TORONTO, June 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Corby Spirit and Wine employees will be volunteering today at communities across Canada, working together to support and enhance the neighbourhoods where they live and work. The events are part of the sixth annual Responsib'All Day, which sees Corby's employees act as frontline ambassadors for its CSR commitments: promoting responsible drinking, empowering employees, protecting our planet and developing our communities.

The team at Corby is stopping business for the day and joining the 18,500 global employees of its majority shareholder, Pernod Ricard, in the Group's objective of spreading "conviviality" around the world. Under Pernod Ricard's motto of "créateurs de convivialité", employees in 80 countries will collectively provide local communities with places for meeting, talking and sharing with each other.

"Today, I'm so proud of our employees across the country who are working together on one common goal: to make their neighbourhoods a better place," says Amandine Robin, Director of Communications, Public Relations and CSR. "In doing so, we are not only sharing Corby's Responsib'All spirit across Canada, but also making a positive impact in the communities of our employees, our customers and our consumers."

Corby's head office in Toronto is spending Responsib'All Day at Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre, a vital facility in the heart of the city's fastest growing community. Now in its 25^th year, this neighbourhood centre supports thousands of local individuals, families, at-risk youth and seniors. Employees will help Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre with improvements to its gathering spaces including renovating the outdoor courtyard, building waterfront furniture, working in community food gardens, and completing painting projects.

"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to work alongside Corby employees," notes WNC Board Chair, Linda Ballantyne. "Neighbourhood Centres are hubs for social participation, and our centre is particularly busy as we operate programs 7 days per week, providing close to 65,000 hours of program delivery every year. Thanks to this generous support on Responsib'All Day, Corby employees will improve our well-used facilities and help to foster a supportive waterfront community by reaching out as corporate neighbours helping local neighbours."

Similar community-focused Responsib'All Day events will be taking place in 11 other cities across Canada: Halifax, Saint John, Charlottetown, St. John's, Montréal, Windsor, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Employees across the country will take part in initiatives to help improve green spaces, community centres, and public parks in their region.

Today, Corby is additionally announcing a new internal initiative to its employees: offering paid time off so they can volunteer in their local neighbourhoods throughout the year.

"Corby's employees are exceptionally passionate and dedicated individuals, in both their professional and personal lives," says CEO Patrick O'Driscoll. "We are committed to supporting them with the opportunity to volunteer in their neighbourhoods on projects that are important to them. As a company with such a longstanding and vibrant history in Canada, it only makes sense for us to give back to the very communities where we are so deeply rooted."

About the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre
For over 25 years, Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre (formally Harbourfront Community Centre) has been committed to meeting the needs of its diverse and ever-changing waterfront neighbourhood. As a non-profit City of Toronto agency, WNC serves more than 245,000 participants of all ages through its 620+ recreation, sports/fitness, arts, food security and social support programs. WNC is an inclusive organization that works closely with local residents to design and deliver programs and services that promote healthy living and reflect the interests and needs of the neighbourhood including specific support for vulnerable, marginalized and isolated residents. For more information, visit the WNC website: waterfrontnc.ca

About Corby Spirit and Wine
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian marketer and distributor of spirits and imported wines. Corby's portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser's®, Lot No. 40®, Pike Creek® and Gooderham & Worts® Canadian whiskies as well as Lamb's® rum, Polar Ice® vodka and McGuinness® and Criollo® liqueurs, produced by its sister company, Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd., based in Windsor, Ontario. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine's® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob's Creek®, Wyndham Estate®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, Graffigna® and Kenwood® wines. In 2016, Corby was named one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada by The Great Place to Work® Institute Canada for the fifth consecutive year, and was also listed for the second time among Greater Toronto's Top 100 Employers. Corby is a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B. For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter (@CorbySW), and Instagram (@CorbySW).

SOURCE Corby Spirit and Wine Communications

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