TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 18, 2011) - The True Patriot Love Foundation in partnership with the Government of Ontario today unveiled a bronze plaque to commemorate the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers and their families, which will be placed at 26 bridges along the Highway of Heroes. The event was hosted by Enbridge Gas Distribution, one of the first major supporters of the program which is sponsoring the Victoria Park bridge.
The money raised through plaque sponsorship will support military families through programs that help send children to summer camp, provide psychological counseling, retrofit homes and cars for soldiers returning with injuries or amputations, and rehabilitate wounded soldiers through sport.
Quotes:
"It's a proud day to be Canadian when government, companies, regular citizens and a foundation all come together to recognize the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform and the families who serve by their side. On behalf of True Patriot Love, I would like to thank the government and our sponsors for their generous support in furthering our mission to support and celebrate military families."
- Michael Burns, Vice Chair, True Patriot Love Foundation
"We welcome the sponsors' commitment to recognizing the men and women in uniform who have lost their lives serving our country. The memorial plaque being unveiled today honours not only the fallen but also their families and their brothers and sisters in arms."
- The Honourable Brad Duguid, MPP for Scarborough Centre & Minister of Energy
"Enbridge Gas Distribution is extremely proud to help honour the sacrifices made by Canadians in uniform. Since our company's founding more than 160 years ago, hundreds of utility employees have served in the military. Many of those employees made the ultimate sacrifice for our country or were wounded. This initiative honours all those who have served their country and those who continue to serve today."
- Glenn Beaumont, Senior Vice President, Enbridge Gas Distribution
"True Patriot Love is an inspirational demonstration of the love that Canadians, from every part of our society, have for those who serve Canada in our nation's uniform, and for the families who stand beside and behind them. I am privileged, yet again this year, to be a part of something so good, and so fundamentally Canadian."
-General (Ret'd) Rick Hillier, C.M.M., M.S.C., C.D.
Facts:
-- The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has given True Patriot Love
unique rights to display memorial plaques at bridges along the Highway
of Heroes. From Trenton to Toronto there are 26 select overpasses that
will feature these plaques.
-- The plaque program honours those who have lost their lives serving our
country and the families who have served by their side. This is done by
picturing the ordinary Canadians who gathered on those bridges to
welcome home those that fell and were being repatriated to their homes
and families. True Patriot Love commissioned sculpted bronze plaques
that will feature a sponsor's name or logo.
-- Highway of Heroes Sponsors to date include Enbridge Gas Distribution,
SkyLink Aviation, The Dunkley Charitable Foundation, 33 Signals
Regiment, Porter Airlines, RE/MAX, THALES, Tim Hortons and WestJet.
-- Over the last two years, True Patriot Love has raised more than $6
million to support military families. True Patriot's Love third annual
Gala is taking place on November 10th at the Allstream Centre, with more
than 1,800 guests expected to attend. For the second consecutive year,
Bell Canada is the title sponsor and so far more than $1.5 million has
been raised for the dinner.
For more information about True Patriot Love, visit www.truepatriotlove.com.
To view the image associated with this press release, please see the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/818enb.pdf
For more information please contact:
Bronwen Evans
Director
647-448-8374
bevans@truepatriotlove.com
Enbridge
Chris Meyer
416-753-6626
chris.meyer@enbridge.com
