March 11, 2008
For Immediate Release

3M Joins Partnership To Help Students With Disabilities Realize Olympic And Paralympic Dreams

Vancouver, BC – 2010 Legacies Now, SET-BC and 3M are teaming up to provide opportunities for secondary school students with disabilities to participate in the excitement of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The new program, Virtual Voices Village, will provide opportunities for students with a range of disabilities to develop writing and journalism skills and to post their work online. After completing the program, which will include interviewing and writing about athletes and other successful role models, and mentorship with local journalists, students may be selected to be reporters for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“We are working to include everyone as we create lasting legacies around the province leading up to, and beyond, the 2010 Winter Games,” said Brenda Le Clair, managing director of strategic development and partnerships for 2010 Legacies Now. “Virtual Voices Village will help students with disabilities make their own connection to the Games as they gain literacy, leadership and employment skills.”

“Literacy is a proven gateway to increased learning and opportunity among young people,” said Dave Pawson, director of corporate services for 3M Canada. “The Virtual Voices program is a natural extension of our commitment to education and allows us to be part of something that truly changes people's lives.”

Currently, the Virtual Voices Village website is a unique online community where students with disabilities communicate with their friends around the province and share ideas by publishing stories, poems and multi-media work. Many contributors take on the role of reporter, attending local sport and cultural events, and interviewing inspirational athletes, students and professionals.

Leading up to 2010, student reporters will be contributing content regularly on a variety of topics, such as major sport events, the Cultural Olympiad, and the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. 3M has supplied funding for Virtual Voices Village, as well as touch screen computer monitors, technology which will enable more students with disabilities to access the website and post their work.

“I enjoyed reporting on the BC Winter Games in Cranbrook, and I want to keep on being a journalist,” said Grace Brulotte, a Grade 6 student from Fernie who contributes to the Virtual Voices Village website. “And the Olympics are very cool because I like seeing people in action.”

“Virtual Voices Village is helping students with disabilities achieve their dreams,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Education. “The Olympic and Paralympic Games can touch every citizen of B.C. This is one more example of the positive partnerships and social legacies made possible by the power of the Games.”

Please visit www.vvvillage.org to learn more about the program and see the students’ work.

Media Contact:
Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
778-327-5180
778-840-8779 (cell)

About 2010 Legacies Now
2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with non-government organizations, the private sector and government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, physical activity, arts, literacy, accessibility and volunteerism. 2010 Legacies Now actively assists communities to discover and create inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to, and beyond, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information, please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.

About SET-BC
Special Education Technology – British Columbia is a Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program established to assist school districts in educating students whose access to the curriculum is restricted primarily by physical disability, visual impairment and/or autism. SET-BC works to enhance student opportunities by lending assistive technologies (reading, writing and communication tools). SET-BC also helps districts provide the necessary training for students and educators in the use of these technologies.

About 3M Canada
Established in 1951, 3M Canada Company was one of the first international subsidiaries opened by 3M and remains one of the largest. 3M Canada’s head office and original manufacturing site is in London, Ontario where approximately 1,000 of the company’s 1,950 employees work. Other Ontario plants are located in Toronto, Brockville and Perth, with one in Morden, Manitoba. 3M has sales offices in major cities nationwide and a national service network to support customers.

3M is a trademark of 3M. Used under license in Canada.