March 25, 2004

Les Aventuriers Ski Club is proud of the success of 2004 Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships

CHARLO, NB – Les Aventuriers Ski Club and the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships’ Organising Committee are delighted by the success of 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships held in Charlo, New Brunswick, from March 14th to March 21st, under the honorary chair of Mrs. Milaine Thériault.

Mr. Issac Breau, Co-Chair of the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships explained: ‘‘The athletes and the coaches were very impressed with our facilities, the ski trails in Charlo, the experienced volunteers in our area and the hospitality of our people. The organising committee’s goal was to have one of the best and the most bilingual Cross Country Ski Championships in Canada. I believe we achieved what we set out to accomplish with over 350 of Canada’s best athletes taking part in the event. Having the National Cross Country Ski Team with Olympic Gold Medalist Beckie Scott, two-time Olympians Milaine Thériault and Sara Renner, and free entrance to the public to all competitions definitely helped us promote these Championships and have hundreds of spectators on hand during the week.’’

Mr. Jean-Luc Bélanger, Co-Chair of the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships was also very pleased with the overall success of the Championships:

‘‘The success of the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships is due to the work of the many volunteers, the local sponsors and the New Brunswick media. Les Aventuriers Ski Club and the Co-Chairs of the event would like to thank the over 150 volunteers who devoted several hours and even full days preparing for the races and activities that took place in Charlo the week of the Championships. The Local Organising Committee has contributed countless hours for the past 10 months and also deserve high praises for the success of 2004 Championships.’’

Both Co-Chairs Issac Breau and Jean-Luc Bélanger, thanked the day sponsors as well as the other over 70 businesses, individuals and organisations that generously contributed either financially or in-kind to the 2004 Championships. ‘‘The support received from the community has made this event one of the best Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships ever.’’ explained Breau and Bélanger.

The Local Organising Committee also wants to thank the media who covered the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships the week of March 14 to March 21st. The athletes and coaches were very impressed by the media coverage of the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships before and during the national event. Milaine Thériault, Honorary Chairperson of the 2004 Championships commented: ‘‘The National Ski Team thought that the Championships held in Charlo were by far the Championships with the most media coverage thus far. The provincial and national coverage will help promote the sport of cross country skiing as well as increase the visibility of the National Ski Team. Congratulations to the organisers!’’

Contact person:

Brigitte Gray-Carroll
Director of Communications,
2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships
Tel.: 789-4571 (o) / 684-9885 (h)

Les Aventuriers Ski Club and the Local Organising Committee for the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships would like to invite the public and the New Brunswick media to attend a press conference on Sunday, March 7th, at Les Aventuriers Ski Club in Charlo at 3:00 p.m. The local Organising Committee will unveil the 2004 Championships’ official program. The members of the Organising Committee will be on hand to answer your questions. Take advantage of the day to take part in the Annual Les Aventurier Loppet competitions.

Please confirm your attendance via e-mail at brigitte.graycarroll@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

For those who plan to cover the events from 2004 Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships from March 13 to March 21, you are invited to register on our website at www.skinationals.com (please see media form on the menu).

Sponsorship program for 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships is looking up!

The 2004 Canadian Cross-country ski Championships’ organising committee is very excited about its recent success with the sponsorship program for the most prestigious national sporting event that will be held in Charlo, NB from March 14th to March 21st 2004.

Director of Marketing for the Championships, Mr. Don Brimsacle explains <<Our hard work is starting to pay off. More people understand just how big this National sporting event is considered in Canada. Approximately 500 athletes plus coaches, managers, wax technician, volunteers and parents from all across Canada will take part in the 2004 Nationals. As an incredible bonus, the National Team will take a break from the World Cup Competitions in Europe to compete in the Charlo 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships. Renowned skiers like Beckie Scott, 2002 Olympic Gold Medalist and Milaine Thériault, two-time Olympian and Honorary Chairperson of the 2004 Championships will be on hand. The event will be highly publicized and will receive both provincial and national media coverage. This will be a wonderful opportunity for exposure for both local and national businesses and organisations. Imagine, all this in our back yard.>>

“We are very optimistic that we will reach our sponsorship program goals. We continue to strongly encourage local businesses, communities and organisations to take part in the Championships by becoming sponsors”, explained Mr. Brimsacle. There are different levels of sponsorships to suit everyone’s needs: Day, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Prize sponsorships.

Bowater Maritimes, Communications Canada, CHAU-TVA, the Village of Charlo and Madshus will be the Day Presenting sponsors during the week of the competitions.

The Gold Championships Sponsorships include LLC Excavation, the Port of Belledune, CKNB, CIMS, the Province of New Brunswick and JD Irving.

The Silver Championships Sponsors are the Town of Dalhousie, Dr. Dennis Furlong and UCT Campbellton.
The Bronze Championships Sponsors are Alpa Equipment, Groupe Savoie, Jacques & Mariette Allard, Consolidated Giroux Ltd., Dalhousie Richelieu Club and Scierie Chaleur.

The local organising committee for the 2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships would like to thank its sponsors for their time and contributions. The local organising committee also encourages other businesses, local communities and/or individuals to become sponsors for this prestigious event to be held in Charlo, NB from March 14th to March 21st.

For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Mr. Don Brimsacle at (506) 684-2912 or 684-0208 or by e-mail at <donbrim@nbnet.nb.ca>.

• Mr. Jean-Luc Bélanger
  Co-Chair
  2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships
  Tel. : (506) 826-3300

• Mr. Isaac Breau
  Co-Chair
  2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships
  Tel. : (506) 684-4783

• Mrs. Brigitte Gray-Carroll
  Director of Communications
  2004 Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships
  Tel.: (506) 789-4571