Mississauga, Ont. – Following another exciting Canadian football season, Nissan is proud to share the results of two separate football initiatives. The Nissan Kickoff Project, in partnership with the Canadian Football League (CFL), returned for its third year to give high school students across Canada the opportunity to experience the educational, developmental and social benefits that organized football provides.
To support this initiative, Nissan’s first-ever Rally of the TITANs kicked off for a cross-Canada tour, during which 10 CFL-branded Nissan TITANs took part in a series of regional challenges leading up to the 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw. The 10 Nissan TITANs were split into East versus West conference teams and following an epic battle, the East conference team won, receiving a donation of $11,000 for its designated Nissan Kickoff Project schools. This donation was in addition to what the schools received from the regular Nissan Kickoff Project activities.
The Nissan Kickoff Project identifies high schools across Canada that have the passion for the game, but are in need of resources to participate in football. Taking part at a crucial local level, Nissan dealers and, where possible, the CFL and its team provide support to nearby Nissan Kickoff Project schools. As a result of this year’s Nissan Kickoff Project and Rally of the TITANs, nearly 1,200 students from 25 schools in eight provinces coast-to-coast, received the support they need to play football, including financial funding, equipment, uniforms and motivational events.
“Now in its third year, the Nissan Kickoff Project has reached a number of schools across the country, teaching Canada’s youth the valuable lessons that only the power of sport can provide,” said Joni Paiva, President, Nissan Canada Inc. “Nissan is proud of the role it has played in Canadian football for the past 10 years, and through the Nissan Kickoff Project and Rally of the TITANs, we are happy to provide high school football teams across Canada with the much-needed support they require.”
Nissan’s Rally of the TITANs hit the road on November 12th, with the West conference team starting in Vancouver, BC and the East conference team in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Two TITANs led the road trip, picking up the remaining TITANs as they made their way to Toronto, Ontario for the Grey Cup Festival on November 25th. Passing through over 88 communities, both East and West conference teams made stops to visit a combined 16 Nissan Kickoff Project schools.
As the official vehicle provider to the CFL for 10 years, Nissan Canada’s long-time partnership with the CFL played an important role in this year’s Nissan Kickoff Project and Rally of the TITANs. From valuable insights to donations of training equipment and special player appearances, the CFL pitched in to help train and motivate the next generation of Canadian football players. Teamwork, cooperation, hard work and friendship are just some of the benefits that communities across Canada are seeing in these students.
“This was a tremendous year for the CFL, and we are proud to support the Nissan Kickoff Project in its third consecutive year on growing the game in Canada,” said Jeffrey L. Orridge, CFL Commissioner. “The excitement of the first ever Rally of the TITANs was shared by communities and CFL fans across the country, and we know that with the support of partners like Nissan, we can continue to motivate Canada’s youth through the game of football.”
Nissan Kickoff Project – 1,200 students, 25 schools, 23 cities, 8 provinces