November 3/2005 - Vancouver Canuck Brendan Morrison and team mascot Fin joined Superintendent of West Vancouver School District, Geoff Jopson, and Hollyburn Elementary kindergarten students for the launch of Fin's Friends on the ice of General Motors Place. Fin's Friends is specifically for Kindergarten students designed to teach the basic elements of character education and social responsibility.

Beginning this fall the Vancouver Canucks are teaming up with three Lower Mainland school districts to introduce Fin's Friends, an educational initiative emphasizing social responsibility. The program is supported by the Canucks for Kids Fund.

"We are very excited about commencing the Fin's Friends program," said Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks, Steve Tambellini. "Supporting education for teachers and students in our community has always been and continues to be an important focus for the Vancouver Canucks organization."

In order to incorporate Fin's Friends in their classrooms, participating teachers are provided with a free Fin's Friends kit that includes the curriculum guide full of lesson plans and activities, four children's books, a Fin hand-puppet, a plush Fin doll, a class-set of Fin's Friends bookmarks and a set of certificates of completion. In addition, select classrooms will enjoy visits from team mascot Fin and other great Canucks prizes.

"By focusing on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that help the students make responsible choices, Fin's Friends works to develop the building blocks for life-long success," said Jessica Danylchuk, Community Partnerships Coordinator and Fin's Friends Program Manager, Vancouver Canucks.

Fin's Friends will be launching in 25 schools this fall in the New Westminster, Burnaby and West Vancouver school districts.