News

12th Tuques Bleues Celebration and Snowshoe Event tonight

Benefitting Les amis de la montagne

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

12th Tuques Bleues Celebration and Snowshoe Event
Benefitting Les amis de la montagne

As part of the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS festival

Montreal, February 19, 2009 – The ceremonial canon of the 2nd Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery will launch the 12th edition of the Tuques Bleues Celebration and Snowshoe Event on Mount Royal this evening, the exceptional wintertime fundraising event benefitting Les amis de la montagne.

Canon-fire served a pivotal role in the creation of Mount Royal Park. In response to those who claimed that the mountain was inaccessible, Colonel Stevenson climbed Mount Royal with his battery in 1862 and fired the cannon from the summit. His gesture did not go unnoticed!

Les amis de la montagne wish to thank honourary co-chairs Isabelle Hudon, President of Marketel and Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, as well as the evening’s participants who, by their presence, contribute to Les amis’ mission to conserve and enhance Mount Royal.

The Tuques Bleues Celebration is made possible thanks to the support of companies and the participation of their employees. Thank you to our principal sponsors, Gaz Métro, Manulife Financial, Atmosphere, Tubbs Snowshoes and Atlas Snowshoes, to our sponsors of products and services, Brasserie McAuslan, Domaine Pinnacle, Hewitt, Java U and Le Château, to our media partners CHOM 97.7, CJAD 800 AM, Virgin Radio 96, La Presse and The Gazette, and to the Ville de Montréal.

This magical night time activity in the heart of the city was inspired by the snowshoe clubs of the 1840s that would gather at dusk to ascend Mount Royal in a spirit of good cheer and camaraderie. For this 12th edition, close to 100 snowshoe racers will compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals in both the women’s and men’s categories, while numerous teams from companies and organizations will contend for the Corporate Challenge Cup, the Sports Club Cup and the Tuques Bleues Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the company with the highest number of employees in attendance at the event.

The race is followed by a snowshoe walk by close to 700 participants who revel in the beauty of the mountain at a more leisurely pace. The Tuques Bleues Celebration and Snowshoe Event culminates at the Chalet near the lookout with an outdoor barbecue, followed by a gastronomic buffet and medal and trophy ceremony indoors.

For more information on the Tuques Bleues Celebration and Snowshoe Event, please visit the Tuques Bleues section under the heading "News and Events".

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Source and information:
Gabrielle Korn
Director of Communications
514 843-8240 ext. 237