BC Rugby unleashes food drive to honour a corporate culture of givingVancouver, BC - The tenacious Trisha Tyrrell, Senior Manager of Business Development at Canadian Direct Insurance is fatigued. It’s 9:00AM on a Wednesday in December and she has been at this since 5:00AM. As a sponsor of the British Columbia Rugby Union’s Premier League since 2005, Tyrrell is well aware the average cumulative pressure in a scrum is 6 tonnes. She is equally aware she needs to move double that weight by 9:00 AM to set a new record. A new record will surely impress the “boss man”; a rugby disciple of Canadian-Irish lineage and a resourceful hooker for the UBCOB Ravens back in the day.
It’s the final few minutes of the drive. Tyrrell makes eye contact with one of her teammates kitted out in the traditional all-blue for the occasion. Her teammate knows to back off - that Tyrrell will slot this one herself. It is with Marchakian power and Kleebergerian resolve that Tyrrell spins the two foot red dog stuffie to the top of the 25 foot pile of toys. The stuffie gets stuck in atop the mountain; the scale tips to 12 tonnes. The toy drive is over, the VFD firemen dressed in blue celebrate, the choir sings.
Indeed the resourceful old hooker will be happy, for thousands of underprivileged kids will have a brighter Christmas thanks to the efforts of Tyrrell and the team who again executed one of the greatest seasonal events in British Columbia; the Christmas Wish Breakfast, brought to you by Canadian Direct Insurance.
Though likely evident by now, know this is not a “regular” press release. Yes, the British Columbia Rugby Union is today announcing a 5-year renewal with Canadian Direct Insurance at a heightened level of sponsorship over previous contracts. Of course, the renewal will enable the British Columbia Rugby Union to further improve representative and club rugby in British Columbia, including the Canadian Direct Insurance Men’s Premier League. Indeed, the enhanced 5-year funding will result in an expansion of the newly minted Canadian Direct Insurance High Performance Academy, which will be stationed in the soon to be constructed Canadian Direct Insurance High Performance Centre (details forthcoming in the New Year!).
However, in the spirit of the season the British Columbia Rugby Union would prefer to launch the renewal in the context of understanding how certain core values championed by individuals at Canadian Direct Insurance make this company, like this release, anything but “regular”.
For fifteen years Canadian Direct Insurance has been offering better home and auto insurance with no broker commissions. During this time the company has also invested heavily in the communities in which they operate. As a result, it is not surprising that Canadian Direct Insurance continues to be the fastest growing insurance company in Western Canada.
In rugby, participants compete on a level playing field, an element in society Canadian Direct Insurance diligently helps foster off the pitch as well. In addition to their ongoing sponsorship activity, Canadian Direct Insurance annually supports numerous charitable events and causes. One of the five primary charities they support in British Columbia is The Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society. The Foodbank distributes food to 25,000 individuals each week and they are in need of supplies.
The Weight of Our Hookers Food DriveIn celebration of our 5-year sponsorship renewal with Canadian Direct Insurance and with inspiration provided by the charitable efforts of their team, the British Columbia Rugby Union is unleashing a food drive in support of The Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society.
Sports fans and insurance executives love stats and here are some important ones:
Did you know…
a) The average hooker in the Canadian Direct Insurance Premier league weights 212lbs of raw power.
b) There are approximately 3,392lbs of hookers in the Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League.
c) Through the Weight of Our Hookers Food Drive, the British Columbia Rugby Union in honour of Canadian Direct Insurance, is committing to collect by the BC Finals in May 2012 3,392lbs of food for The Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society.
How to donate to the Weight of our Hookers Food Drive:If any individual, team or club in the Greater Vancouver or Victoria area is able to collect one or more boxes of food, BC Rugby will arrange to have it delivered to our main depot for the campaign.
For those who are able, the main drop off location is:
British Columbia Rugby Union Office
#203 – 210 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Y 3W2
What to donate to the Weight of our Hookers Food Drive:Please visit www.foodbank.bc.ca for all information about the amazing service the Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society providers, including what items are accepted. The items that are always at the top of the “most needed” list include:
• Canned meat / fish
• Peanut butter
• Bags of whole wheat pasta
• Bags of whole wheat rice
• Pasta sauce
• Canned fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Cereal
• Baby formula
• Baby food
On behalf of the British Columbia Rugby Union and all our hookers in the Canadian Direct Insurance League; thank you for your donations to the Greater Vancouver Foodbank.
*NOTE: In rugby, the hooker is an important forward position and part of the front row. The hooker is positioned between the two props and requires top skills in scrummaging, line-out throwing, contact and handling. -30-
