(June 1, 2006)

Two-time Canadian Champion Joannie Rochette was introduced today as a member of the Bell Champions team, a team of nine accomplished Olympic and Paralympic athletes from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia, who will be national ambassadors for Bell Canada.

Rochette, who won her Canadian titles in 2005 and 2006, competed in her first Olympic Games in Torino in February. She delivered two outstanding performances to place fifth overall.

The Bell Champions will speak both internally and externally, sharing their experiences and their views on what it takes to excel in any human endeavour. They will also be the first Canadian athletes invited to participate in the Bell Athlete and Executive Mentoring Program, a new career development initiative from Bell.

In collaboration with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and Athletes CAN, Bell will offer national team athletes the chance to participate in the mentoring program, which aims to assist athletes transition from careers in sport to careers in business. Once the athletes have identified their areas of professional interest, they will be matched with executive mentors with corresponding strengths.

Other athletes included in the program are Charmaine Crooks, Alexandre Despatie, Clara Hughes, Steve Omischl, Amanda Overland, Chantal Petitclerc, Kyle Shewfelt and Adan van Keoverden.

In addition to speaking at community events, the Bell Champions will provide high-performance motivational sessions to Bell employee groups across Canada.