15 Paralympic Coaches to be honored tonight with Coaching Awards

MONTREAL, Nov. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Commitee congratulates the 15 Paralympic coaches who will be honored tonight with 2011-12 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala.

These prestigious awards recognize coaches whose athletes have won gold, silver or bronze medals at World Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics World Games.

"Coaching is a great responsibility and those who succeed embrace it with passion and dedication," said Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Team Canada returned home from the London 2012 Paralympic Games with 31 medals, including seven gold, 15 silver and nine bronze - and this could not have been achieved without the excellence and professionalism of those being honoured here tonight. On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, congratulations!"

2012 Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award winners - Paralympic

Coach Name	City	Sport	Athlete(s)
Chris Nelson	Edmonton, AB	Para-swimming	Amber Thomas
Vladimir Kopecky	Kimberley, BC	Para-archery	Norbert Murphy
Peter Lawless	Victoria, BC	Para-athletics	Michelle Stilwell
Reg Shaw	Mission, BC	Para-Swimming	Nathan Stein
Herb Torrance	Vancouver, BC	Boccia	Marco Dispaltro, Josh Vander Vies
Gord Veldman	Victoria, BC	Para-swimming	Brianna Nelson
Reg Chappell	Newmarket, ON	Para-swimming	Summer Mortimer
Jerry Tonello	North York, ON	Wheelchair Basketball	Men's National Team
Ben Warnock	Windsor, ON	Para-athletics	Virginia McLachlan
Peter Carpenter	Montréal, QC	Para-swimming	Valérie Grand'Maison
Pierre Lamy	St-Sauveur, QC	Para-swimming	Benoit Huot
France Latendresse	St. Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC	Para-swimming	Aurélie Rivard
Sébastien Travers	Bromont, QC	Para-Cycling	Robbi Weldon
Eric Van den Eynde	Longueuil, QC	Para-cycling	Marie-Claude Molnar
Kevin Orr	Pelham, AL, USA	Wheelchair Rugby	Canadian National Team

The Gala is hosted by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) at the Hyatt Regency Montreal.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.

Follow the Canadian Paralympic Committee:

www.paralympic.ca
www.facebook.com/CDNParalympics
www.twitter.com/CDNParalympics
www.youtube.com/CDNParalympics

SOURCE: CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (CPC)

For further information:

Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
[e-mail]

Martin Richard
Executive Director, Communications & Marketing
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel [phone] x224
Cel: 613-725-4339
[e-mail]