A person's stature is not always measured in height, but also by the ways in which they extend themselves to others. Canon Canada today announced that 12 Canadian celebrities are lending their support to the Easter Seals Telethon by participating in Canon's "The Other Side of the Lens" celebrity photo exhibit. Building on the success of last year's inaugural campaign, the 2006 exhibit - themed "Paying It Forward" - features a series of digital images taken by notable Canadian celebrities who support the Easter Seal Society.

From January to March 2006, Canon Canada, in association with Easter Seals, engaged a number of Canadian personalities - entertainers Roger Abbott and Don Ferguson; celebrity chef Christine Cushing; musicians Amy Sky, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan, Murray McLauchlan, and Ian Thomas; illustrator Michael Martchenko; former MuchMusic host and Sony Canada CEO Denise Donlon; TV news personality Suhana Meharchand; comedian Jessica Holmes; and Easter Seals youth Lauretta Reid and Munya Yassir - to take pictures of acts of charity or giving. Each participant was given a Canon PowerShot SD550 digital camera, a SELPHY CP-510 compact photo printer and a 256 MB memory card. In exchange for their participation in the project, Canon Canada is making a donation to the Easter Seal Society, Ontario on behalf of each participant to support children with physical disabilities.

The celebrity photos can be seen online in a virtual gallery (www.canon.ca/digitalphotography) from March 29, 2006 to September 28, 2006. A select number of photographs will be auctioned off to the public.

"Children are the future of our country," said Stan Skorayko, vice president of Corporate Communications at Canon Canada. "This project brings into focus the need for everyone to give back to their communities, and to pay forward those things in our lives that have benefited us."

For their part, the celebrities welcomed the role reversal and enjoyed the experience of being on the other side of the lens.

For his contribution, Roger Abbott of Royal Canadian Air Farce fame decided on an offbeat approach to pictures of giving, concentrating on major gifts from individuals which have created new buildings, new wings, etc.

"These buildings reflect a degree of generosity that is truly noteworthy," said Abbott. "The memory and gift will live on long after the individual has past away."

Other Easter Seals supporters will have the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for kids with physical disabilities through a VIP event at the CBC studios on April 1, 2006. This fundraiser will include a photo exhibit and silent auction of selected prints from each celebrity, printed on a Canon photo printer. Attendees will also be treated to a benefit concert featuring internationally renowned artists Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan, and Ian Thomas performing together as Lunch at Allen's. A block of tickets for this event are now available free of charge for the first 150 people who call the following Easter Seals phone and extension number (416) 421-8377, ext. 353.

Additional proceeds will go towards the Easter Seal Society, Ontario from a public auction of select celebrity images. A choice group of photographs will be posted on eBay.ca and will be auctioned off to Canadians nation-wide from the beginning of the Easter Seals Telethon on April 1, 2006 until 5:30pm EST April 2, 2006.

Outside of this event, to donate or become a fundraiser in support of Easter Seals' kids, please visit www.easterseals.org/canon/.

About Canon Canada, Inc.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, the company employs 1,500 people at its offices nation-wide, servicing the Canadian market from coast to coast. Innovation and cutting-edge technology have been essential ingredients in Canon's success. Canon's leadership in imaging, optical and document management technology and solutions is based in large part on the thousands of patents the company has secured throughout its history. Canon Inc. is among the top three US patent recipients over the past 14 years.

The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital copiers (colour and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems and facsimile machines; calculators, digital camcorders, digital and analogue cameras and lenses; semiconductor, broadcast and other specialized industrial products.

Canon supports programs that help preserve and protect the environment. The company instituted the Clean Earth Campaign in 1990, which assists various environmental and recycling initiatives. The Campaign has also supported leading environmental organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy of Canada, the World Wildlife Fund of Canada and the Canon Envirothon.

For more information, visit www.canon.ca

About The Easter Seal Society, Ontario

The Easter Seal Society, Ontario is dedicated to helping kids with physical disabilities achieve their full individual potential and future independence. Easter Seals funds disability solutions through financial assistance, summer camp, the Recreational Choices Funding Program, research, advocacy, and public and consumer education.

For further information: Wayne Doyle, Manager, Corporate Relations, Canon Canada Inc., Tel: (905) 565-4598, wdoyle@canada.canon.com; Nicole Des Roches, Communications Manager, The Easter Seal Society, Ontario, Tel: 1-800-668-6252, ndesroches@easterseals.org; Nancy Vye, High Road Communications, Tel: (416) 644-2266, nvye@highroad.com

Source: newswire