Canadian Paralympic coaches honored at Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala

OTTAWA, Nov. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Many of Canada's most accomplished Paralympic coaches were honored tonight with Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards Gala presented by the Coaching Association of Canada this evening in Ottawa.

Receiving the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards for 2014 are: awards were: Robin McKeever (Canmore, Alta.), Para-Nordic Skiing (Athletes: Brian McKeever, guides Graham Nishikawa and Erik Carleton, Chris Klebl); Lasse Ericsson (Kimberly, B.C.), Para-Alpine (Athlete: Caleb Brousseau); Joe Rea (Prince George, B.C.), Wheelchair Curling (Athletes: Jim Armstrong, Dennis Thiessen, Ina Forrest, Sonja Gaudet, Mark Ideson); Andrea Taylor (Langley, B.C.), Para-Equestrian (Athlete: Lauren Barwick), Bill Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.), Wheelchair Basketball (Athletes: Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team); Ken Dool (Kingston, Ont.), Sailing-Para (Athletes: Paul Tingley, Scott Lutes, Logan Campbell); Jocelyn Huot (Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson, Que.), Para-Alpine Skiing (Athlete: Kimberley Joines); Jean-Sébastien Labrie (Quebec City, Que.), Para-Alpine Skiing (Athletes: Josh Dueck, Mac Marcoux and guide Robin Fémy); Sven Pouliot (Quebec City, Que.), Para-Alpine (Athlete: Chris Williamson and guide Nick Brush); Eric Van den Eynde (Longueuil, Que.), Para-Cycling (Athletes: Marie-Ève Croteau, Shelley Gauthier); Kaspar Wirz (Saskatoon, Sask.), Para-Nordic Skiing & Biathlon (Athlete: Mark Arendz); Kevin Orr (Pelham, Alabama), Wheelchair Rugby (Athletes: Wheelchair Rugby Team)

These prestigious awards recognize coaches whose athletes have excelled at world championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games, and at the Special Olympics World Games in the past season.

As well, Robert Kierstead – Shooting (Fredericton, New Brunswick) won the Geoff Gowan Award for lifetime contributions to coaching development. Kierstead has coached at both Olympic and Paralympic Games, spearheaded able-bodied and parasport integration and developed coaches who help prepare athletes for national teams.

"On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, our congratulations to all coaches honored tonight," said Catherine Gosselin-Després, Executive Director, Sport at the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Coaches are the backbone of our sport system and often go unnoticed for all the work that goes into producing world-class athletes. It is wonderful to see our Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games medallist coaches so well represented here along with several of our leading summer sports, which bodes well for upcoming Summer Games in Toronto and Rio."

More information on all winners, photos and video vignettes are available here: http://coach.ca/-p156822&language=en

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 25 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 high performance athletes with a disability 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. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca

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SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

For further information: Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Phone: [phone] ext. 243, Cell: 613-298-4927, [e-mail]; Martin Richard, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] ext. 224, Cell: 613-725-4339, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.paralympic.ca/english/index.asp