London 24th May 2007: Canadian Products Help Apprentices’ Win

Canadian products were showcased in last night’s episode of the BBC’s hit show The Apprentice, in which hungry young business hopefuls compete each week to win a six-figure job with UK multimillionaire Sir Alan Sugar.

Over 5 million viewers are expected to have tuned in to watch the teams compete to sell international goods to UK retailers. The victory of Team Stealth, which was selling Canadian goods, is testimony not only to the creativity of the group but also to the high marketability of innovative Canadian goods and the proud reputation that Canada enjoys abroad.

Last night’s task required contestants to choose to sell products from one of five countries: Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Africa or Sweden. Canada’s products were pitched on air to the teams by Michelle Gartland, a Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission in London, who successfully convinced Team Stealth to choose Canadian goods. 

The Canadian products featured in the programme were: 

A unique heat-mouldable insole for a variety of footwear. 
A stylish, compact and portable light therapy solution to the problem of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), jetlag, sleeping disorders and much more. 
An innovative area rug, which comes in self-assembly sections, which can be mixed and matched for choice of style and size and easily removed for cleaning.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer BrownMedia Relations Officer
Canadian High Commission
020-7258-6557
jennifer.brown@international.gc.ca

Notes to editors

About The Apprentice
The Apprentice Series 3 is currently screened at 9pm on BBC1 every Wednesday with approx 5 million viewers and repeated on BBC2 the following Tuesday with approx 2.5 million viewers. In 2007, the show was nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award again, having won two BAFTA awards in 2006, as well as awards at Banff Television Festival and many others. More information from www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice 

About The Canadian High Commission
The Canadian High Commission provides a variety of services to Canadian exporters to help them develop their business in the UK. In addition we assist British companies interested in establishing a business in Canada. More information from www.london.gc.ca 

Michelle Gartland joined the High Commission in 1998 and is a Trade Commissioner responsible for a range of industry sectors, including consumer products, medical devices and environmental technologies.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />