Red Cross Joins Forces with Theodore Tugboat to Promote Water Safety
(Toronto, July 20, 2001) – Canadian Red Cross is teaming up with the popular children's television character Theodore Tugboat to promote water safety messages to youngsters and their families. As part of the new relationship, the Red Cross will be on hand when Theodore Too, the 65-foot wooden replica vessel of the star of the series, visits children in cities in Ontario and Quebec this summer on his first tour of major Canadian cities.
Theodore Tugboat was created in Halifax by Cochran Entertainment and has starred on CBC-TV for more than seven years. The show, which caters to the pre-school set, is also seen in the United States on PBS and in more than 80 other countries around the world.
Theodore Too is the life-size replica of the television character and is the only oceangoing ship with a shiny red ball cap, a five-foot smile and moving eyes. Everywhere Theodore docks, it is a major attraction for small fans and their parents, who can take dockside tours of the 65-foot tugboat that weighs 105 tons.
Theodore has been helping children learn to love the water in ports along the eastern seaboard and into the Gulf of Mexico as far as Tampa Bay. He has made stops at many high profile events and attractions including Sail Boston 2000, where 15,000 excited fans were welcomed across his gangway in three days. Theodore has also made appearances at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, the Miami International Boat Show--the largest in-water show in the world, and the Winterfest Lighted Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale, where he led the parade in front of over 800,000 spectators.
"We are delighted to have Theodore Tugboat as the spokesboat for the Canadian Red Cross," said Gail Andrews, national Red Cross water safety advisor. "Theodore can help us reach a critical audience of youngsters and their parents with safety messages that will help protect children around water whether it be in the backyard, at a lake or in the tub."
"Helping children feel safe in the water through the distinguished efforts of the Canadian Red Cross, is a perfect fit with our aim of helping children love the water," said Andrew Cochran, Creator and Executive Producer of the popular series.
Red Cross volunteers will be on hand to provide water safety information, tattoos and other giveaways to visitors coming to see Theodore at these and other Great Lake locations this summer:
Montreal Old Port of Montreal July 28 & 29
Toronto Harbour Square Place Aug. 3 & 4
Ontario Place Aug. 5 & 6
Hamilton Royal Hamilton Yacht Club Aug. 11-12
Windsor Children's Festival Sept. 15 & 16
Young fans can also find Theodore and his friends at www.theodoretugboat.com. The website records more than two million page impressions each month. Water safety tips and information on water safety instruction are available at the Canadian Red Cross website at www.redcross.ca.
Theodore Tugboat is produced by Cochran Entertainment, and seen on CBC in Canada, PBS in the United States and over 75 countries worldwide. Cochran Entertainment produces quality family programming, with a special focus on children's series and films for which it maintains world rights in all media.
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Media Contact:
Mary Ferguson
Canadian Red Cross
Tel: 416-480-2500, ext. 2248
Pager: 416-442-1948
Michelle Perry
Cochran Entertainment
Tel: 902-422-8935
Email: michelle@cochran.com
