HuffPost Canada Impact Launches Today

Taking up Canadian causes: HuffPost Canada Impact Launches Today
Jul 31, 2012 5:45 AM ET

(3BL Media) Toronto, ON - July 31, 2012 - AOL Canada and The Huffington Post Media Group announce today the launch of The Huffington Post Canada Impact ("HuffPost Canada Impact") (www.huffingtonpost.ca/impact), a powerful new platform within The Huffington Post site to encourage positive change in communities across Canada.

The site will deepen the conversations around the stories that matter most to Canadians, including poverty, homelessness, immigration, citizenship, and aboriginal news. HuffPost Canada Impact will inform, inspire and connect readers to a platform that allows them to be involved in their online communities and to take action on the issues that move them.

"I'm delighted that Impact is joining the HuffPost Canada family," said Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group. "Impact is a key part of HuffPost's DNA -- not only telling stories but starting conversations around our shared passions and inviting our readers to connect, engage, and make a difference in the lives of others."

HuffPost Canada Impact will feature contributions from Huffington Post editors, bloggers, and community leaders as well as regular content from non-profit partner organizations. Such partners include Free The Children, international children's charity and educational partner that believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change both internationally and here in Canada; Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, a Canadian charity working for a swimmable, drinkable, fishable world; and Habitat for Humanity Canada, an organization that mobilizes community partners and volunteers to build affordable housing and promote home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. HuffPost Canada Impact's mission will be to inform and engage its audience to make a meaningful change.

With these partners and regular content features, the site will shine a light on individuals and organizations making a real difference in their communities and across the country. Launch week will include new weekly features like "Greatest Person", stories of great Canadians inspiring others to make a difference, and "If I could #Change Canada," a collection of stories, videos, tweets and more, on what readers would do to make this country better.

"We are very excited to leverage The Huffington Post model, which at its core is all about participation, to bring Canadians HuffPost Impact, a unique destination that helps people take action on issues that matter most in their daily lives, " said Rashida Jeeva, general manager, The Huffington Post Canada.

The Huffington Post Canada launched in May 2011 as the first international edition of The Huffington Post, a leading source of news, opinion, entertainment, community and digital information. The Huffington Post reaches 3.4 million online Canadians through its various Canadian channels and sites, covering a wide range of topics from breaking news and politics, to entertainment, finance, living and style. In February, the site's French language edition, Le Huffington Post Québec, was launched. It has an ever growing social following, boasting more than 51,000 Facebook fans, more than 36,000 Twitter followers and receiving more than 14,000 comments per week.

*Source: comScore, Inc., Total Canada, Home & Work, June 2012. The Huffington Post data from [E] Huffington Post Global.

About AOL and The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is a part of AOL Inc (NYSE: AOL) - AOL is a global media company with the missions to inform, entertain and connect with consumers, advertisers and publishers worldwide. The AOL brand encompasses a robust family of brands, products and digital advertising solutions focusing their efforts on creating original digital content across their suite of properties. We help brands connect with consumers online through innovative ad formats, custom digital advertising solutions, and premium content brands.