The True Patriot Love Foundation is honoured to sponsor this initiative with our donation of $25,000, helping to ensure that Canada’s heroes are forever remembered.

We wish Wreaths Across Canada all the best as they grow their very special mission.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/39431-new-group-calls-canadians-lay-wreaths-soldiers%E2%80%99-graves

True Patriot Love invites you to join a group of Canadian Forces veterans, injured while serving in Afghanistan, as they test their limits on a mountaineering expedition high in the Himalayas.

Explore exotic Kathmandu before trekking to Everest Base Camp with the team as they prepare to conquer the 20,035 foot Island Peak. Sitting on the shoulder of Mt Everest, Island Peak is a true alpine challenge and a worthy quest for the intrepid!

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to join a phenomenal climbing expedition alongside Canadian heroes and experienced Everest summiteers, and have your journey documented by an acclaimed filmmaker.

Many soldiers live with permanent wounds from their overseas deployments, some visible, some not. You will join our climbing team of veterans as they represent each of these men and women, braving this journey as a testament to their will, strength, and fighting spirit.

We all have mountains to climb in our lives, but this trip will truly showcase the best of the human condition: the courage to aspire to overcome and in doing so inspire others. For those who join our Himalayan challenge team (spots are limited), the experience will be a chance to test yourself while supporting our heroes.

Our expedition will be organized, led, and chronicled by veteran Everest expedition leader and documentary filmmaker, Ben Webster.

Please contact Will Lymer at wlymer@truepatriotlove.com for more information

WHEN: Thursday, November 10, 2011
5:00 Media availability
5:30 VIP Reception
6:30 Dinner, Speeches and Entertainment

WHERE: Allstream Convention Centre, 100 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto

Media contact:
Bronwen Evans
Director, True Patriot Love Foundation
bevans@truepatriotlove.com
416-350-8374
647-448-8374 (mobile)

During last year’s True Patriot Love Foundation Toronto Tribute Dinner, generous guests bid on their centerpieces, as part of our Family Tree Initiative.

Our Family Tree Initiative serves to stand as a reminder on a Canadian Forces base of the incredible sacrifice, support, and strength of its families.

On October 3, 2011, True Patriot Love planted a maple tree, marked with an inscribed boulder generously donated by the Mount Pleasant Group on the Denison Forces Armoury in Toronto, Ontario. This beautiful monument matches the first tree planted from our inaugural Family Tree initiative at the Armoury.

The True Patriot Love Foundation would like to send its sincerest appreciation to the Mount Pleasant Group for donating the boulder, Sheridan Nurseries for donating the maple tree, Clintar Landscaping for installing the monument, and everyone at Denison Armoury for their participation, assistance, and support!

During an incredible ceremony in honour of the Department of National Defense, and featuring its V-22 Osprey, Bell Helicopter generously donated $10,000.00 to the True Patriot Love Foundation.

Bell Helicopter is proud be a community leader by actively supporting various activities and organizations that make a difference in supporting and helping its employees,  customers, their families and its community.  Bell Helicopter chose True Patriot Love for the work we do in supporting and honoring members of the Canadian military and their families. True Patriot Love is dedicated to celebrating the patriotism of Canada’s military families and inspire Canadians to serve their country. In that spirit, Bell Helicopter presented  the True Patriot Love Foundation with a donation of $10,000 to support their mission.

In the photo is (left to right): Barry Kohler, President of Bell Helicopter Canada; Colonel C.J.H. Drouin, C.D. CO of 1 Wing, Erin O’Toole, TPL Board Member, and Cynthia Garneau, Director of Corporate Affairs Bell Helicopter.

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Aug. 18, 2011) – The True Patriot Love Foundation in partnership with the Government of Ontario today unveiled a bronze plaque to commemorate the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers and their families, which will be placed at 26 bridges along the Highway of Heroes. The event was hosted by Enbridge Gas Distribution, one of the first major supporters of the program which is sponsoring the Victoria Park bridge.

The money raised through plaque sponsorship will support military families through programs that help send children to summer camp, provide psychological counseling, retrofit homes and cars for soldiers returning with injuries or amputations, and rehabilitate wounded soldiers through sport.

Quotes:

“It’s a proud day to be Canadian when government, companies, regular citizens and a foundation all come together to recognize the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform and the families who serve by their side. On behalf of True Patriot Love, I would like to thank the government and our sponsors for their generous support in furthering our mission to support and celebrate military families.”

- Michael Burns, Vice Chair, True Patriot Love Foundation

“We welcome the sponsors’ commitment to recognizing the men and women in uniform who have lost their lives serving our country. The memorial plaque being unveiled today honours not only the fallen but also their families and their brothers and sisters in arms.”

- The Honourable Brad Duguid, MPP for Scarborough Centre & Minister of Energy

“Enbridge Gas Distribution is extremely proud to help honour the sacrifices made by Canadians in uniform. Since our company’s founding more than 160 years ago, hundreds of utility employees have served in the military. Many of those employees made the ultimate sacrifice for our country or were wounded. This initiative honours all those who have served their country and those who continue to serve today.”

- Glenn Beaumont, Senior Vice President, Enbridge Gas Distribution

“True Patriot Love is an inspirational demonstration of the love that Canadians, from every part of our society, have for those who serve Canada in our nation’s uniform, and for the families who stand beside and behind them. I am privileged, yet again this year, to be a part of something so good, and so fundamentally Canadian.”

-General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier, C.M.M., M.S.C., C.D.

Facts:

--  The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario has given True Patriot Love
    unique rights to display memorial plaques at bridges along the Highway
    of Heroes. From Trenton to Toronto there are 26 select overpasses that
    will feature these plaques. 

--  The plaque program honours those who have lost their lives serving our
    country and the families who have served by their side. This is done by
    picturing the ordinary Canadians who gathered on those bridges to
    welcome home those that fell and were being repatriated to their homes
    and families. True Patriot Love commissioned sculpted bronze plaques
    that will feature a sponsor's name or logo. 

--  Highway of Heroes Sponsors to date include Enbridge Gas Distribution,
    SkyLink Aviation, The Dunkley Charitable Foundation, 33 Signals
    Regiment, Porter Airlines, RE/MAX, THALES, Tim Hortons and WestJet. 

--  Over the last two years, True Patriot Love has raised more than $6
    million to support military families. True Patriot's Love third annual
    Gala is taking place on November 10th at the Allstream Centre, with more
    than 1,800 guests expected to attend. For the second consecutive year,
    Bell Canada is the title sponsor and so far more than $1.5 million has
    been raised for the dinner.

For more information about True Patriot Love, visit www.truepatriotlove.com.

To view the image associated with this press release, please see the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/818enb.pdf

“BAE Systems is proud to support these important initiatives assisting the Canadian Forces and their families”, said Alan Garwood Group Business Development Director of BAE Systems.

Photo: John Kelly, VP International Operations and Exports BAE Systems; Alan Garwood, Group Business Development Director BAE Systems; Bronwen Evans, Director True Patriot Love; Erin O’Toole, Director True Patriot Love.

The two days of events marked the end of the Cadets four years of training at RMC, and the beginning of their new careers in the Canadian Forces.

Convocation Ceremonies were held on Thursday, May 19 at the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre Field House. The Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter MacKay, Chancellor of RMC presented graduating students with their Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees.  Two Honorary Degrees were also presented to the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Honourable James Bartleman, and the founder of the True Patriot Love Foundation, Mr. Shaun Francis.  

Commodore William Truelove, Commandant RMC, addressed the graduates. 

“Well done to you,” said Cmdre Truelove. “What you have accomplished, whether at the Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate level, has demanded that you give your best and achieve the highest standards.

“No other institution in Canada makes such demands of their students – and you met them all with excellence – Bravo Zulu!”

Thursday evening, the traditional Sunset Ceremony was held on the RMC Parade Square.  The event was opened by the Canadian Forces premier skydiving team, the SkyHawks, and included the Old 18 Historic Drill Team, the Sandhurst Military Skills Team, and dynamic performances featuring RMC`s own Brass and Reed and Pipe and Drum bands, as well as the Highland Dancers. Fireworks concluded the evening.

On Friday, May 20, General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, along with Environmental and Operational Commanders presented graduating cadets with their Officer’s Commissions in the Canadian Forces.  The ceremony included a fly past by the Snowbirds Demonstration Team. The graduates then paraded through the Memorial Arch for the last time as a class.