October 17, 2008 (Vancouver, BC) – As the inaugural tour of the CP Spirit Train pulls into Montreal on October 18, the final stop on its cross-Canada tour, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) congratulates Canadian Pacific for bringing the Olympic spirit to 10 communities across Canada.

“We applaud our partner Canadian Pacific on this engaging family-oriented initiative that has brought the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to communities across Canada. It is through the support of great Canadian companies, such as Canadian Pacific, that all of Canada can look forward to successful Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We thank them for providing a unique grassroots opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Canadian athletes and giving families a forum to express their excitement for the coming 2010 Winter Games,” said Dave Cobb, VANOC executive vice president, revenue, marketing and communications.

Over the past four weeks, the CP Spirit Train built on the railway tradition of the “whistle-stop tour” to showcase Canadian athletes, performers and Olympic and Paralympic sport, inviting Canadians to experience the excitement of the 2010 Winter Games at every stop along the way. Audiences in Port Moody (BC), Calgary and Edmonton (Alberta), Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), Winnipeg (Manitoba) and Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Mississauga and Smith Falls (Ontario) all shared the opportunity to meet Olympians and Paralympians and enjoy well-known Canadian talent, including singer Colin James, Spirit Stage headliner.

Despite the efforts of small groups of protesters at some stops along the route, the enthusiasm and participation of local Canadians was evident at each stop as families enjoyed activities including Inukshuk building; interactive sport demonstrations; performances by contemporary Aboriginal musicians, including Sierra Noble, Dallas Arcand and Matthew Mukash; and visits with Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, the Vancouver 2010 mascots. Visitors lined up for autographs from many of Canada’s finest summer and winter sport athletes, including gold-medal winning sledge hockey goalie Paul Rosen, Nordic skier Beckie Scott and Canada’s first gold medallist at the Beijing 2008 Games, wrestler Carol Huynh.

The Montreal wrap-up stop of the CP Spirit Train on Saturday, October 18 features athletes Paul Rosen (sledge hockey); Benoît St-Amand (sledge hockey); Emilie Heymans (diving); Joannie Rochette (figure skating);Karine Sergerie (taekwondo); Eve Routhier (alpine skiing); Annie Martin (volleyball); Philippe LaRoche (freestyle skiing), the Vancouver2010 mascots and the CP Spirit Train team at Place des Vestiges on the Quays of the Old Port, across from Jacques-Cartier Pier. The free celebration runs from 2 pm to 7 pm. Full event details are available at www.cpspirittrain.com.