RDSolympiques.ca.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2000 certified company, the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale.
The Mint is an Official Supporter of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and has undertaken to produce the most extensive circulation coin program in relation to the 2010 Winter Games ever conceived by any mint worldwide, while also offering limited mintage collector coins and sets. Visit www.mint.ca/2010 for Vancouver 2010 keepsakes and gifts.
About Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium
Established in 2007, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium is a unique relationship between leading media conglomerates CTV and Rogers Media Inc., which together will provide unprecedented coverage and consumer choice in English, French and multi-languages on multiple platforms for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and London 2012 Olympic Games.
Broadcast brands include CTV, TSN, RDS, RIS Info-Sports, Rogers Sportsnet, OMNI, OLN, TQS, APTN, ATN, MuchMusic and select Rogers radio stations across the country.
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