Parasport in Canada receives $346,500 investment in grassroots programs

Canadian Paralympic Committee and RBC Insurance Announce Recipients of 2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund

OTTAWA, May 29, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund, presented by RBC Insurance and supported by the Government of Canada's Sport Support Program. This year, a total of $346,500 in funds will be distributed to 51 sport organizations across the country.

"It's inspiring to see the time, effort and energy these organizations have committed to creating and enhancing programs that encourage athletes to become more active in sport at the community level," said Neil Skelding, president and CEO of RBC Insurance. "We are extremely proud to be involved with the Recruitment Program Fund and believe that through this program, we will see more Canadians with a disability compete on the world stage and pursue their Paralympic dreams."

The Recruitment Program Fund delivers grants of up to $10,000 to sports organizations across Canada to support the creation of a new sports program or financially support the expansion of an existing successful program that provides a positive introductory sport experience for participants with a disability. Funds may be used towards enhancing program options, such as facility rental space, coaching, volunteer training and more.

"The Government of Canada is proud to support the Recruitment Program Fund and to play a leading role in the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "Our Government is committed to promoting meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to become involved in and develop through sport, according to their interests, abilities, and talents."

Over the years, grant recipients have made substantial contributions to valuable programs and initiatives across Canada. One of them is Curl BC, an organization that wants to increase participation in wheelchair curling in British Columbia and build on the tremendous success of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

"Thanks to the Recruitment Program Fund, we are pleased to be offering professionally-coached and facilitated CAN Curl More: Discover Wheelchair Curling clinics across the province," said Scott Braley, CEO, Curl BC. "Our goals are to facilitate more wheelchair curlers joining leagues and to double the number of teams competing in the BC Wheelchair Curling Championships over the next five years."

"Making the benefits of sport available to everyone is important," added Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. "To do this, it is critical to make quality introductory sport programming available as widely as possible to give those with a disability not only a place to play, but a positive sport experience. I would like to congratulate all the recipients of the Recruitment Program Fund and thank all those involved in the programs for their dedication and efforts in helping develop Canada's parasport system."

More information about the recipients and the Recruitment Program Fund can be found by visiting www.paralympic.ca/funding.

2012-13 Recruitment Program Fund Recipients

Organization Name	Sport	City	Province
Acadia Minor Hockey Association	Sledge Hockey	Wolfville	Nova Scotia
Adaptavie Inc	Sledge Hockey	Quebec City	Quebec
AQSPC- Association québécoise de sports pour paralytiques cérébraux	Boccia, Para-Cycling	Montreal	Quebec
Argonaut Rowing Club	Para-Rowing	Toronto	Ontario
Athletics Canada	Para-Athletics	Ottawa	Ontario
Athletics Ontario	Para-Athletics	Toronto	Ontario
Avalon Sledge Hockey Association Inc.	Sledge Hockey	Whitbourne	Newfoundland and Labrador
Banook Canoe Club	Para-Canoe	Dartmouth	Nova Scotia
BC Wheelchair Sports Association	Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball	Vancouver	British Columbia
Canadian Paraplegic Association (Alberta)	Para-Cycling	Edmonton	Alberta
Catholic Youth Organization for the Diocese of Hamilton	Sitting Volleyball	Hamilton	Ontario
Centre Viomax	Para-Swimming	Montreal	Quebec
City of Surrey	Boccia, Para-Cycling	Surrey	British Columbia
Club Saint-Laurent Select Inc.	Para-Athletics	Montreal	Quebec
Cobourg Dragon Boat and Canoe Club	Para-Canoe	Cobourg	Ontario
Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association	Para-Equestrian	Duncan	British Columbia
Creston & District Society for Community Living	Para-Equestrian	Creston	British Columbia
Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled	Sledge Hockey	Mississauga	Ontario
Curl BC	Wheelchair Curling	Richmond	British Columbia
Disabled Skiers Association of BC	Para-Alpine	Vancouver	British Columbia
Easter Seals Newfoundland and Labrador	Wheelchair Basketball	St. John's	Newfoundland and Labrador
Halifax Rowing Club	Para-Rowing	Halifax	Nova Scotia
Hockey North	Sledge Hockey	Hay River	Northwest Territories
Island Lake Rowing Club	Para-Rowing	Alton	Ontario
Kelowna KO's Wheelchair Rugby Association	Wheelchair Rugby	Calgary	Alberta
Kitchener-Waterloo Sidewinders	Sledge Hockey	Kitchener-Waterloo	Ontario
London and District Wheelchair Sports Association	Wheelchair Rugby	London	Ontario
Manitoba Rowing Association	Para-Rowing	Winnipeg	Manitoba
Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association	Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, Sitting Volleyball, Para-Rowing, Wheelchair Tennis	Winnipeg	Manitoba
No Limits Adaptive Ski Club	Para-Alpine	Sault Ste. Marie	Ontario
Nordic Racers Ski Club	Para-Nordic	Vancouver	British Columbia
Northern Lights Therapeutic Riding Association	Para-Equestrian	Val Rita	Ontario
Northumberland Strait Shooters Archery Club	Para-Archery	Westville	Nova Scotia
Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club	Para-Athletics	Ottawa	Ontario
Powell River Disability Sport Club	Sledge Hockey	Powell River	British Columbia
RA Centre (Ottawa)	Wheelchair Curling	Ottawa	Ontario
Saskatchewan Rowing Association	Para-Rowing	Saskatoon	Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association	Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Rugby	Saskatoon	Saskatchewan
SASKI- Saskatchewan Disabled Ski Association	Para-Nordic	Regina	Saskatchewan
Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario (SHEO) Association	Sledge Hockey	Ottawa	Ontario
SportAbility	Para-Cycling, Power Soccer	Surrey	British Columbia
Sun Peaks Alpine Club	Para-Alpine	Kamloops	British Columbia
Swim BC	Para-Swimming	Squamish	British Columbia
Tennis Canada	Wheelchair Tennis	Vancouver	British Columbia
Tennis New Brunswick	Wheelchair Tennis	Fredericton	New Brunswick
Toronto Tornadoes	Wheelchair Basketball	Toronto	Ontario
Vancouver Wheelchair Rugby Club	Wheelchair Rugby	London	Ontario
Victoria Wheelchair Sports Club	Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Rugby	Victoria	British Columbia
Volleyball Canada	Sitting Volleyball	Ottawa	Ontario
Wheelchair Sports Alberta Association	Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Wheelchair Rugby	Edmonton	Alberta
Whistler Adaptive Sports Program Society	Para-Rowing	Whistler	British Columbia

About the Recruitment Program Fund (RPF)
Launched in 2010 (formerly called the First Contact Fund), the Recruitment Program Fund (RPF) is intended to support the creation of a new program, or go towards the expansion of an existing successful initiative providing a positive introductory parasport experience. Funds may be used towards enhancing program options, such as facility rental space, coaching, volunteer training and more.

About RBC Insurance
RBC Insurance, through its operating entities, provides a wide range of travel, life, health, home, auto, wealth and reinsurance products and solutions, as well as creditor and business insurance services, to individual and group clients. RBC Insurance has more than four million clients in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. Our products and services are offered through a wide variety of distribution channels, including call centres, retail insurance branches, independent brokers, travel agents, a proprietary sales force and the Internet.

About Sport Canada's Sport Support Program
The Sport Support Program provides National and Multi-Sport Organizations with financial assistance they need to develop Canada's amateur sport system and to achieve world class athletic results. This financial support strengthens our national sport system and benefits our athletes and coaches. For more information, please visit www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1267385942671.

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. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

 

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

Laura Ferris
Coordinator, Recruitment Program Support
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: [phone] x233
[email protected]

Margie McNeil
RBC Insurance
905-606-1425
[email protected]

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