Media Release: Celebrate 50 Years of Sparking a Generation of Inclusion with Tim Hortons and Lighting our Cities

Tim Hortons celebrates Special Olympics Global Day of Inclusion
Savannah Lussier, Special Olympics Alberta athlete from Grande Prairie, with her Day of Inclusion donut she designed for Tim Hortons.

Edmonton, Alberta – Special Olympics Alberta invites you to celebrate 50 years of our movement changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sport and creating more inclusive communities. 

In celebration of the Special Olympics 50th anniversary, we are proud to announce Tim Hortons as the national partner in our Day of Inclusion on July 21. 


Tim Hortons selected the donut designed by Savannah, a Special Olympics Alberta athlete from Grande Prairie, to be the official Day of Inclusion donut. Proceeds from every donut sold will go towards the Special Olympics daily and year-round community programs and competitions across the country. 

Major landmarks, stadia and iconic buildings around the world will turn RED in a global display of unity as part of the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration. More than 170 landmarks worldwide will participate in the Light Up for Inclusion initiative, creating a global display of tolerance, respect, and celebration of difference. In Alberta, we’ll have seven landmarks lighting up red to show their commitment to inclusion. List of landmarks in Alberta Lighting Up in Global Day of Inclusion: 


Edmonton

  • July 17: High Level Bridge, to recognize the start of the Special Olympics Unified Cup taking place in Chicago, Illinois 
  • July 21: ATB Place
High Level Bridge lit for Global Day of Inclusion


Calgary

  • July 21: Reconciliation Bridge
  • July 21: Calgary Tower
  • July 21: McMahon Stadium
  • July 21: Stephen Avenue Galleria Trees

 

Lethbridge

  • July 21: City Hall

 

Join us in our celebration and visit a Tim Hortons store and lit landmark. You can be part of the global conversation by posting on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube) with #ChooseToInclude and tagging @SpecialOAlberta. Find out more on how Alberta is celebrating the global Special Olympics 50th anniversary at www.specialolympics.ca/alberta/50th-anniversary. 

Check out City of Calgary and City of Edmonton's official declaration of July 21, 2018 as the Global Day of Inclusion here

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS ALBERTA
Special Olympics Alberta is dedicated to enriching the lives of Albertans with intellectual disabilities through the transformative power and joy of sport. Our vision is that sport will open hearts and minds towards people with intellectual disabilities and create inclusive communities. 
Special Olympics Alberta’s programs cater to all ages and a wide range of abilities to over 3,300 athletes in more than 140 communities. We provide world class sports programs that are run daily by over 1,300 volunteers. For more information on Special Olympics Alberta, visit, www.specialolympics.ca/alberta and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr and YouTube.

ABOUT TIM HORTONS® 
TIM HORTONS®, part of Restaurant Brands International, is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, TIM HORTONS® appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods and other food products. As of September 30, 2015, TIM HORTONS® had more than 4,700 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com. 

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For more information please contact:
Katherine Dalusong
Marketing and Communications
Special Olympics Alberta
P: 780-638-2913
C: 780-975-2795
KDalusong@specialolympics.ab.ca