Schools to Celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador Day at the Olympics

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, was at Holy Cross Elementary in St. John�s today to announce that on Friday, February 26, 2010, students throughout the province will participate in Olympic-sized events and activities at their schools as a way to celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador Day at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Those events and activities will incorporate the Living Healthy Commotions which are organized each year by teachers and students in schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Commotions provide an opportunity for school communities to focus on healthy living through different physical activities and the promotion of healthy food choices.

Minister King was joined today by Olympic gold medal winner Mark Nichols and the Olympic and Paralympic mascots to inspire students to get involved and plan the best commotion in their school district for February 26, 2010.

�Next year, on Newfoundland and Labrador Day, the Living Healthy Commotions will take on a special theme, as they focus on the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games - friendship, fair play, and the pursuit of excellence,� said Minister King. �I can�t think of a better way to show our Olympic spirit than with the youth and students of our province. Teachers and administrators use their creativity to get the students involved and excited about making healthy choices and I know they will pull out all the stops next year to showcase our province to the world.�

Video coverage of one school from each of the province�s school districts will be selected to be highlighted during the warm-up show taking place in Vancouver prior to the medal ceremonies on February 26, 2010. During that event, the schools and students will have the opportunity to show their support for the Olympic and Paralympic values.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, noted this event will provide an opportunity to show the country and the world that the Olympic spirit is alive and well in Newfoundland and Labrador.

�By connecting our school activities in the province with the audience and visitors attending the ceremonies in Vancouver, our students have the opportunity to share their Olympic spirit, first-hand, with the rest of the world and to send the message that Newfoundland and Labrador is a great place to live, work, travel and do business,� said Minister Jackman.
The Olympic and Paralympic mascots and Mr. Nichols have also visited St. George�s Elementary in Conception Bay South and Cape St. Francis Elementary in Pouch Cove. They will also visit Newtown Elementary in Mount Pearl today.

In July 2008, Newfoundland and Labrador announced it had signed a Contributing Province/Territory Program (CPTP) agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). One of the benefits of the CPTP is a selection of a day during the Olympic Games where the province�s unique character, culture and opportunities are highlighted on the world stage. For more information on Newfoundland and Labrador Day, visit: //www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2009/tcr/0225n01.htm. Through the CPTP, the province has invested $1.5 million to support Canadian athletes and the staging of the 2010 Winter Games, and is able to take advantage of a wide range of benefits and opportunities to promote the province internationally.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

2009 05 01                               10:00 a.m.