MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 1, 2014 /CNW/ - Nissan Canada's inaugural "Back in the Game" program finished on a high note with its two feature high school teams getting the experience of a lifetime at the country's biggest football event – the 102nd Grey Cup in Vancouver. Students from Hamilton's Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School and Edmonton's Eastglen High School flew to Vancouver for Grey Cup weekend on a CFL charter flight to meet CFL alumni and stars, take part in a skills clinic and behind-the-scenes tour at B.C. Place and, of course, watch the Calgary Stampeders win the Grey Cup.
"Because of this sponsorship, I have had countless dreams about myself playing on the Edmonton Eskimos, said Jaleel Dennie, Defensive Back for Edmonton's Eastglen Blue Devils." Now that I have experienced what it is like to play and work like a champion, I will definitely never stop until I have live my new dreams. Once again Nissan, thanks for me giving me the opportunity to play the greatest sport I have grown to love, football."
Eastglen and Sir John A Macdonald were not the only high schools to benefit from the inaugural program though. Building on seven years of partnership with the CFL, the Nissan "Back in the Game" program identified and supported nearly 1,000 students at 21 high schools in 18 cities across the country. More than 55 Nissan dealerships and nine CFL teams participated with new uniforms, helmets, masks, shoulder pads, cleats, pants, game balls, five-man blocking sleds and CFL player appearances just a few things provided to the teams involved.
"It is so important for young people to be part of a team and feel that they belong," said Christian Meunier, President, Nissan Canada. "Nissan's global culture is one of acceptance and diversity. We believe in teams working together to reach a common goal and we are driven to improve the communities we live and work in. This program is about giving young Canadians a chance to put on a uniform and work together – to be proud of each other – and it has been a real pleasure to help provide that for these students this year."
For the teams in the program, winning on the scoreboard will always be the ultimate goal, but it is not how a successful season is defined. Teamwork, cooperation, hard work and friendship are just some of the benefits that coaches, staff and communities are seeing in these students.
"Nissan's Back in the Game program has been an absolute life-changing experience for every player on our team as well everyone around them, myself included," said Jeff Kott, coach, Sir John A. Macdonald. "The equipment, uniforms and the Grey Cup trip have all been incredible, but giving these kids the support and opportunity to work together and be proud of something has made incredible changes in every single one of them."
To enable all Canadians to follow the journey, Sir John A Macdonald and Eastglen were selected to be featured in webisodes that tell the stories of their trials, tribulations and triumphs over the course of their 2014 football season. These webisodes can be viewed at BackInTheGame.ca, including the full 30-minute Nissan Back in the Game documentary that aired November 29 on TSN.
Throughout the season, the CFL and many of its teams also made significant contributions, including donations of training equipment and special player appearances to help train and motivate this next generation of Canadian football.
"The CFL is committed to helping grow the game of football in Canada and with the support of partners like Nissan and programs like Back in the Game, we can support more communities and get more kids working and playing as a team in a sport they love," said Mark Cohon, Commissioner, Canadian Football League.
21 schools, 18 cities, 5 provinces, 1 goal – Put Canadian youth "Back in the Game"
Vancouver, BC |
Eric Hamber Secondary School |
Burnaby, BC |
Burnaby Central Secondary School |
South Surrey, BC |
Earl Marriott Secondary School |
Edmonton, AB |
Eastglen High School |
Calgary, AB |
Bishop McNally High School & Father Lacombe High School |
Calgary, AB |
James Fowler High School |
Calgary, AB |
St. Mary's High School |
Winnipeg, MB |
Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute |
Prince Albert, SK |
Carlton Comprehensive Public High School |
Saskatoon, SK |
Mount Royal Collegiate |
Swift Current, SK |
Swift Current Comprehensive High School |
Regina, SK |
F.W. Johnson Collegiate |
Mississauga, ON |
Clarkson Secondary School |
Toronto, ON |
Downsview Secondary School |
Toronto, ON |
Newtonbrook Secondary School |
Bowmanville, ON |
Bowmanville High School |
Scarborough, ON |
Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute |
St. Catharine's, ON |
St. Catharine's Collegiate |
Hamilton, ON |
Sir John A MacDonald Secondary School |
Ottawa, ON |
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School |
Montreal, QC |
École Secondaire Dalbé-Viau |
Information, images and B-Roll of Nissan's full lineup are available at www.media.nissan.ca or upon request.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
About Nissan Canada
Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) is the Canadian sales, marketing and distribution subsidiary of Nissan Motor Limited and Nissan North America, Inc. With offices in Vancouver (BC), Mississauga (ON), and Kirkland (QC), NCI directly employs 250 full-time staff. There are 184 independent Nissan dealerships, 35 Infiniti retailers and 44 Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealers across Canada. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year awards.
More information about Nissan in Canada and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissan.ca and www.infiniti.ca.
About the Canadian Football League
This is today's CFL: star athletes playing a great game in modern venues. It's the home of the 102nd Grey Cup this November in Vancouver. It is where the Ottawa REDBLACKS will debut in 2014, playing in the modern TD Place, just as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats move into beautiful, new Tim Hortons Field. This is our league: proudly Canadian and steeped in tradition, but built for the future.
Image with caption: "CFL Player Shawn Gore provides skills training to high school students at the 102nd Grey Cup weekend as part of Nissan's Back in the Game Program (CNW Group/Nissan Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141201_C6557_PHOTO_EN_8774.jpg
Image with caption: "Students from Edmonton and Hamilton high schools received skills training from CFL Stars at the 102nd Grey Cup weekend as part of Nissan's Back in the Game Program (CNW Group/Nissan Canada Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141201_C6557_PHOTO_EN_8775.jpg
SOURCE: Nissan Canada Inc.
Media contacts: Mark James, Cohn & Wolfe (Nissan Canada), Tel: 647-259-3316 / 416-400-5263 (mobile), Email: [email protected]; Jamie Dykstra, Canadian Football League, Tel: 416-865-2664 / 627-400-6235 (mobile), Email: [email protected]
Share this article