Senator Nancy Greene Raine Announces Support for the Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie

LA BAIE, QC, June 14, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Nancy Greene Raine, Senator (Thompson-Okanagan-Kootenay), today announced the Government of Canada's 2013-2014 contribution to the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie. The announcement, made on behalf of the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), took place at the start of the 1000‑km cycling event being held in La Baie, Quebec, from June 14 to 16, 2013.

"Supporting the efforts of organizations in the not-for-profit sector that promote awareness of the benefits of sport participation and physical activity in Canada is a great source of pride for the Government of Canada," said Senator Greene Raine. "I encourage Canadians to take part in the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie and to take advantage of all that sport and physical fitness has to offer."

"Our Government is proud to continue its support for the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie," said the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. "We are intent on providing opportunities for Canadians of all ages and all abilities to engage in sport and physical activity, because we know that embracing the power of sport leads to active lifestyles and healthier, stronger communities."

"I would like to thank the Government of Canada for its support for the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie. The Government's support is allowing us to expand our activities to other provinces in Canada and encourage young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by giving them the opportunity to engage in more physical activity, eat better, and care more about school," said Pierre Lavoie, co-founder of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie. "This expansion is already underway, with our Véhicube having visited Ontario, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. We need programs that get people to become active, and governmental support allows us to plan for even more ambitious projects."

The Grand défi Pierre Lavoie is a non-profit organization with the mission of encouraging young people to adopt healthy life habits. The organization get schools involved in supporting physical activity and healthy eating among children aged 6 to 12.

The Government of Canada is the largest single contributor to sport in Canada and supports participation and excellence from playground to podium. The Government of Canada, through Sport Canada's Sport Support Program, is providing $500,000 in 2013-2014 to allow the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie to expand its current efforts into additional provinces beyond Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Ontario. In November 2013, the Tour will expand its activities to Manitoba and to new schools in Ontario.

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage

For further information:

(media only), please contact:

Robert Lynch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Bal Gosal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
819-934-1122
[email protected]

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
[email protected]

(This news release is available on the Internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca under Newsroom.)