Builders shortlisted for Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games' project

TORONTO, December 23, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Infrastructure Ontario and TO2015 announced today the companies short-listed to build and finance three venues for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.

The development of three venues in time for the Games will immediately provide an economic boost in the Greater Toronto Area region by creating and supporting direct and indirect jobs. These facilities will also address the long-term needs of growing communities across the Greater Toronto Area and encourage the development and promotion of amateur competitive sports locally.

"The 2015 Games will create thousands of jobs and will be an important economic driver in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. They will bring new sporting and recreation facilities to local communities and help promote Ontario as a great place to live, do business, invest and visit." -Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan American Games

The project includes:

...construction of a new Markham Pool and Field House facility that will host the water polo and badminton competitions for the Games;

...renovations and improvements to the existing Etobicoke Olympium facility, which will be the training site for aquatic disciplines including swimming, water polo, diving and synchronized swimming during the Games; and

...construction of a new two-field Pan American Field Hockey Centre; plans include the two fields to be located on University of Toronto lands.

Over the past few months, companies participated in a fair and competitive request for qualifications (RFQ) process that reviewed their construction and financing abilities to deliver the project.

Following Infrastructure Ontario's evaluations of the RFQ submissions, the following companies were short-listed and will be invited to respond to the request for proposals (RFP) for the project:

...PCL Constructors Canada Inc.

...EllisDon Corporation

...Bondfield Construction Company Limited

The RFP will be issued in February 2012.

The construction of these facilities and their operation during the Pan/Parapan American Games is a joint initiative of the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Town of Markham, City of Toronto and the University of Toronto.

"This investment will provide Ontarians with access to modern, safe and efficient infrastructure. This project is part of our government's long-term infrastructure plan Building Together, which demonstrates the McGuinty government's commitment to stimulate the economy, create jobs and build strong communities." - Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to delivering some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects using public-private partnerships and other delivery methods, on time and on budget; managing one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada; asset planning; and providing long-term financing to public sector and not-for-profit organizations for public infrastructure renewal.


About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

The Pan and Parapan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials to municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.toronto2015.org for more information.

Halifax to Host Telus World Skins Game for First Time

Prestigious Golf Event Celebrates its 20th Anniversary in Canada in July 2012

HALIFAX, December 12, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Halifax, Nova Scotia will host the TELUS World Skins Game for the first time in July 2012 as the popular golf event celebrates its 20th anniversary in Canada next summer. The world-class Glen Arbour Golf Course was announced today as the host site for the historic event that will see five top PGA TOUR professionals compete in the Canadian summer golf tradition July 29-31, 2012.

"The TELUS World Skins Game has a long history of visiting Canada's top tourist and golf destinations and Halifax is the ideal city to host the 20th anniversary celebration of this important Canadian event," said Gen. (Ret.) Rick Hillier, Chair of the TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board. "This marquee event not only provides a memorable opportunity for local golf fans to see some of the best players in the world compete in their own backyard, but it also allows TELUS to leave a significant charitable legacy in the Atlantic Canada community."

The TELUS World Skins Game is always a highlight of the Canadian summer sporting schedule for the country's most passionate golf fans, as well as the community that hosts it. Fulfilling its promise to "give where we live," the TELUS World Skins Game has raised more than $10 million since 2001 for a wide variety of important causes across Canada.

The first Skins Game was held in 1993 at Devil's Pulpit Golf Club in Caledon, Ontario, and during its 19-year history has seen some of the biggest names in professional golf compete at Canada's top golf destinations, including Jack Nicklaus, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, Fred Couples, Mike Weir and Greg Norman.

"The 20th anniversary of the TELUS World Skins Game is an excellent opportunity to showcase Nova Scotia on the world stage," said Percy Paris, Minister, Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. "Major events such as these help to attract visitors to our province, build Nova Scotia's tourism industry and grow our economy."

Glen Arbour Golf Course is one of Atlantic Canada's premiere golf destinations. Glen Arbour Golf Course is owned and operated by Annapolis Group Inc. a land development company whose roots dates back to the 1930's, currently owned by the Hennigar Family, descendants of the late Roy Jodrey, the company's founder. Since opening in 1999, Glen Arbour has played host to a number of prestigious golf events including the inaugural Wayne Gretzky and Friends Invitational in 2000 and the BMO Canadian Ladies Open in 2005.

"We have wanted to bring the event to Halifax for many years and we're thrilled that the stars have aligned to allow us to come to Glen Arbour for this important anniversary event," said Danny Fritz, vice president and co-managing director at IMG Canada. "We're looking forward to celebrating this anniversary event with the golf fans of Nova Scotia and will be working over the next few months to make next summer's TELUS World Skins Game a very memorable event."

About IMG

IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG's areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG's Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art + Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com.

About TELUS

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees will, by year-end 2011, have contributed $245 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.1 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

CMA releases guidance for doctors to "friend" social media

OTTAWA, December 2, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Medical Association Board of Directors today approved Canada's first-ever national social media guidelines to help doctors safely, effectively and responsibly use tools such as Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media as they care for patients.

The CMA's document Social media and Canadian physicians Issues and rules of engagement (http://www.cma.ca/socialmedia) provides practical considerations and outlines the potential benefits and drawbacks of social media for physicians.

"People everywhere are using social media," CMA President Dr. John Haggie said. "We know our patients are searching for health-related information and discussing health issues in blogs and other online forums.

"We also know physicians are using social media in their personal lives and exploring how they can use these communications tools to inform the public or connect with their peers."

The CMA joins other national medical associations, such as the American Medical Association, the British Medical Association, the New Zealand Medical Association and the Australian Medical Association, in providing guidance on this topic for their members.

"The reality is that individual doctors and medical organizations have to consciously decide if, why and how to use the various social media platforms," the document states.

"While use of social media could potentially increase the exposure of physicians to disciplinary and medico-legal issues, those physicians who choose to use social media can help shape how these tools can improve health care in the future."

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, CMA's mission is to serve and unite the physicians of Canada and be the national advocate, in partnership with the people of Canada, for the highest standards of health and health care. The CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing over 76,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 51 national medical organizations.