OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators and Canadian Tire announce today that they will host “Sens Weekend” on Saturday, Sept. 24, and Sunday, Sept. 25, at 10 local retailers. Patrons at each retail location will be eligible to win Senators prizing, while donations will be accepted to help support Canadian Tire Jumpstart’s I Love To Skate program, which provides financially disadvantaged children in neighbourhoods across Ottawa with the opportunity to learn how to skate. Last season, close to $20,000 was donated during Sens Weekend.

In addition to Sens Weekend, the Senators and Canadian Tire Jumpstart, in partnership with the Sens Foundation and the Ottawa District Hockey Association, have kicked off the second season of the Jumpstart Equipment for Kids program. The initiative, which began prior to the 2010-11 season, is designed to collect donations of new and used hockey equipment from the community and distribute it to disadvantaged area youth.

The donated equipment is provided to the Ottawa District Hockey Association, which will work with local associations to have it redistributed to area youth. Last season, more than 4,000 pieces of equipment were donated, helping more than 100 local families to play hockey.

As part of this program, the Sens Foundation will accept cash donations to help the ODHA offset distribution costs and with the purchase of new equipment. The Sens Foundation is also able to work with companies with the capacity to donate new equipment to the program. Charitable tax receipts will be issued for both types of donations.

Canadian Tire Ottawa dealers remain as the official sponsor of the 2011-12 Senators pre-season, including all three home games. As part of Canadian Tire’s sponsorship of the pre-season, tickets to all three home pre-season games will be available at half price for children 16 years old or younger. Individual tickets to the remaining two home pre-season games are on sale now.

Ottawa region Canadian Tire stores that are participating in Sens Weekend include:

Barrhaven – 2501 Greenbank Rd.; Blair Road – 2010 Ogilvie Rd.; Bells Corners – 85 Robertson Rd.; Carling – 1660 Carling Ave.; Kanata – 8181 Campeau Dr.; Merivale – 1820 Merivale Rd.; Orleans – 3910 Innes Rd.; Ottawa East – 330 Coventry Rd.; Ottawa South – 1170 Heron Rd.; Perth — 45 Dufferin Rd.