On Saturday, June 21, 2014, the grounds of Rideau Hall will be transformed into a playground when it hosts the Annual Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Teddy Bears’ Picnic, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston are inviting residents and visitors to our nation’s capital to get active and participate in this family-friendly event.
The day will kick off at 8 a.m. with a celebrity pancake breakfast followed by an opening ceremony. At 9:40 a.m., His Excellency will thank all volunteers for their outstanding work and dedication. Joined on stage by Mrs. Suzanne Pinel, C.M., Honorary Chair of the CHEO Teddy Bear Picnic, the Governor General will read a story to children.
Throughout the day, the young and the young-at-heart will enjoy stage entertainment, rides and games. Children are invited to bring their teddy bears and other stuffed animals for check-ups and minor repairs at the B*A*S*H tent—Bear Ambulatory Surgical Hospital.
The Ottawa Public Library will again be present, this year in collaboration with Frontier College whose volunteers will be on-site to promote “Story time at Rideau Hall,”a summer activity that will officially kick off on June 28. They will read books to children in English and in French in the Reading Tent.
Once again, Canadian Olympians will be back on the grounds to share their experiences as part of International Olympic Day (June 23, 2014). From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,they will host sport demonstrations such as soccer, badminton, gymnastics, taekwondo, athletics, rugby and field hockey, just to name a few.
Tours of the Residence
From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., visitors will be able to tour the historic residence and its State rooms, where they will learn about the history and the role of the governor general.
Shuttle
Park-and-ride shuttle buses will be in operation from the National Research Council Canada (NRC), located at 100 Sussex Drive, and from the Ottawa Baseball Stadium (OBS), located at 300 Coventry Road, from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The last shuttle bus leaving from Rideau Hall will be at 3:15 p.m. Please note that there are limited spaces at both parking lots. For more information, contact the CHEO Foundation at 613-737-2783.
Limited parking for mobility-impaired guests will be available on the Rideau Hall grounds via Princess Anne Gate. For more information, please contact 1-888-842-4422, 613-991-4422 or guide@gg.ca.
About the CHEO Foundation
The sole purpose of the CHEO Foundation is to raise funds to help support the work of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Donations help the hospital provide a wide variety of pediatric programs, research, state-of-the-art equipment, medical and nursing education, and assistance for families in crisis. For more information, visit www.cheo.on.ca/en/ourfoundation.
About the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC)
The COC leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team’s podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the COC delivers resources that Canada’s elite athletes need to perform at their best and to give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada’s Olympic movement, the COC works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games.