Our next major volunteer event is the Calgary Police Association Old Timer’s Hockey Challenge, taking place at 7 pm at the Saddledome on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. We need 50/50 ticket sellers for that event, which will see the JPMF receive half of the take of 50/50 ticket sales. Follow this link for more details.

After that, we’ll be helping out at the Calgary Police Half Marathon on Sunday, April 25, 2010 by setting up a water station for all the thirsty runners. Click here to learn more.

For information on these and other events, or to learn how to become a sponsor, contact JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca.

The JPMF’s Put Yourself in Our Boots campaign has been receiving a great deal of accolades and attention.

Following the launch of the campaign with press conferences in Calgary (Jan. 31) and Edmonton (Feb. 1), Put Yourself in Our Boots received coverage from the following media outlets (click links below to read stories about the campaign):

• Calgary Herald
• Calgary Sun
• 24 hours
• Metro News Calgary
• CTV Calgary
• Global TV Calgary
• CHQR
• 660 News
• Edmonton Journal
• Edmonton Sun
• Metro News Edmonton
• Global TV Edmonton
• CTV Edmonton
• iNews 880 AM
• CBC News Edmonton
• Vancouver Sun
• Lacombe Globe
• Officer.com News
• Firehouse.com News
• EMSResponder.com News

The 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) began airing in early February on Global TV and Shaw Cable Systems channels across Canada. Channels airing the PSAs include TLC, A&E, Spike TV, CNN, CNN Headline News, AMC, Speed, Golf Channel, BBC World News, Fox News, Peachtree, MSNBC, CNBC, Bloomberg, NFL Network, Big 10 Network and the Game Show Network.

The PSAs (police, fire, EMS) and a promo video for the 10-minute safety video have also become a hit online, where thousands of viewers have checked out the videos. As a result, people are checking out www.OurBoots.ca and joining the campaign’s Facebook group by the hundreds.

The momentum continues to roll: iReport for CNN - an interactive, international monthly half-hour TV program showcasing the most newsworthy and informative citizen journalism reports on the Internet - has booked an interview with JPMF Board Chair Maryanne Pope to discuss the campaign. Stay tuned for details on that interview.

The event, featuring acclaimed speaker Brian Willis, takes place March 27, 2010 at the Sheraton Cavalier, located at 2620 - 32 Ave N.E. in Calgary, Alberta.

Earlybird tickets, which cost just $57, are available until Sunday, Feb. 28th. After that, the cost is $77.

Purchase tickets now by clicking here or contact kristin@jpmf.ca for more details.

Turn off the lights, trigger the alarm and put yourself in the boots of emergency responders – police, firefighters and paramedics – who could be at your place of work in dark, unfamiliar surroundings and under stressful circumstances. Your workplace is their workplace … is it safe?

The John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF), an Alberta-based non-profit organization, is pleased to announce the launch of its Put Yourself in Our Boots public awareness campaign, which aims to reduce preventable injuries & fatalities and promote workplace safety for emergency responders – because their workplace is every place.

“We want to create a culture where safety for emergency responders is an integral aspect of every workplace,” says JPMF board chair Maryanne Pope.

“Companies often think about workplace safety from the perspective of their own employees. We want them to consider the fact that emergency responders – police, fire and EMS personnel – may need to respond to their businesses at any time of day and often when no one is around. Is your workplace safe for everyone?”

The Put Yourself in Our Boots campaign includes a series of 30-second televised public service announcements (PSAs), which reflect the dangers faced by police, fire and EMS personnel at unsafe workplaces, as well as a 10-minute safety video - available on DVD - and a website at www.OurBoots.ca. The PSAs begin airing throughout Western Canada on Feb. 1^st.

Future phases of the campaign include the release of radio and print PSAs, further media events and participation in community events

“Ultimately, by making workplaces safer for emergency responders, we’re making workplaces safer for everyone else. It’s not just police officers, firefighters and paramedics who will benefit from this,” says Pope, whose husband, Calgary Police Service Const. John Petropoulos, passed away on Sept. 29, 2000 after falling through a false ceiling at a break-and-enter call at an unsafe warehouse.

• Put Yourself in Our Boots Backgrounder
• Put Yourself in Our Boots Key Messages
• JPMF Backgrounder
• Visit www.OurBoots.ca
  

For more information about Put Yourself in Our Boots, please contact:

Ian Wilson

Managing Director

John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

ian@jpmf.ca

403-891-4269

Shannon Lyons

Project Coordinator

Put Yourself in Our Boots

shannon@jpmf.ca

403-542-7478

On March 27, 2010 Brian Willis from Winning Mind Training Inc. will be presenting the powerful In Pursuit of Personal Excellence Seminar. Brian will be combining two of his most powerful presentations - Dare to Soar and Your Life IS Your Legacy - into one life-changing seminar.

In this powerful presentation Brian will explore the issues around victim thinking that has become pervasive in today’s world. Through the use of stories and analogies, Brian will explore the causes of this type of limiting thinking, which only serves to hold us back and keep us from Daring to Soar. Daring to Soar is about breaking free from victim thinking and achieving excellence in our lives. Brian will also share powerful stories of people who, faced with incredible obstacles and challenges, still Dared to Soar by choosing to view adversity in their life as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Your Life IS Your Legacy is a dynamic and insightful presentation that explores the concept of a legacy as something we build every day that we live rather than something we leave behind when we die. This thought-provoking presentation examines the many roles we live during the course of our lives and the legacies we build in each of those roles. Powerful examples of individuals who have created a legacy of excellence through the way they lived their lives will be explored throughout the presentation to create a deeper appreciation for the power of this philosophy. This exploration will lead to an understanding of the roles that our day-to-day interactions play in this life-long journey.

Are you ready to achieve personal excellence? Are you ready to open the door to a future filled with opportunity and success? Are you ready to create your best life yet? Is it worth investing one day of your life to change it forever?

If the answer is yes, you must invest in yourself by committing to attend In Pursuit of Personal Excellence - a half-day event filled with information and inspiration that will unlock the door to your future and inspire you to seek excellence in your life.

This event will unleash your imagination, spark your creativity and inspire your personal best. After the day is over, you will have:

• A clear understanding of your own personal excellence.
• Insight into how to overcome roadblocks on your path.
• A solid view of where victim thinking keeps you from being a victor.
• A foundation upon which to build a roadmap to achieve your dreams and keep living life as a victor not a victim.
• The tools to write the new story of your life, free of limiting beliefs and behaviours that have kept you back from achieving your dreams.

AND

• You will ask yourself the ONE question you MUST ASK - no matter the situation – to ensure you live your best, every moment of every day.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Individuals interested in getting more out of life and living fearlessly in the moment
• Corporate teams looking to jump-start their effectiveness and achieve success in everything they do
• Parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, therapists.
• Emergency service personnel, social workers, social service providers

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Seminar starts at 9:00 am (on the dot!) and wraps up at 1:00 pm. Coffee is included in your seminar.

Location: The Sheraton Cavalier is located at 2620 - 32 Ave N.E., Calgary, Alberta. The hotel provides ample free parking. For out of town guests, the Sheraton Cavalier provides free airport shuttle service.

How to Order: Click here for tickets to this event. Take advantage of early-bird prices and student discounts. For more information, contact JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca or 403-891-4269.

Proceeds from this event will go to the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization devoted to eliminating preventable workplace injuries and fatalities to emergency responders, including police, fire and EMS personnel.

DVD features include:

• Put Yourself in Our Boots 10-minute safety video
• Three 30-second Put Yourself in Our Boots video public service announcements (PSAs)

• Two 30-second bonus video PSAs (SLOW DOWN: It’s No Picnic Out Here and Make Your Workplace Safe for Everyone)
• Extended interviews
• Put Yourself in Our Boots safety tips
• Access to Put Yourself in Our Boots online resources

Put Yourself in Our Boots will be launched in the press later this month and the PSAs will begin airing on Feb. 1, 2010. DVD copies of the Put Yourself in Our Boots videos will also be available later this month, but you can order your copy today.

Individual copies of the DVD sell for just $24.95 each (plus $5 for shipping and handling) and they can be purchased here.

Bulk rates and special offers!

Bulk rates are also available. The cost is just $19.95 per DVD for orders of three or more copies, and only $14.95 per DVD for orders of 10 or more.

Meanwhile, the JPMF is also offering a deal if you order the Put Yourself in Our Boots DVD and a copy of A Widow’s Awakening. If you order both individually, it will cost you more than $50, but with this special offer the cost is just $39.95 (plus $5 for shipping and handling), a savings of more than $10!

Contact JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca for bulk orders and special offers.

(DVDs will start being sent out in late January, 2010)

“We applaud this festive spirit, but we want to remind businesses to make sure their workplaces are safe for employees, visitors and emergency responders who may need to attend during non-business hours,” said JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson.

“Many businesses are closed for several days or even weeks over the holiday season, so it’s important to look at workplaces from the perspective of emergency services workers who may have to respond to unfamiliar surroundings in poor lighting and under stressful circumstances.”

Make sure safety railings are in place, grates and open holes are covered, broken glass and sharp objects are removed, hallways and emergency exits are not obstructed, security alarm systems are working and consider leaving some sort of inside lighting on overnight. For more tips, go to the safety section of the JPMF’s website.

Meanwhile, because emergency responders also call roads their workplace, the JPMF is urging motorists to slow down when passing emergency vehicles. Facing adverse weather conditions, increased traffic and the potential for more impaired drivers on Alberta roads, this can be an especially challenging time of year for emergency services personnel, so we hope that you’ll watch out for them this festive season. Here are some traffic safety tips motorists should follow:

1) Slow down - motorists must slow down to 60 km/hr, or less if the posted speed is lower, when passing emergency vehicles or tow trucks that are stopped with their lights flashing.

2) Yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles - when they approach with sirens sounding, immediately move clear of the intersection or pull over to the right side of the two-way roadway. Once out of the way, stop until the emergency vehicle has passed and check that no other emergency vehicles are approaching.

3) Do not follow within 150 metres of any emergency vehicle that has its siren or lights operating.

4) Check your rear-view mirror regularly.

For more information, go to www.jpmf.ca or contact:

Ian Wilson

Managing Director

John Petropoulos Memorial Fund

ian@jpmf.ca

403-891-4269

That’s why we’re hosting our Ho! Ho! Holiday Giveaway contest for visitors to www.jpmf.ca. Up for grabs are 4 tickets to any Calgary Hitmen home game, 2 tickets to Heritage Park and 6 passes to Fort Calgary.

This awesome prize pack - worth over $150 - will go to the highest bidder in an online auction. The bidding will run from now until noon on Dec. 21st. Bids may be placed by emailing JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca. The minimum starting bid is $40 and the leading bid will be periodically updated in the JPMF newsroom. The winner will be announced on the afternoon of Dec. 21st.

All proceeds from this contest will go to the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund, which strives to eliminate preventable workplace injuries and fatalities to emergency responders.

This is exciting news, as it is expected to be the biggest single fundraiser in JPMF history.

Volunteer participation will be a major part of this event. Approximately 25 volunteers are needed to ensure the casino goes ahead and key volunteers need to be in place by mid-December.

If you’re interested in helping out, please fill out this form:

http://www.aglc.ca/pdf/gaming/gaming_forms/5400.pdf

Do not worry about filling out the top of the form. Just fill out everything under the “Particulars of Volunteer” section.

Once you have completed and signed the form, you can scan it and email it to JPMF Managing Director Ian Wilson at ian@jpmf.ca or mail it to the JPMF mailbox at: John Petropoulos Memorial Fund, Suite 347, 440 - 10816 Macleod Tr. SE, Calgary, AB, T2J 5N8.

Thanks for supporting the JPMF!

More than 100 people showed up at Stix Sports Bar to celebrate the completion of the safety video and public service announcements, and close to $3,000 was raised for the JPMF.

Along with getting a sneak peek at the video and PSAs, some lucky party-goers went home with Grey Cup tickets and a ride-along aboard the HAWCS police helicopter (among other great prizes).

Special thanks to the following silent auction donors:

• Alberta Motor Association
• Ashley Dawn Pawluk-Hallett
• Brad Tepper
• Calaway Park
• Calgary EMS
• Calgary Hitmen
• Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
• Calgary Police Association
• Calgary Police Service
• Calgary Roughnecks
• Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts
• Capture the Flag
• Crave Cookies and Cupcakes
• Fast Forward Weekly
• Fiore Cantina Italiana
• Fort Calgary
• Hotel of the Rockies - Canmore
• Jubilations Dinner Theatre
• Kimberly Photography
• The Laugh Shop Comedy Club
• Laura Rogi
• Lunchbox Theatre
• Martin Chambers
• The Military Museums
• Neil Gregory
• Oceana Seafood, Steakhouse and Bar
• Peter’s Drive-In
• Samantha Pawluk
• Van Houtte Inc.
• Yuk Yuk’s Standup Comedy Club

Major thanks, as well, to everyone who supported the launch party and the JPMF by attending the event. Keep checking jpmf.ca for updates on the Memorial Fund and the Put Yourself in Our Boots initiative.

Meanwhile, you can also follow the JPMF on our Facebook page or join our Facebook group. You can also join the Put Yourself in Our Boots Facebook group or follow the JPMF on Twitter.