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Canada Post employee delivering cross-Canada trek to raise awareness and funds for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health

June 2, 2010

Canada Post employee Wayne Stremel today began a 22-week cross-Canada bicycle tour to shine a spotlight on mental illness and its impact on our communities. The Nanaimo supervisor, his family and circle of friends want to change the conversation around mental illness, giving it the open discussion it desperately needs. The Out of the Shadows Tour 2010 began today with a dip of Wayne’s bicycle tire into the Pacific Ocean at Parksville, B.C. and will end in September at Neil’s Harbour, Nova Scotia.

“I hope, through the tour, to have Canadians think about mental illness, and the impact it has on families, our communities and our global environment, in a different way,” Wayne says. The goal of the tour is to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, help Canadians connect with the mental health issue and raise funds for the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.

Canada Post is proud to support Wayne’s effort and encourages Canadians to visit his blog at www.outoftheshadowstour.ca, where they can keep pace of the tour’s progress, emerging information, upcoming events and donate to the Foundation. Wayne will be visiting post offices all along his route, sharing his passion for cycling and his important message. No other company or institution in Canada has Canada Post’s reach, which extends into nearly every community, giving the company a unique opportunity to lead the way in changing the mental health landscape in Canada. Additionally, our employee’s enthusiasm for this cause—like that being shown by Wayne—can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Mental illness affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. It can take many forms, from depression and anxiety to addictions and eating disorders. One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, but every one of us, including Wayne, will be touched by its impact on a friend, colleague or loved one.

About the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health
Canada Post employees, through the generous support of our customers, suppliers and the general public, have 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 – a growing legacy of support for the more than 7 million Canadians who 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. Funds are raised a number of ways, including the sale of a special commemorative postage stamp, donations at post office counters during a fall fundraising campaign and contributions from Canada Post’s employees, customers and suppliers. Two mental health stamps are currently available at post offices nationwide, and each booklet sold generates $1 for the Foundation. Additionally, donations can be made online anytime at www.canadapost.ca/foundation.