(MENAFN- 3BL media Inc) TORONTO, March 7, 2023 /3BL Media/ Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) announced its new Women's Sport Initiative (WSI), a multi-million-dollar investment, earmarking a minimum 50% of its sponsorship dollars towards women's professional sport by 2026. The WSI also includes a dedicated media fund to increase the visibility of women's sport across top broadcast, digital and social platforms, all which will further support a new era of growth and opportunity.
'Canadian Tire Corporation is proud of our longstanding commitment to gender equity and inclusion in sport, from the playground to the podium and now, to the professional arena with the introduction of our Women's Sport Initiative. Helping to pave the way for more equitable opportunities in women's professional sport and inspire a new generation of female athletes is part of how we are bolstering our communities and living our brand purpose: We Are Here to Make Life in Canada Better,' said Susan O'Brien, Chief Brand and Customer Officer, Canadian Tire Corporation.
The Women's Sport Initiative includes adding five new sport partnerships to its growing roster:
Founding Partner of Project 8, Canada's first women's professional soccer league slated to launch in 2025 and led by Diana Matheson, Former Olympian and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Project 8 Sports Supporting Partner of the WNBA Canada Game presented by Tangerine the first-ever pre-season WNBA game to be played in Canada, which will take place at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday, May 13, 2023 Premier National Partner of Canadian Women & Sport's Commercial Women's Sport Initiative to help fund valuable research demonstrating the business case for further investment in women's professional sport in Canada Corporate Partner of the Toronto Metropolitan University's Future of Sport Lab directing funds to support the next generation of female leaders in sport innovation Presenting Partner of the first espnW Summit Canada, bringing together industry leaders and trailblazers in sport, which will take place on Friday, May 12, 2023, in Toronto
'Forthcoming research will show that Canada can support a thriving commercial women's sport marketplace, and we are proud to see a historic company like Canadian Tire Corporation stepping up to make meaningful commitments to invest in the space,' said Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport. 'When we invest in gender equity, we make sport better for all.'
'Every kid in Canada dreams of playing the sport they love to the highest level but unfortunately those opportunities differ for boys versus girls,' said Diana Matheson, Former Olympian and Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Project 8 Sports. 'That's why Project 8 was created and why initiatives like this one from Canadian Tire are so important. Together we can help more girls achieve their dreams of playing sports at the professional level and on home turf. The future is bright, and we're just getting started.'
Today's announcement amplifies CTC's existing partnerships dedicated to driving inclusion and diversity in sport including the Hockey Diversity Alliance, The Carnegie Initiative, the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association, The Toronto 6ix, The Montreal Force, Hayley Wickenheiser's Wickfest, the Canadian Women's National Para Hockey Team and ongoing support of female Team Canada players via the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, and the Canada Games as well as providing fundraising support for Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities' Girls in Sport initiatives which support over 200,000 girls annually.
ABOUT CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX: CTC.A) (TSX: CTC) or 'CTC', is a group of companies that includes a Retail segment, a Financial Services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal & Gardening divisions. Party City, PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The Retail segment also includes Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear; Pro Hockey Life, a hockey specialty store catering to elite players; and SportChek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts and Atmosphere, which offer the best active wear brands. The more than 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by CTC's Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across Canada and around the world by CTC and its local dealers, franchisees and petroleum retailers. In addition, CTC owns and operates Helly Hansen, a leading technical outdoor brand based in Oslo, Norway. For more information, visit corp.canadiantire.ca.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
416-480-8453