Backgrounder: Non-competition Events

Whats happening off the field of play at this Septembers Invictus Games Toronto 2017

From September 23 to 30, the Invictus Games Toronto 2017, presented by Jaguar Land Rover,
are coming to Toronto. If the past Invictus Games in Orlando and London are any indication, the
seven-day sporting event promises to be an inspirational week of competition for the more
than 550 competitors from 17 nations. Aside from the 12 adaptive sports taking place at nine
venues across the city, a variety of new programming is being introduced to help support
service members on their road to recovery.

The Invictus Games are about more than just sporttheyre about capturing hearts,
challenging minds and changing lives. The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 are adopting a
comprehensive approach to rehabilitation, by offering events beyond sport to help competitors
find motivation and not be defined by their injuries. Notable activities include celebrations of
faith and culture, connection to employment opportunities, support for friends and family
members and educating the public about the sacrifices of service members.

Non-competition Events
Multi-Faith Celebration
Faith or spirituality can often be the cornerstone of a military family's unity. As such, a Multi-
Faith Celebration will be held with representation from a variety of faiths: Christianity, Judaism,
Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and our Indigenous people in recognition of the traditional territory
of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. The celebration will connect the represented
faiths under one roof to honour the role that spirituality plays in service members' lives.

When: Tuesday, September 19, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: St. James Cathedral
65 Church Street
Contact: Pj Kwong media@invictusgames2017.com

Flag Raising Ceremony

Prior to the start of competition, the 2017 Invictus Games will be celebrating the conclusion of
the National Flag Tour. The Official Flag will arrive in Toronto on the last leg of its journey and
be raised at Nathan Phillips Square, where Toronto Mayor John Tory and other dignitaries will
be on hand to address the crowd.

When: Friday, September 22, 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen Street West
Contact: Pj Kwong media@invictusgames2017.com

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY GAMES CORP

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

357 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 2T7

www.invictusgames2017.com
True Patriot Love Symposium
Beginning in 2012, True Patriot Love has hosted multinational symposiums to address the
topics of Veterans issues on a global scale. On the eve of the Invictus Games, True Patriot Love
will bring leaders from the not-for-profit, government and corporate sectors together to discuss
the impact of injury on military families.

When: Friday, September 22, 2017, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Scotia Plaza
40 King Street West
Contact: Laura Hearn lhearn@truepatriotlove.com

Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Forum
What are the impacts of sport competitions like the Invictus Games on wounded, ill and injured
service members and veterans? During the opening session of the 2017 CIMVHR Forum, the
preliminary findings of a research study conducted by Dalhousie University and CIMVHR
researcher Dr. Celina Shirazipour, Ph.D. will be presented. Shirazipours study, announced in the
fall of 2016 and funded by the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 Organizing Committee, examines
the role adaptive sport plays in the rehabilitation of ill, wounded and injured military personnel
and their families through a comprehensive evaluation of the competitors participating in the
Invictus Games.

When: Monday, September 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, September 26, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday, September 27, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Enercare Centre (CNE)
100 Princes Boulevard #1
Contact: Lauren Hanlon lauren.hanlon@queensu.ca; Lisa Douglas lisa@ldcomm.ca

CIBC Citizenship Ceremony

The 2017 Invictus Games, in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
(IRCC) and CIBC, welcome new Canadians at a special citizenship ceremony at Nathan Philips
Square. With the Games taking place in Toronto, and in celebration of Canadas and the banks
shared 150th anniversary this year, these organizations are honoured to welcome new citizens
to a country that enjoys a long-established freedom, shaped by the sacrifices of the very
servicemen and women competing in the Invictus Games.

When: Monday, September 25, 3:45 p.m.

Where: Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen Street West
Contact: Pj Kwong media@invictusgames2017.com

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY GAMES CORP

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

357 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 2T7

www.invictusgames2017.com
The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 Veterans Career Summit, brought to you by Barrick
The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 Organizing Committee is proud to partner with Barrick Gold
Corporation for the Veterans Career Summit. The Summit will offer potential employers the
chance to connect with job-seeking veterans over a two-day period at the Sheraton Centre
Toronto Hotel. Career counselling, keynote speakers and an informal area for ad hoc job
interviews will also be available.

When: Thursday, September 28 and Friday, September 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen Street West
Contact: Pj Kwong media@invictusgames2017.com

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY GAMES CORP

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

357 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 2T7

www.invictusgames2017.com
Cultural Events
Known for its cultural diversity, Toronto boasts numerous museums, theatres and festivals,
many of which will be opening their doors to the Invictus Games family. The Invictus Games
Toronto 2017 Organizing Committee will be partnering with a variety of cultural programs
across the city to offer Invictus Games-themed events and programs for competitors and
spectators. The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 cultural programs will make for great memories
for our wounded warriors and their families, both on and off the competition field.

UNCONQUERED: Massed Military Band Spectacular

The Royal Canadian Military Institute, in conjunction with Roy Thomson Hall, is delighted to
present UNCONQUERED: an evening of military band music in celebration of the Invictus Games
Toronto 2017. Held at Roy Thomson Hall on September 24, the Massed Military Band
Spectacular will feature the best military bands from across the nation in honour of our
wounded warriors competing in the Invictus Games.
Tickets are available now for $39.50 to $89.50 from the Roy Thomson Hall website. This event is
sponsored by TD Bank Group.
When: Sunday, September 24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Roy Thomson Hall
60 Simcoe Street
Contact: Frazer Hadwin fhadwin@invictusgames2017.com

Invictus Day in Stratford

The city of Stratford and the Stratford Festival will mark Invictus Day with a wide range of
events across the region.

Stratford Perth Museum will present special exhibitions; a Stratford Festival Forum session will
be hosted by retired Leading Seaman and 2017 Invictus Games ambassador Bruno Guvremont;
a Vimy Centennial Commemoration and key-to-the-city presentation honouring Brig. General
Mark Campbell will be hosted by Stratford mayor Dan Mathieson. Veterans will be offered
discounted tickets to all performances at the Stratford Festival on September 23.

When: Saturday, September 23, 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: Studio Theatre
34 George Street East
Contact: Anita Gaffney agaffney@stratfordfestival.ca

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY GAMES CORP

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

357 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 2T7

www.invictusgames2017.com
Contact! Unload Veterans Performing Stories of Self
Contact! Unload is a creative initiative where counsellors and artists collaborate with
military veterans to produce theatre and visual art. This initiative will offer an expressive
vehicle for veterans to publicly reinterpret their struggles and experiences of transitioning
from active service to civilian life in ways that build resilience.

Six military veterans, along with an actor and a musician, will be featured in the play.
Accompanying the play will be the lestweforgetCANADA mural and the
SERIOUS SHiT exhibit, created by artist Foster Eastman.

The project is led by Marv Westwood, Foster Eastman and George Belliveau.

When/Where: Tuesday, September 26, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Moss Park Armoury
130 Queen Street East
Wednesday, September 27, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Moss Park Armoury
130 Queen Street East
Thursday, September 28, 7 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m., Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen Street West
Thursday, September 28, 9 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen Street West
Contact: Dr. George Beliveau George.beliveau@ubc.ca

ROM Speaks: Voices of Canada Lecture Series: The Next Fire Fight: Transitioning out of Uniform
Torontos Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is featuring an Invictus Games-themed program as
part of the ROM Speaks series. The lectures aim to shed light on what it means to be Canadian
and exploring the countrys multi-faceted identity. In partnership with the Invictus Games
Toronto 2017, Lt.-Col. (retired) David Quick will share his remarkable experiences, both as an
active duty and veteran service member, and his transition out of uniform and into a business
suit.
When: Tuesday, September 26, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Where: Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
100 Queens Park
Contact: Constance MacDonald conniem@rom.on.ca

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY GAMES CORP

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

357 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 2T7

www.invictusgames2017.com
Canadian Opera Company: Celebrating the Invictus Games
This September, the Canadian Opera Company (COC) will present a concert in the Richard
Bradshaw Amphitheatre to commemorate the indomitable spirit of the competitors at the 2017
Invictus Games as part of the COCs acclaimed Free Concert Series. Sung by artists of the COC
Ensemble Studio, Canadas premier training program for young opera professionals, the
program will feature art songs centred on themes of war, loss and overcoming adversity.

This performance takes place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Admittance is
free of charge and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, for up to 230 patrons. For
more information, visit coc.ca/FreeConcerts
When: Wednesday, September 27, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Latecomers
cannot be admitted.)
Where: Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts
145 Queen Street West
Contact: Kristen McKinnon kmckinnon@coc.ca

WE Day
WE Day is a celebration of service through learning about and committing to local and global
action. Each WE Day serves as a symbol of change-making youths' outstanding contribution to
their communities.

The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 Organizing Committee and WE Day have been working
together for several months. This partnership culminates with WE Day 2017 in Toronto. The
Games will be featured in multiple segments throughout the WEs program to pay tribute to
the compelling stories of our wounded warriors and families. The segment aims to inspire
youth to take action and give back to military communities.
When: Thursday, September 28, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Air Canada Centre
40 Bay Street
Contact: Jackie Pilon jackie.pilon@we.org

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MILITARY GAMES CORP

INVICTUS GAMES TORONTO 2017

357 Bay Street, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5H 2T7

www.invictusgames2017.com