RBC Named Title Sponsor for Sports Day in Canada

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - RBC and ParticipACTION today announced RBC as the title sponsor of Sports Day in Canada. Presented in partnership with True Sport and CBC Television, the newly titled RBC Sports Day in Canada is a national celebration of sport from grassroots to high performance that aims to inspire Canadians of all ages to participate in sport.

"RBC is committed to helping Canadian youth lead happy and healthy lives, and recognize the lifelong lessons gained through sport," said Jane Broderick, chief brand and communications officer, RBC. "We are proud to sponsor this initiative and have the opportunity to encourage Canadians to embrace sport and strengthen our national pride. RBC Sports Day in Canada is one example of our broader commitment to boost participation in sport and inspire active living among Canadians."

A culmination of a weeklong celebration of sport, this year's RBC Sports Day in Canada will be held on Saturday, November 30 and will include a special broadcast on CBC Television. Beginning on November 25, communities, local organizations and schools will open their doors to host more than a thousand local events and activities, including community-wide festivals, try-it days, open houses, games and competitions, meet-and-greets, tournaments, fun runs, spectator events and pep rallies.

"We are thrilled to welcome RBC to the Sports Day in Canada team as title sponsor," said Kelly Murumets, president and CEO, ParticipACTION. "Their commitment to this program and to encouraging children to get active will help to further the reach and success of Sports Day and move us closer to making physical activity and sport a vital part of everyday life."

The RBC Sports Day in Canada sponsorship is part of RBC's five-year $100 million Believe in Kids Pledge to support a wide range of programs for developing well-rounded kids and youth in Canada. For more information on RBC Sports Day in Canada, or to find events in a community near you, visit http://sportsday.cbc.ca/.

About RBC
RBC supports amateur sport in communities across Canada, from recreational to competitive activities, and from grassroots to elite-level athletes. At the grassroots level, RBC is committed to supporting programs which help children develop the confidence and skills they need to enable them to play, and become happy, healthy and active for life.  RBC is proud to be the longest-standing corporate supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, since 1947, as well as a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.

About ParticipACTION
ParticipACTION is the national voice of physical activity and sport participation in Canada. Originally established in 1971, ParticipACTION was re-launched in 2007 to help prevent the looming inactivity crisis that faces Canada. As a national not-for-profit organization solely dedicated to inspiring and supporting healthy and active living for Canadians, it works with its partners, which include sport, physical activity, recreation organizations, government and corporate sponsors, to inspire and support Canadians to move more. ParticipACTION is generously supported by Sport Canada. For more information, visit www.participACTION.com.

SOURCE: RBC

For further information:

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Alicia DeBoer, Communications, RBC, 416-974-2131, [e-mail]
Kelsey Strickland, H+K Strategies, 416 413-4788, [e-mail]