Universities to use Canadian made puck

Source: Adrian Bradbury, Strategy & Partnerships, RUBR/Public Inc.

When the puck drops at university hockey games across the country on the weekend of October 14 to 16 it will be a RUBR, a Canadian made hockey puck produced with rubber tapped naturally from the trees of Liberia.

All 64 university men’s and women’s hockey teams will be using the puck as the 2011-12 season opens, with Canadian universities once again leading by example, this time through varsity sport.

The opening face-off in your community this weekend (see attached schedule) will feature, for the very first time, a RUBR hockey puck.

It’s better with RUBR. This puck and our national obsession are providing a spark for good. That will start with all four university conferences on Friday, October 14th.

It’s good for Canada. Check your hockey bag. There is a very good chance your pucks are manufactured outside Canada. RUBR pucks are proudly made in Canada in partnership with Viceroy, makers of quality hockey pucks for more than 40 years.

It’s good for Liberia. RUBR is not charity. Our plan is to create a global business that will create jobs, grow the local economy and spur redevelopment.

It’s good for the environment. There are plenty of pucks made of synthetic rubber, which is derived from petroleum. RUBR is tapped naturally from rubber trees.

RUBR is a joint initiative of leading-edge and grassroots-led charity Engineers Without Borders Canada; along with Public Inc., an emerging creative incubator that believes, “everyone should benefit from doing good.”

WHO IS RUBR?

RUBR is an innovative Canadian initiative of Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB) and PUBLIC Inc. RUBR's first product is a hockey puck that is made in Canada and produced with natural rubber from the trees of Liberia -- marrying business with social innovation and our national pastime.

RUBR brings to life EWB's (www.ewb.ca) mission to connect Canadians and their consumer decisions to international development and opportunities, and create sustainable global change through market-driven solutions. For PUBLIC (www.publicinc.com), this partnership brings to life a behavioral shift that drives true sustainable social impact and what they believe is a "win-win-win" proposition for consumers, causes and companies.

QUOTES ABOUT RUBR

“Economies like Liberia’s are not looking for a hand out. They are looking for an opportunity to reassert themselves in the global marketplace. With a competitive and re-emerging rubber industry, Liberia is an ideal partner for our made in Canada RUBR hockey puck. There are other ways to create change, beyond making a donation. Now, you can make a difference every time you hit the ice.”
- George Roter, CEO, Engineers Without Borders

“If it isn’t good for everyone, than we probably shouldn’t be doing it. Profit and purpose must come together, and this time we’re doing it through our national pastime. RUBR is a quality hockey puck that’s good for Canada, Liberia and the environment. That’s the Public way to truly make a difference.”
- Paul Estey, Chief Innovation Officer, PUBLIC Inc.

“Universities and their students are so often the ones leading change, and our student-athletes are no different. Partnering with RUBR is a great opportunity for university hockey to lead by example, and not as charity, but by simply facing off with a great hockey puck that’s doing good.”
- Ward Dilse, Executive Director, Ontario University Athletics