NEWS RELEASE – MEDIA ALERT Guinness World Record Set Ottawa – Bear Hug Capital of the WORLD March 3, 2011

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The Ottawa Catholic School Board is pleased to announce that the Bear Hug III (May 2010) achieved a world record for the world’s biggest group hug with over 10,000 huggers. The announcement and presentation of the Guinness World Record Certificate to the Board will be at the Board meeting on Tuesday March 8, in the Boardroom of the main office at 570 West Hunt Club Road at Merivale Road. The Guinness record book now reads: Ottawa – Bear Hug Capital of the World. The presentation announcement will be the last thing on a shortened agenda to be followed by a reception for sponsors, partners, recipients and the media. The board meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. The presentation should be about 8:30 p.m. Background: On Friday May 7, 2010, the Board teamed up with the Ottawa Sens Foundation to attempt to reclaim the title of the World’s Biggest Hug - a helicopter circled overhead for verification. Students from 15 Catholic high schools raised almost $500,000 for local cancer charities. Recipients were Rogers House, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Sponsors of the event were Napoli’s Café in Stittsville, the Rideau Centre and the Royal Bank. Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno was the honorary captain of the event. Questions to: Mardi.dekemp@ottawacatholicschools or Mardi de Kemp at 613 224 4455 ext. 2326

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Catholic Education Centre 570 West Hunt Club Road, Nepean, Ontario, Canada K2G 3R4 Phone: 613-224-2222 Fax: 613-224-5063 Website: www.ottawacatholicschools.ca