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One down, nine to go - Cross-Canada cyclist crosses BC/Alberta border

June 25, 2010

Ottawa – Wayne Stremel, the Canada Post employee cycling across Canada to raise awareness on mental illness and funds for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health, has crossed the border from British Columbia to Alberta. Having travelled nearly 1,000 kilometres of his 7,500 kilometre-22-week journey; Wayne is feeling strong and grateful for the support being shown to him from postal employees and others he has met on the first leg of his journey.

Canada Post is proud to support the Out of the Shadows Tour 2010, and is announcing it will match donations made in support of the Tour, to a maximum of $150,000.

“Wayne’s project exemplifies Canada Post’s goals in adopting mental illness as our cause of choice – raising funds to support front-line projects supporting people living with mental illness and bringing an awareness of the issue to communities across Canada,” notes Anthony Wilson-Smith, Vice-president of Communications and Public Affairs – and senior executive responsible the mental health cause at Canada Post. “We’re confident that as Canadians learn of Wayne’s effort, they’ll support his project in growing numbers. Here at Canada Post, we’re proud to reflect their support in this very real way.”

Since June 2008, Canada Post, through the support of employees, customers, suppliers and the general public, has raised more than $2.5 million for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health. The Foundation provides critical funding to community based, non-profit groups helping people struggling with mental illness. An estimated 7 million Canadians will need help with mental health problems this year. Over $1 million in grants have been distributed already, and an additional $1.5 million will be distributed in September 2010. The Out of the Shadows Tour began on June 2 with a dip of Wayne’s bicycle tire into the Pacific Ocean at Parksville, B.C. It will end in September at Neils Harbour, Nova Scotia, after making a detour via ferry to St. John's, Newfoundland.

“I have seen an incredible beauty and experienced the warmth and hospitality of my BC neighbours,” Wayne says. “I can’t wait to see Alberta up close and share the tour’s vision – that of hope, recovery and the importance of community in coping with mental illness – with the friends I’m about to meet.”

Canada Post is proud to support Wayne’s effort and encourages Canadians to visit his blog at www.outoftheshadowstour.ca. In this way, they can track the tour’s progress, emerging information, upcoming events and donate to the Foundation. Donations can also be made, in honour of the Out of the Shadows Tour, at www.canadapost.ca/foundation.