Bell/Aliant Atlantic Canada Tour — an Opportunity to Engage the East Coast in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Nov 8, 2008

“The Games are geographically far from Atlantic Canada. It’s important for the people of Atlantic Canada to be able to feel and get behind the Olympic and Paralympic Games in their community,” said curler and Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games gold medalist Jamie Korab. A native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Korab actively participated in the Bell/Aliant Atlantic Canada tour organized by Aliant, involving the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
From November 3 to 7, 2008 Korab travelled with VANOC’s Chief Executive Officer, John Furlong, and mascots Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, while visiting St John’s in Newfoundland and Labrador, Halifax in Nova Scotia, Moncton in New Brunswick and Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island. “I'm an ambassador for the Aliant brand. My role is to represent Aliant and connect Atlantic Canadians to the Olympic Spirit with my experience as a gold medallist,” Korab explained.
Korab also works for Aliant as a sponsorship coordinator for sports, events and the 2010 Winter Games sponsorship.
The tour included keynote presentations by John Furlong in each city to members of the media and local business community. The 2010 mascots, along with representatives from VANOC and local athletes, visited elementary schools in each province and children’s hospitals in St John’s and Halifax. As Aliant is the only Official Supporter of both the 2010 Winter Games and the Canadian Olympic Team in Atlantic Canada, the company wanted to create an opportunity to further engage Atlantic Canadians in the journey to the 2010 Winter Games.

VANOC Mascots Miga, Quatchi and Sumi looking at the Atlantic Ocean from Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
“As an ambassador for sport, athletes, coaches and communities — and as Atlantic Canada’s connection to the 2010 Winter Games — Aliant is a great partner and I’d like to thank them for inviting us to participate in the tour this week,” said John Furlong.

Support Olympic and Paralympic Athletes from Canada’s East Coast

In addition to Korab, Aliant also supports athletes living and training in Atlantic Canada, such as Olympic canoeist Andrew Russell, Dave Durepos, two-time gold medalist and silver medallist in wheelchair basketball, Kara Grant, two-time Olympic modern pentathlete and Katarina Roxon, Paralympic swimmer. These athletes also participated in the Aliant Atlantic Canada tour in their respective hometown regions.
“Aliant is a massive supporter of my curling,” Korab continued. “They give me as much time off as needed for tournaments and training. I am very excited to be travelling on this tour with John Furlong. I'm also very excited to possibly get to wear the maple leaf on my back and to throw some stones during the Olympic Games right here on my home soil,” Korab said.
Korab and his curling team are hoping to qualify for the 2010 Winter Games in December 2009.