WINTERLUDE ON WELLINGTON FEATURES CANADIAN ATHLETES AND HOCKEY FILMS

Ottawa, January 15, 2002 - The National Archives of Canada, the National Library of Canada and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) are pleased to present a special event at 395 Wellington Street from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 17, 2002 as part of the Winterlude festivities.

Families can view famous Canadian athletes from the past and the present in an exhibition called, "Sporting Lives: Images of Canadian Athletes" which is open all day. Among these athletes are the New Brunswick rowing team that won the world championship in Paris in 1871 and Gaétan Boucher who won gold for skating in 1984. Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene and Tom Longboat are some of the other well-known athletes featured in the exhibition.

Hockey fans of Maurice "the Rocket" Richard can come and have Roch Carrier, National Librarian, autograph copies of his latest book, "Our Life with the Rocket: The Maurice Richard Story".

Film buffs will have the opportunity to enjoy English and French versions of the NFB films "The Sweater", "The Rocket: Maurice Richard the man...the legend" and "Le Rocket: Maurice Richard l'homme et sa légende". The short films will play continuously from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

These Winterlude events provide the perfect opportunity to visit the National Archives and the National Library and view the treasures that belong to Canadians. You can also "visit" the National Archives and National Library via the Web at www.collectionscanada.gc.ca and www.collectionscanada.gc.ca  and the National Film Board at www.nfb.ca

The exhibitions at 395 Wellington Street are open seven days a week and admission is free.

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For more information, please contact:

Louisa Coates
Media Relations Officer
National Archives of Canada
Telephone: (613) 996-6128 / cell 293-4298
E-mail: media@lac-bac.gc.ca

Pauline Portelance
Media Relations Officer
National Library of Canada
(613) 992-9361 / cell 295-5516
E-mail: media@lac-bac.gc.ca