RBC honours Canada's Olympic and Paralympic athletes

Four RBC Olympians bring home seven medals from London 2012

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - RBC, the longest corporate supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, proudly recognizes its RBC Olympians and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams.

"Congratulations to all of our Canadian athletes who competed in London, you've made us tremendously proud," said Andy Shibata, head, Brand Marketing, RBC. "As longstanding supporters of our Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams, we understand that investing in our athletes is a key factor in their success and have always believed in providing a strong foundation for our athletes to train and compete on the world stage."

As part of RBC's Olympic commitment, it also created the RBC Olympians Program, a national initiative that provides elite athletes an opportunity to gain career-oriented experience with a flexible work schedule to give them the time necessary to train and compete. Since its inception in 2002, more than 185 athletes have participated in the program, with 10 becoming full-time RBC employees. For 2012, RBC also provided each RBC Olympian with a $5,000 grant that they could give to an organization of their choosing which had a significant impact on their life, whether it be a community group, charity or athletic association. More than $175,000 has been donated through this initiative this year.

Of the 36 athletes involved in the 2012 RBC Olympians Program, eight - Scott Dickens (Swimming), Scott Frandsen (Rowing), Jared Funk (Wheelchair Rugby), Benoit Huot (Paralympic Swimming), Clara Hughes (Cycling), Sandra Sassine (Fencing), Michelle Stilwell (Paralymic Athletics) and Robbi Weldon (Para-cycling) - competed in London as part of the 2012 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams. To learn about the RBC Olympians, visit, rbc.com/community-sustainability/community/olympic-sponsors/rbc-olympians.

"Our RBC Olympians stand proud with seven medals around their necks, including gold for Benoit Huot, Michelle Stilwell, and Robbi Weldon. To see athletes that we support exceed their expectations in London and stand atop the podium is a tremendous thrill for RBC, its employees and Canadians alike," noted Shibata.

To welcome home the RBC Olympians from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and celebrate their achievements, RBC will host local celebration events in select communities across the country. These events will provide employees and Canadians with the opportunity to connect with and honour their Olympic and Paralympic hometown champions. Below is the list of dates and locations of the RBC Hometown Champions Celebrations taking place in the coming weeks.

Athlete	Celebration Date & Time	Hometown	Celebration Address
Benoit Huot	Sept. 12 (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)	Longueuil, QC	RBC Branch - 2086 Chemin de Chambly, Longueuil, QC
Sandra Sassine	Sept. 13 (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.)	Laval, QC	RBC Branch - 3100 de la Concorde Blvd, Duvernay, QC
Scott Dickens	Sept. 15 (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)	Ancaster, ON	RBC Branch - 59 Wilson St West, Ancaster, ON
Robbi Weldon	Sept. 19 (5 p.m. - 8 p.m.)	Thunder Bay, ON	George Jeffrey Children's Centre 200 Brock St E, Thunder Bay, ON
Michelle Stilwell	Sept. 23 (4 p.m. - 7 p.m.)	Parksville, BC	Parksville Community & Conference Centre 132 Jensen Ave. E. Parksville, BC
Scott Frandsen	Sept. 23 (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)	Mill Bay, BC	Brentwood College School 2735 Mount Baker Rd. Cowichan Valley, Subd. C, Mill Bay, BC
Clara Hughes & Jared Funk	Sept. 29 (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)	Winnipeg, MB	RBC Branch - 50 Sage Creek Blvd, Winnipeg, MB

In addition to the RBC Hometown Champions Celebrations, RBC is also a proud partner of the Celebration of Excellence and Heroes Parade taking place on September 21 in Toronto. The Olympic Heroes Parade starts at 11:30 a.m. at Bay Street and Albert Street and winds its way south on Bay Street, west on Wellington and south on York Street, ending at Maple Leaf Square. Fans are encouraged to come out, cheer on and celebrate their favourite athletes. For more details, visit Olympic.ca.

RBC and Amateur Sport
As Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1947, RBC proudly continues its sponsorship through to London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016. RBC also sponsored the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays. Supporting amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport associations, RBC helps in the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. In addition, we provide elite-level athletes with flexible career experiences to compliment their training regimes through the RBC Olympians program. RBC is a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada, Swimming Canada, Athletics Canada, Volleyball Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Visit rbc.com/community. 

SOURCE: RBC

Jackie Braden, RBC Brand Communications, [phone], [email protected]