Ottawa, Ontario February 9, 2016 –The Shaw Centre and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are about to make a huge contribution to the National Capital Region’s food banks. At the end of a three-day conference taking place at the Shaw Centre, Loblaw is donating the equivalent of approximately three 53-foot trailers filled with perishable and non-perishable food items to both the Ottawa Food Bank and Moisson Outaouais. This is in addition to the 7,500 bags of most-needed items donated earlier this week by Loblaw’s discount division.
An army of volunteers from the Shaw Centre will be involved in packaging up the food each day from February 7-10 to ensure it is donated and distributed as promptly as possible. We are inviting local media to join us at the Shaw Centre while we are packing the food from 7:30 to 10:30 am on February 10. Representatives from the Shaw Centre, Moisson Outaouais and the Ottawa Food Bank will be present and available for interviews.
“The Shaw Centre is so pleased to host Loblaw’s conference,” says Nina Kressler, President of the Centre. “While our venue hosts many significant corporate events each year, this one is particularly special for us as it is also giving us a unique opportunity to make an important contribution to our region’s most vulnerable individuals and families, in the form of this large food donation from Loblaw and more than 100 participating vendors .”
“We are incredibly grateful for this thoughtful and generous contribution,” confirms Michael Maidment, executive director of the Ottawa Food Bank. “In the winter months, it is particularly challenging for us to meet the needs of our nearly 50,000 clients so this donation from Loblaw, its vendors and the Shaw Centre will make a real difference in our community.”
“This wonderful collaboration between Loblaw and the Shaw Centre will enable Moisson Outaouais to better support the thousands of people who rely on us for food aid each month,” added Sonia Latulippe, Executive Director of Moisson Outaouais.
In addition to orchestrating this major food donation, the Shaw Centre has also prepared a booklet to be made available at area food banks, providing valuable nutrition tips and easy to prepare recipes featuring common staples available to food bank clients.
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About the Shaw Centre
The Shaw Centre was founded as the Ottawa Congress Centre in 1983. With project funding from the Province of Ontario, the City of Ottawa and the Government of Canada, the Ottawa Congress Centre was redeveloped into a new larger facility, which opened in April 2011 as the Ottawa Convention Centre (OCC). In October 2014, the OCC and Shaw Communications entered into a 10 year partnership, rebranding the facility as the Shaw Centre. The Shaw Centre is a state-of-the-art convention centre that generates economic impact by hosting conventions, trade shows, meetings, consumer shows and events. The Shaw Centre was recently named runner-up as the world’s best convention centre by the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC). Since opening our doors in 2011, the Shaw Centre has hosted over 2000 events and has added approximately $300M to the Ottawa-Gatineau area and Province of Ontario. The Ottawa Convention Centre® Corporation is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
About the Ottawa Food Bank
The Ottawa Food Bank is the Region’s central food assistance organization. Through its 140 member agencies, the Ottawa Food Bank provides food for 50,000 people per month, 37 per cent of whom were children. On average, 12 to 14 tons of food is shipped from its Michael Street warehouse each and every weekday. For more information on how the Ottawa Food Bank helps its neighbours get beyond hunger, or to make a secure online donation, please visit: www.ottawafoodbank.ca
About Moisson Outaouais
The Moisson Outaouais, in partnership with its affiliated agencies throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region, ensures food security for those who live in harsh economic and social conditions. Within the very heart of a vast mutual aid network, their vision is to be a regional leader in their mission to guarantee food security while fostering the development of initiatives that promote the food self-sufficiency for all. Thousands of people access food aid services each month to meet their food needs, one third of whom are children. Hunger jeopardizes their growth, health and learning capacities. www.MoissonOutaouais.com
For additional information please contact:
Sylvie Carbonneau
Director of Marketing and Communications
Centre Shaw Centre
613.668.8220
scarbonneau@rogers-centre.ca
