Corner Gas: The Movie "Gasses Up" as Production Gets Underway

REGINA & ROULEAU, Saskatchewan, June 23, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - Bell Media, Telefilm Canada, and Prairie Pants Distribution are pleased to announce that production is underway on Corner Gas: The Movie. The 90-minute feature film began shooting yesterday in Regina and Rouleau, Saskatchewan. Production continues until July 22, 2014.

"The entire cast is back and we are all so thrilled to be shooting in Saskatchewan," said Executive Producer Virginia Thompson. "We look forward to bringing our fans a Corner Gas movie they will cherish for years to come!"

Guest-starring in cameo roles are: actors Graham Greene (The Green Mile, Dances with Wolves), Don Lake (LIFE WITH BONNIE, Waiting for Guffman), and Reagan Pasternak (BEING ERICA, Welcome to Mooseport); comedian Will Sasso (MADtv, Best in Show); and sports commentators Darren "Dutchy" Dutchyshen (SPORTSCENTRE), Jay Onrait(FOX SPORTS LIVE) and Dan O'Toole (FOX SPORTS LIVE).

Corner Gas: The Movie's Kickstarter Campaign, a 30-day campaign promoting fan engagement through exclusive rewards and once-in-a-lifetime behind-the-scenes experiences, wrapped on June 18. Fan response has been overwhelming, as 2,500 backers have contributed nearly three times the target goal. The campaign reached 100% of its initial goal in just one day. The top reward went to Saskatoon philanthropist Bart Hunter - an opportunity to host a private screening with Brent Butt, bringing the world-debut of Corner Gas: The Movie to Saskatoon and turning it into a charity event. Support came from fans around the world, including Canada, the U.S., U.K., Europe, Australia, and as far afield as Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, China, Japan and Kyrgyzstan.

It's been five years, and there's still not a lot going on 40 kilometers from nowhere. But that's all about to change as the fine folks of Dog River, Saskatchewan face their biggest crisis ever. Brent and the gang discover that the town's been badly mismanaged, leaving residents with little choice but to pack up and leave. As residents make one last rally to save Dog River as they know it, they discover a devious plan by a corporate giant that would change life for Dog Riverites forever.

- Feature film and holiday television event from the smash hit Canadian franchise CORNER GAS now shooting inRegina and Rouleau, Saskatchewan -
- Starring original ensemble cast Brent Butt, Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Janet Wright, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Nancy Robertson -
- Guest-starring Graham Greene, Don Lake, Reagan Pasternak, Will Sasso, Saskatchewan-native Darren "Dutchy" Dutchyshen, Jay Onrait, and Dan O'Toole -
- Directed by CORNER GAS television series director, David Storey -
- Kickstarter wraps reaching nearly three times the target goal and 2,500 backers -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1jDMbyt

Headlined by creator and comedian Brent Butt, Corner Gas: The Movie stars the original award-winning ensemble cast including Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Janet Wright, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn, andNancy Robertson. Written by Brent Butt, Andrew Carr, and Andrew Wreggitt, the movie will be directed by David Storey, who served as key director on the series.

Corner Gas: The Movie will roll out as a national multi-platform event in November and December. The landmark feature film will open with an exclusive Cineplex Front Row Centre Events theatrical debut across Canada, followed by premieres on The Movie Network, CTV, and The Comedy Network, and complemented by a special collector's edition DVD to be available for purchase before the holidays.

CORNER GAS the television series was originally developed by Brent Butt, Mark Farrell, David Storey, and Virginia Thompson for CTV and The Comedy Network. It premiered January 22, 2004 on CTV with 1.15 million viewers and was a runaway hit. Dog River became a favourite Canadian television destination. During its entire six-season run, CORNER GAS was the #1 Canadian sitcom in Canada, maintaining an impressive average audience of 1.4 million viewers over its 107-episode run. The series finale made television history when a record-breaking 3.02 million viewers tuned into the series finale on April 13, 2009. It was a new audience high for CORNER GAS and is still the largest audience on record for a Canadian scripted television series.

Corner Gas: The Movie is an inter-provincial co-production produced by Corner Gas The Movie (SK) Inc. and Corner Gas The Movie (ON) Inc. in association with Bell Media, Telefilm Canada, Cineplex Inc., Tourism Saskatchewan, Creative Saskatchewan and the Canada Media Fund. Executive producers are Virginia Thompson, Brent Butt andDavid Storey. Saskatchewan producer is Jack Tunnicliffe. Janice Dawe is consulting producer. Victoria Woods is line producer. Kara Haflidson is production executive for Bell Media. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President - CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming. Corner Gas: The Movie is distributed worldwide by Prairie Pants Distribution. The Collectors DVD will be distributed acrossCanada by Video Services Corp. (VSC).

WEBSITE: 
cornergasthemovie.com

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CornerGas
#CornerGasMovie
@VirginiaTV - Virginia Thompson
@BrentButt - Brent Butt
@MillerGabrielle - Gabrielle Miller
@FredEwanuick - Fred Ewanuick
@janetwstorm - Janet Wright
@LorneCardinal - Lorne Cardinal
@TSpencerNairn - Tara Spencer Nairn

Facebook:
Facebook.com/cornergasthemovie

Instagram:
Brent Butt

About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network; 35 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 106 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative out-of-home advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising faces in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO video streaming services, including CTV GO, TMN GO and Bravo GO, and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visitwww.bellmedia.ca.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada or on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

About Cineplex
Cineplex Inc. ("Cineplex") is one of Canada's leading entertainment companies and operates one of the most modern and fully digitized motion picture theatre circuits in the world. A top-tier Canadian brand, Cineplex operates numerous businesses including theatrical exhibition, food services, gaming, alternative programming (Front Row Centre Events), Cineplex Media, Cineplex Digital Solutions, Cineplex Digital Networks, and the online sale of home entertainment content through CineplexStore.com and on apps embedded in various electronic devices. Cineplex is also a joint venture partner in SCENE - Canada's largest entertainment loyalty program.

Cineplex is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and operates 162 theatres with 1,638 screens from coast to coast, serving approximately 77 million guests annually through the following theatre brands: Cineplex Odeon, SilverCity, Galaxy Cinemas, Scotiabank Theatres, Cineplex Cinemas and Cineplex VIP Cinemas presented by Scotiabank. Cineplex also owns and operates the UltraAVX, Poptopia, and Outtakes brands. Cineplex trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CGX. More information is available at cineplex.com.

About Prairie Pants Distribution
Prairie Pants Distribution Inc. is the world-wide distributor of Corner Gas: The Movie. The company is owned and operated by CORNER GAS Executive Producers Brent Butt (Sparrow Media: CORNER GAS, HICCUPS and NO CLUE),David Storey (Aslan Entertainment: CORNER GAS, HICCUPS, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP KID: THE DON CHERRY STORY, BLACKFLY) and Virginia Thompson (Vérité Films: CORNER GAS, INSECURITY, RENEGADEPRESS.COM and INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO).

Guelph teacher makes the grade when it comes to school safety

GUELPH, Ontario, June 11, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - Dianne Chadder not only leads by example, but she also demonstrates a strong commitment to school safety.

Today, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is honouring the elementary school teacher with the School Safety Patrol Supervisor of the Year Award.

The purpose of the award is to recognize a Patrol Supervisor that demonstrates leadership qualities, safety skills, dedication, morale building and a desire to advance the educational and safety benefits of patrollers.

Chadder, a Grade 5/6 teacher at Willow Road Public School in Guelph, has dedicated over 10 years to the CAA School Safety Patrol program. Currently, there are over 1,100 safety patrollers participating in the program inGuelph.

"Dianne Chadder is a true role model and mentor. Chadder has done an outstanding job as a Patrol Supervisor. She has instilled leadership and safety in the foot patrollers at Willow Road Public School," said Leslie Rocha, Community Relations Specialist, CAA SCO.

This past year, Chadder was faced with a unique traffic safety issue. A busy private laneway, outside the school, did not provide the school's foot patrollers sufficient space and time to safely cross students. She lobbied the school administration and board to change the width of the laneway to allow vehicles to travel one way. A stop sign and a large sign reminding drivers to watch for crossing children were also installed.

"Dianne has been a committed Patrol Supervisor for many years. In the two years I have worked with her, she has worked diligently to ensure the support she provides to our safety patrols allows for students and their families to arrive and depart from school safely. Dianne understands that the role of safety patrol goes far beyond the duties assigned. She works with these students to develop their confidence, self-esteem and leadership skills," said Steve Viveiros, Principal, Willow Road Public School.

The CAA School Safety Patrol program is a joint partnership between CAA, the police, school boards, teachers, parents and more than 20,000 dedicated student volunteers who give their time to ensure their peers remain safe at road crossings and on school buses in southern Ontario.

Over 800 schools in Ontario participate in the School Safety Patrol program and CAA SCO partners with over 55 police services to deliver a top notch program.

As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the interests of more than 1.9 million members. For over a century, CAA has collaborated with communities, police services and governments to help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our roads.

Tim Hortons Camp Day raises $11.8 million

- More than 17,000 kids will go to camp thanks to the generous support of Tim Hortons guests and restaurant owners across North America -

OAKVILLE, Ontario, June 10, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - With coffee cups in hand, Tim Hortons guests and restaurant owners from across North America came together to raise $11.8 million during this year's Camp Day on Wednesday, June 4. All funds raised will make the opportunity to attend camp a reality for more than 17,000 kids from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

On Camp Day, 100 per cent of proceeds from coffee sales at the more than 4,500 Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada and the United States are donated to the Tim Horton Children's Foundation (THCF) to send kids from low-income homes on an unforgettable camp experience.

"From our loyal guests and generous restaurant owners to our dedicated team members, local celebrities and volunteers, we want to thank you for making this year's Camp Day a great success," said Dave Newnham, Vice President and Executive Director, Tim Horton Children's Foundation. "Your support not only sends kids on an amazing camp adventure, but also helps them gain the skills, experience and confidence to build a brighter future."

In addition to purchasing a Tim Hortons coffee on June 4, guests supported Camp Day by making a donation in restaurant, rounding up their order to the nearest dollar amount, texting CAMP to 45678 (Canada) or 41518 (U.S.) to make a $5 donation, and donating online at sendakidtocamp.com.

"We couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Foundation than by raising $11.8 million on Camp Day," said Newnham. "As our largest fundraiser of the year, Camp Day has been essential to helping us make a true difference by sending more than 200,000 kids to camp by the end of 2014."

Social Media
#CampDay; #MakingATrueDifference

Tim Horton Children's Foundation: www.facebook.com/timhortonchildrensfoundation; @THCF1974;www.youtube.com/THCF1974
Tim Hortons: https://www.facebook.com/TimHortons; @TimHortons 
Tim Hortons US: https://www.facebook.com/TimHortonsUS; @TimHortonsUS

About the Tim Horton Children's Foundation Camps
The first Tim Horton Children's Foundation camp opened in Parry Sound, ON in 1975 with just 200 kids. Today, the Foundation operates six year-round camps across North America serving more than 17,000 low-income children. Campers have the opportunity to attend one of three programs, including a Winter and Summer Camp Program (ages 9-12), a Year Round Group Program serving schools and youth groups (ages 8-18) in the fall, winter and spring, and a five-level Youth Leadership Program focused on building lifelong leadership skills (ages 13-17).

About the Tim Horton Children's Foundation 
The Tim Horton Children's Foundation (THCF) is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974 that is committed to providing an enriched and memorable camp experience for children and youth living in economically disadvantaged homes. The Foundation's funding comes from Tim Hortons Camp Day, fundraising activities, special events, and year-round public donations collected through counter and drive-thru coin boxes, as well as other donations. By the end of 2014, more than 200,000 children will have attended a Foundation camp at no cost to them or their families. For more information about the Tim Horton Children's Foundation, please visit www.thcf.com.

About Tim Hortons Inc.
Tim Hortons is one of the largest publicly-traded restaurant chains in North America based on market capitalization, and the largest in Canada. Operating in the quick service segment of the restaurant industry, 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 March 30, 2014, Tim Hortons had 4,524 systemwide restaurants, including 3,610 in Canada, 870 in the United States and 44 in the Gulf Cooperation Council. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com.

The Co-operators ranked among Best Corporate Citizens in Canada for fifth consecutive year

GUELPH, Ontario, June 4, 2014 /Canada NewsWire/ - For the fifth consecutive year, The Co-operators has been ranked among the top ten organizations on the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list. The Co-operators is ranked #7 on this year's list compiled by Corporate Knights, an organization dedicated to the promotion of responsible and sustainable business practices. The Co-operators was one of five co-operatives on the list, four of which ranked among the top ten.

Corporate Knights' annual Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list ranks corporations based on 12 key performance indicators. These include companies' water, waste and energy use; carbon emissions; diversity among leadership; innovation; employee turnover; and whether executive compensation is tied to sustainability performance targets.

"We are pleased to be included on this list for the fifth consecutive year as it affirms that we are going in the right direction and our efforts to be a catalyst for a sustainable society are being recognized," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "2013 was the costliest year in Canadian history for insured storm damage. This was both an opportunity for our staff to step up and deliver on our promise to clients, and a reminder of the magnitude of the challenges our communities face in the 21^st century."

The Co-operators is very active in supporting research and advocating for better protections for Canadians and their property, including overland flood insurance. It partners with non-governmental organizations and others to deliver a number of safety- and resilience-focused programs across the country. It is working to operate more sustainably by reducing its impact on the environment and introducing sustainability-focused products and services.

Through a number of programs, The Co-operators provides financial support to emerging co-operatives and organizations working to build more equitable, vibrant and sustainable communities. It has been a member of Imagine Canada for 17 years, and in 2013 contributed more than $5.8 million, or 4.7 per cent of pre-tax profit, to support various community programs and initiatives.

For more information about the progress The Co-operators has made in advancing its sustainability goals, please see its annual Sustainability Report at www.cooperators.ca. To view the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada list, please visit www.corporateknights.com.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $36 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada by Aon Hewitt; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations inCanada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.