Samsung Canada Chooses Seven Inspirational Canadians To Participate In The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay

Delivering On A Commitment To Enable Canadians To "Pursue Your Passions," Samsung Canada Torchbearers Get Set for Once-In-A-Lifetime Experience

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 5, 2012 /CNW/ - Samsung Electronics Canada, a leader in consumer electronics, today unveiled the seven inspirational Canadians chosen to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. As part of a campaign in which Samsung Canada encourages Canadians to "Pursue your Passions," Samsung Canada selected the winners based on their Passion for the Olympic spirit and their contributions to the community through philanthropic activities.

"At Samsung Canada we want to help enable Canadians to better pursue their passions. It is a core tenant for our company, as Samsung products empower Canadians to do the things they love in life," said Andrew Barrett, Vice President, Marketing, Samsung Electronics Canada. "After a cross-country search for deserving Canadians, we are excited to announce Samsung Canada's Torchbearers who have made tremendous contributions to the community and are truly passionate about the Olympic spirit."

As a part of 'Everyone's Olympic Games,' the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will offer new and memorable experiences to Canadians across the country. Samsung's Olympic Torchbearers were selected to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity based on their passion to help others. Each Torchbearer has an inspiring story about how they helped others better pursue their passions, such as:

• Dr. Lynn Wilson - is passionate about improving healthcare and juggles a variety of volunteer positions including Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and Co-Director of BRIDGES in support of innovative models of healthcare system integration to advance healthcare in Canada.
  
  
• Michael Joseph Bruni is a self-proclaimed sports enthusiast and leverages his position as the Volunteer Chair on the Board of Directors for Hockey Canada to inspire others to support Canada's beloved national pastime.
  
  
• Jamie Piekarz is dedicated to improving the welfare of women and children in third world countries and supports a number of not-for profits with similar missions including Globe Aware and Peace Matunda.
  
  
• Kunaal Jagtianey is passionate about helping others and uses his work with the SAINTS, a senior citizens assistance agency, to inspire others to lend a helping hand.

Also running on behalf of Samsung Canada is President and CEO, Haktae (H.T.) Kim. "The Olympic Torch Relay is a giant thank you to everyone who has ever helped somebody and provides well-earned recognition," said Kim. "I'm honoured to be carrying the flame in Edinburgh. This will be a unique experience for me and I'm looking forward to meeting some of the amazing people from all walks of life that Samsung Canada has invited to take part. This is truly an Olympic Games for everyone."

Samsung has also selected a number of globally recognized Torchbearers who are known for their continuous inspiration to others. British TV star and campaigner Jamie Oliver, nine-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist John Legend, Ivory Coast and Chelsea footballer Didier Drogba and Vladimir Tolstoy, the essayist and great grandson of Leo Tolstoy will all be carrying the Olympic Flame. To top the bill, the brand new Samsung GALAXY SIII is Samsung's Olympic Games Phone for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Torch Relay began its 70 day journey around the UK on Saturday May 19^th taking in many of the UKs cultural landmarks. Visiting over 1,000 cities, towns and villages along its 8,000 mile route, the Olympic Torch aims to excite the UK and marks the official start of the London 2012 Olympic Games upon its celebrated arrival at the Olympic Stadium on July 27^th.

For more information about the Samsung Pursue Your Passions campaign, please visit the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/samsungcanada

About Samsung's Canadian London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Participants

Dr. Lynn Marie Wilson
Dr. Lynn Wilson, from Toronto, Ontario has always had a passion for improving healthcare for all. She juggles a variety of positions in the field of medicine to advance healthcare in Canada including being the Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and a member of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Physician Services Committee where she helped implement Primary Care Renewal in Ontario. She is also the Co-Director of BRIDGES in support of innovative models of healthcare system integration and worked with Addis Ababa University to implement the first Family Medicine residency program in Ethiopia. Dr. Wilson has been a physician for 27 years and currently practices at Women's College Hospital. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Lynn pursue her passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Michael Joseph Bruni
Michael Joseph Bruni, from Calgary, Alberta has always had a passion for sports, especially hockey. He leverages his position as the Volunteer Chair on the Board of Directors for Hockey Canada to inspire others to support Canada's beloved national pastime. Mike is truly committed to youth sports programs in Canada and focuses his efforts on raising awareness around respect, fairness and safe fun as top priorities for young athletes. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Michael pursue his passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jamie Piekarz
Jamie Piekarz, from Toronto, Ontario has always had a passion about the welfare of women and children in third world countries. She uses her work with Globe Aware, caring for orphaned children in Peru, and Peace Matunda, an orphanage in Tanzania, to raise awareness of impoverished women and children in developing countries. Jamie inspires and coordinates the involvement of colleagues and friends from Canada to volunteer in Ghana to build schools. With two schools already complete, the construction of a third is scheduled to be underway in fall 2012. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Jamie pursue her passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Kunaal Jagtianey
Kunaal Jagtianey, from Toronto, Ontario has always had a passion for helping others. He uses his work with the SAINTS, a senior citizens assistance agency, to inspire others to lend a helping hand. Kunaal assists the elderly with day-to-day tasks around their home that they are unable to complete themselves such as unclogging storm drains or racking lawns. As a winning member of the Samsung Mobilers competition, Kunaal secured a spot on the Samsung Mobilers team whose members act as social media ambassadors for Samsung. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Kunaal pursue his passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Joel Lightman
Joel Lightman, from Toronto, Ontario is passionate about music. As a professional musician, Joel has worked tirelessly with a number of charities, such as WhyHunger, to coordinate donation generating musical events including staging awareness events for World AIDS Day. In pursuit of his passions, Joel has contributed more than $30,000 to SOS Children's Villages. As a winning member of the Samsung Mobilers competition, Joel secured a spot on the Samsung Mobilers team whose members act as social media ambassadors for Samsung. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Joel pursue his passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Mostafa Karima
Mostafa Karima, from Burlington, Ontario has always had a passion for sports. He pursues this passion by coaching Humber College's regionally ranked extramural basketball team while working on his certificate in International Business. Mostafa wants to share the enjoyment he gets from sports with those in underprivileged communities and is currently working on bringing a non-profit rugby program to Egypt. As a winning member of the Samsung Mobilers competition, Mostafa secured a spot on the Samsung Mobilers team whose members act as social media ambassadors for Samsung. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Mostafa pursue his passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Francis Pelletier
Francis Pelletier, from Toronto, Ontario has always had a passion for exploration. As a flight attendant Francis inspires others to discover the world. With an unquenchable thirst for adventure, Francis was a winning member of the Samsung Mobilers competition. As a result, Francis secured a spot on the Samsung Mobilers team whose members act as social media ambassadors for Samsung. This summer, Samsung Canada is helping Francis pursue his passions and dreams of carrying the Olympic Torch in Edinburgh, Scotland.

About Samsung's Involvement in the Olympic Games
Samsung began its Olympic Games involvement as a local sponsor of the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. Beginning with the Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games, the company extended its commitment to the Olympic Movement as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment category, providing its proprietary wireless communications program, called Wireless Olympic Works (WOW), and mobile phones. These innovative mobile phone technologies provide the Olympic Family with real-time information and communications services. Samsung is also a Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay and hosts the Samsung Mobile Explorers to share the excitement of the Olympic Games with people around the world and enable everyone to participate in the Games through its smart mobile technology. Samsung's commitment as a Worldwide Olympic Partner continues through to Rio 2016.

About Samsung's Involvement in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay
As a Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Samsung aims to encourage everyone to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay to make London 2012 'Everyone's Olympic Games.' We aspire to offer new and memorable experiences for everyone around the world. Samsung is providing a great number of inspirational Torchbearers, who have "gone the extra mile" by contributing to the local communities, through its worldwide public nomination campaign. Samsung will support towns and cities to celebrate the exciting moment of the Torch Relay and help showcase Great Britain's cultural landmarks to provide a more enjoyable experience to everyone. The evening celebrations that will be staged in 66 towns and cities throughout the Olympic Flame's journey across the UK, will allow Samsung to entertain the community they are visiting. The Samsung caravan, complete with LED screen on the side showcasing runners and goodwill messages, will travel with Torchbearers around the UK cheering up everyone to celebrate the Torch Relay with music and interaction with local communities. It is Samsung's ambition that London 2012 will be an event that reaches and involves more people than on any other Olympic Games occasion. To learn more about Samsung's London 2012 Olympic programme, please visit www.samsung.com/london2012.

Samsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics Canada delivers unrivalled consumer experiences. Samsung enables Canadians to pursue their passions by offering a broad range of award-winning digital consumer electronics, IT, telecommunications and home appliance products. The Canadian arm upholds Samsung's global mission to provide consumers with innovative digital convergence products that possess exceptional technology, quality, features, performance and value. As a result of its commitment to innovation and unique design, Samsung has become one of the most decorated brands in the electronics industry. The company was ranked #17 in BusinessWeek/Interbrand "100 Best Global Brands" and was named as one of Fast Company's "50 Most Innovative Companies of 2011." For more information, please visit www.samsung.ca.

You can also Like Samsung on Facebook.com/SamsungCanada or follow Samsung on Twitter @SamsungCanada. For customer service inquiries, please call 1-800-SAMSUNG (1-800-726-7864).

Image with caption: "Jamie Piekarz, London 2012 Olympic Torchbearer, and Andrew Barrett, Vice President of Marketing, Samsung Electronics Canada, hop on a double-decker bus in Toronto for the unveiling of seven inspirational torchbearers chosen by Samsung Canada to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. (CNW Group/Samsung Electronics Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120605_C5867_PHOTO_EN_14639.jpg

For further information:

Jessica Savage
North Strategic for Samsung Canada
[email protected]
416.908.4847