Interview Advisory - The Coca-Cola Canada Live Positively Award

VANCOUVER, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - The Coca-Cola Company will honor individuals, families and organizations with the Coca-Cola Live Positively Award during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Each recipient was chosen because of his or her efforts to turn their passion for improving the well-being of Canadians into important changes that have positively impacted their local communities. With a focus on either active living or environmental sustainability, each recipient has a unique and inspirational story to share. The award ceremonies take place between February 13 and February 28 in the BCMC Media Theatre at Robson Square.

    
    Date      Honoree

    Feb. 17   Premier Gordon Campbell: As British Columbia's 34th premier,
              Premier Campbell was instrumental in bringing the Vancouver
              2010 Olympic Winter Games to the province and his vision for
              combating climate change led to an ambitious plan that placed
              B.C. at the forefront of climate action in North America. The
              Premier is also committed to making British Columbia one of the
              healthiest jurisdictions in Canada through his ActNow BC
              program.

              John Furlong: As the CEO of VANOC, Furlong is leading the team
              that has organized and will stage the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
              and Paralympic Winter Games. Helping to contribute to a better,
              stronger Canada is one of Furlong's most resolute personal
              goals, and he believes the Games can be a real nation builder.
              He has also been instrumental in making the Vancouver 2010
              Olympic Games one of the 'greenest' in history. Sustainability
              at VANOC means managing the environmental, social and economic
              impacts and opportunities of the Games to produce lasting
              benefits, locally and globally.

              Press conference: 9:15 a.m.

    Feb. 18   Kelly Murumets: As president and CEO of ParticipACTION, Kelly
              has taken a dormant organization and has turned it into the
              driving force it is today, inspiring Canadians of all ages to
              get up and active. Every day, Kelly works towards achieving her
              vision of changing the way the world views active living.

              Rick Hansen: A celebrated athlete, a catalyst for change in
              society's attitudes and a man dedicated to making a difference,
              Rick Hansen is best known as Canada's Man In Motion. In his
              legendary Man In Motion World Tour, Rick wheeled more than
              40,000 km through 34 countries, raising $26 million for spinal
              cord injury research and quality of life programs. Now, as
              President & CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation, Rick has helped
              to generate more than $200 million for SCI research and quality
              of life programs.

              Press Conference: 4 p.m.

    Feb. 21   Jennifer Heil & Dominick Gauthier - on behalf of B2ten: B2ten
              is a not for profit organization that supports Canadian elite
              athletes so they may succeed at the highest level of
              international competition.

    Feb. 23   Sami Jo Small: Sami Jo is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and
              the 2009 recipient of the Athletes CAN Leadership Award. Sami
              Jo is also the co-founder of the Canadian Women's Hockey
              League. Her commitment to sport and her involvement in
              developing the Canadian Women's Hockey League has helped create
              a forum for women across the country to participate in our
              nation's sport at an elite level.

              Press Conference: 4 p.m.

    TBD       Gerald Butts: Gerald is President and CEO of WWF-Canada, the
              country's largest environmental organization. Under Gerald's
              leadership, WWF-Canada focuses its efforts on tackling our most
              significant conservation challenges, from freshwater to climate
              change and from species and wilderness preservation to helping
              Canadians live more sustainable lives.

    TBD       Tamara Taggart & Dave Genn: Tamara is a role model for all
              working mothers who face challenges in their everyday lives.
              She and her husband, Dave, live exceptionally positive lives
              and make every effort to spread that positivity within their
              community.

    TBD       Canadian Olympic School Project: The Olympic School Program is
              the Canadian Olympic Committee's primary education program
              aiming to spread the positive message of the Olympic Games to
              all students between grades 2-12. The organization has been
              providing teachers with Olympic Games themed resources for over
              20 years.

    Coca-Cola would like to congratulate the following Live Positively Award
    recipients who have already received their award.

    Feb. 13   Project Blue Sky: Project Blue Sky is an environmental public
              engagement initiative that uses the 'star power' of Olympic,
              Paralympic and other athletes to encourage everyone to reduce
              their personal carbon footprint. Sharing stories, building
              communities and connecting with your favourite athlete are ways
              in which the project draws users.

    Feb. 15   University of British Columbia: In 1997, UBC became Canada's
              first university to implement a sustainable development policy.
              A year later, the university opened Canada's first
              Sustainability Office. UBC is committed to developing an
              environmentally-responsible campus that's economically viable
              and reflects the values of campus community members. Stephen
              Toope, President and Vice Chancellor, UBC, will be accepting
              the award on behalf of the university.

    Location: The BCMC Media Theatre at Robson Square

    Press Information: All credentialed and unaccredited media are invited to
                       attend.
    

Award winners will be available for interviews and photo opportunities.

Visit the Coca-Cola news room online for information and images regarding the Coca-Cola Live Positively Awards. www.cokenews.com

About Live Positively:

"Live Positively" represents The Coca-Cola Company's philosophical approach to building sustainable communities through initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the communities where it operates. The Live Positively concept grew from the recognition that sustainable growth for The Coca-Cola Company is integrally connected to both its business and its marketing success, as well as its societal role.

For further information: If you would like to arrange interviews or to RSVP please contact: Kirsten Mihailides, The Coca-Cola Company, [phone], [email protected]; Mandy Dinning, Hill & Knowlton Canada, [phone], [email protected]