/R E P E A T -- Multi-Year Canadian Women-in-Sport Strategy to be Unveiled/

Minister Raitt, Four of Canada's Most-Celebrated Female Athletes, CAAWS and Several Sports Organizations Join Canada's Dairy Farmers to Fuel Women Champions across Canada

TORONTO, April 6, 2015 /CNW/ -

PHOTO:	The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, a host of Canada's most-celebrated medal winners and Canada's dairy farmers join young female athletes from across the country in a special physical literacy session to launch a new women-in-sport strategy.
WHEN	Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 10:30am to 12:00pm, The Glass Factory, 99 Sudbury Street,
& WHERE:	Toronto
WHAT:	According to data reported by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), women are severely under-represented in sports:
	99.6 per cent of sponsorship dollars in the sports industry go to male sports; Compensation in female sport is still exponentially less than that of men's sports; Girls become less active as they transition from childhood to adolescence. Betweenages 5-12, 56 per cent of girls are not active enough. In the teen years, that figure jumps to 70 per cent; In Canada, only 19 per cent of women participate in sports Still, Canada's female athletes have experienced unparalleled success on the global stage in recent years.
	Given this landscape, Canada's dairy farmers have banded together with leading sports thought leaders to develop a multi-year women-in-sport strategy entitled Fuelling Women Champions. This social change initiative is designed to see that no hurdle exists that might hinder passion for the game, and in our inaugural year, to shine a spotlight on women in sport and to band Canadians together from coast-to-coast to join in the movement. Details of this strategy rollout will be unveiled at this national media launch event.
WHO:	The following community figures and sports leaders will be available for interviews:
	Wally Smith, President, Dairy Farmers of Canada
	The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport
	Celebrated Canadian Athletes: Kaillie Humphries (bobsleigh) Jennifer Jones (curling) Chantal Petitclerc (wheelchair-racing) Natalie Spooner (hockey)
	Partner Sports Organizations:
	Brenda Andress, Commissioner, Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) Graham Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Rugby Canada Leanne Nicolle, Board Member, Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS)
AGENDA:	10:45am – Opening addresses by Wally Smith, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport and Leanne Nicolle (CAAWS) providing insight into the state of women in sport in Canada today and this new Fuelling Women Champions strategy.
	11:00am – Photo-opportunity: leaders noted above with Wally Smith, and young female athletes take part in a special Passport for Life physical literacy session led by the sports ambassadors; one-on-one interviews with the media.
	11:30am – Women in Sport Q&A led by CAAWS and 2014 Lou Marsh Award Winner as Canada's Top Athlete, Kaillie Humphries.
	(a light lunch will be served)

           

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Canada (Corporate)

Media requiring further information, please contact: PM Rendon / Keka DasGupta, DDB Public Relations, 416-972-7784 / 416-972-7727, [email protected] / [email protected]