WorkSafeBC: One lucky winner to ski with Paralympian Josh Dueck

RICHMOND, BC CANADA November 24, 2010 (Press-News.org) "Win a Day with Josh" is an online contest from WorkSafeBC, in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, to raise young people's awareness of workplace safety.

B.C. residents between the ages of 15 and 24 are encouraged to hurry and enter online - before November 26 - for a chance to win a trip to Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon and spend a day skiing or snowboarding with Paralympian Josh Dueck. Entrants simply go to WorkSafeBC.com and click on "Win a ski adventure with Paralympian Josh Dueck!" The prize includes round-trip transportation to Vernon, a two-night stay at a hotel, two lift tickets, and $300 spending money.

"The objective of this contest is to remind young people of their safety rights and to have them reflect on how safety at work, at school, or at home is important to them," says WorkSafeBC director of communications Scott McCloy. "This contest is the perfect opportunity to enforce the message of workplace safety and also to highlight the partnership between WorkSafeBC and the Canadian Paralympic Committee."

In 2009, WorkSafeBC and the Canadian Paralympic Committee partnered to form the WorkSafeBC Paralympic Team speaker program, an initiative that brings a group of inspiring athletes who were injured on the job to students and communities to talk about the challenges they overcame to represent Canada on the world stage.

Dueck is one of those inspirational athletes. He was paralyzed from the waist down in a workplace accident at the age of 23, and he has become a world-champion para-alpine skier. Not only did he win a silver medal at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, but in August of this year he high-fived 9,307 people for WorkSafeBC's Raise Your Hand campaign and broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDTM for the most high-fives by an individual in 24 hours. "I did it to bring attention to young worker safety, and that's something I'm stoked about."

"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to ski or snowboard with a Paralympian who is truly passionate about ensuring young workers stay safe," says Henry Storgaard, chief executive officer for the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is for Canada to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit http://www.paralympic.ca.

WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a board of directors that serves about 2.3 million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.

For more information, please contact Heather Young, manager of public afffairs at heather.young@worksafebc.com or 1-604-214-5441.