MEDIA ALERT: TORONTO FIRE & MAYOR JOHN TORY JOINED BY TINY TOWNSHIP FIREFIGHTERS TO KICK-OFF 16TH ANNUAL MOVEMBER CAMPAIGN

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2022 /CNW/ -  November 1st marks the beginning of the 16th annual Movember campaign in Canada, where Canadians from coast to coast will Grow, Move, Host or MO THEIR OWN WAY to raise funds and awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

To kick-off this year's efforts, Toronto Fire Services will face off against the Tiny Township Fire Department ? this year, the team includes representatives across Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters. While Tiny in name, the Tiny Firefighter's fundraising efforts have been anything but. They currently hold the title as the reigning first responder fundraising team, not only in Canada but globally, having raised a whopping $77.6K in 2021. Will they be able to maintain their dominance against the country's largest fire service? This year, Toronto Fire Services will be taking them head-on in a friendly local competition.

Toronto Mayor John Tory will be in attendance to help launch the "Battle of Ontario" as the two leading fire stations compete in The Great Canadian Fire Challenge, a country-wide challenge where firefighters across Canada compete to raise funds and awareness for men's health.

WHAT:

• Toronto Fire Services
• Tiny Township Fire Department and their Movember-branded fire engine
• Shavedown - Jason Culala from OGX Barbershop will be onsite to get our first responders clean-shaven and ready for Movember

WHEN: 

• Tuesday, Movember 1st, 11:00 a.m. ? 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: 

• Toronto Fire Station 346 at CNE
• 90 Quebec St., Toronto, ON, M6K 3C3

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:

• Toronto Firefighters & Tiny Township Firefighters & Southern Georgian Bay firefighters will get shaved down on-site
• Tiny Fire Department's Movember-branded fire vehicles
• John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, will be onsite to help kick-off Movember (available 11:00 a.m. ? 11:30 a.m.)

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

• Todd Minerson & Shane DeMerchant, Movember Canada ? to speak to what Movember is, the causes Movember supports and how Torontonians can get involved
• Local Firefighters (Toronto Fire Services and Tiny Fire Department) that are willing to share their stories of why they participate in Movember, and the importance of men's health including:
• Chief Matthew Pegg, Toronto Fire Services
• Chief Dave Flewelling, Tiny Township Fire Department
• John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, will speak to the importance of supporting our first responders during this time and his words of encouragement to these brave men and women on the front lines, while having some fun and doing good (available 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.)

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health on a global scale, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The charity raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. Committed to disrupting the status quo, millions have joined the movement, helping fund over 1,250 projects around the world. In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. The charity's vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men's health. To donate or learn more, please visit Movember.com.

SOURCE Movember Canada