Suncor Energy: 2013 'Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence' (FACE) program recipients announced
50 athlete and coach pairings receive $8,000 to help fuel their sport dreams
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/23/13 -- Suncor Energy, the proud owner of Petro-Canada, today announced the 2013 Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence (FACE) recipients. The 2013 FACE recipients represent a balance of summer, winter and team sports with selected athletes coming from six provinces across Canada.
Working together with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and their National Sport partners, the FACE program provides developing, pre-carded Canadian athlete and coach pairings with $8,000 in grants. The FACE program has provided more than 2,400 Canadian athletes and coaches with over $8 million in direct financial support. These resources help athletes achieve national carded status and coaches improve their skills over the long term.
"We would like to congratulate each of the 2013 FACE recipients," said Steven Keith, Director, Loyalty and Marketing Partnerships, Suncor Energy. "For the past 25 years, we have been fortunate to support athletes and coaches by providing funding so they can focus on achieving their dreams."
"It's a good day for sport, anytime our partners can dedicate resources that go directly to Canadian athletes and coaches," said Marcel Aubut, president, COC. "The COC is proud of our relationship with Petro-Canada, an organization that has contributed to our budding athletes for 25 years. There is no doubt that the sport movement is transforming and gaining momentum in Canada, and they have been at the forefront of that much needed change."
"These grants will help athletes and coaches who are on the cusp of breaking through nationally and internationally to make that crucial next step," says Gaetan Tardif, the newly-elected President of the CPC. "Building a strong parasport system is essential for the CPC as we work towards the goal of being the world's leading Paralympic nation. As a premier partner of the CPC, Petro-Canada, is playing a significant role in helping advance parasport in this country."
"Receiving this kind of funding is very helpful at this stage in my career," said triathlete Sarah-Anne Brault. "This support allows me to train at a higher level and race in more competitions which will better prepare me to eventually compete against the best in the world."
"I want to be ready for 2014 so I can perform my best and know that I did everything I could to be prepared," added Para-snowboarder John Leslie. "Being an athlete does have a cost, but with the Petro-Canada FACE Program grant I will be able to afford time off work to train and attend World Cups that would otherwise be hard to afford. I feel honoured to have so much support from so many people and hope to make everyone proud."
Coaches who receive grants often use the funding to build their skills or purchase equipment that can be used to benefit multiple athletes within the same sport discipline.
"This is a wonderful initiative and much needed assistance at a time where athletes are juggling so many priorities in their lives," said Mark Burgess, coach of two of this year's FACE recipients, one competing in judo and the other in Para-judo. "Our youth have so much potential, and programs like these keep their hopes and drive alive."
In the past, the FACE program has provided financial grants to Canada's top athletes including 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games medalists: Alexandre Bilodeau, Hayley Wickenheiser, Kaillie Humphries, John Morris, Kristina Groves, Mike Robertson, Jim Armstrong and Ina Forest. Other notable FACE recipients include Mark Tewksbury, Canada's Chef de Mission at the 2012 London Games, Marianne Limpert, silver medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games and Annie Pelletier, bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games.
The 2013 FACE program recipients are:
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ATHLETE SPORT HOMETOWN COACH
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Adam Svensson Golf Surrey, BC Derek Ingram
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Alexander Sailing Delta, BC Steve Mitchell
Heinzemann
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Andrew Yorke Triathlon Caledon East, ON Barrie Shepley
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Anne-Marie Comeau Cross Country Amos, QC Louis Bouchard
Skiing
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Annie Ewart Cycling Victoria, BC Houshang Amiri
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Arthur Biyarslanov Boxing Toronto, ON John Kalbhenn
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Atsuko Tanaka Ski Jumping Calgary, AB Gregor Linsig
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Barrett Martineau Skeleton Calgary, AB Keith Loach
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Braxton Stone- Wrestling Toronto, ON Stan Tzogas
Papadopoulos
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Cameron Wheelan Beach Volleyball Barrie, ON Jason Hubbard
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Camille Remillard Synchronized Terrebonne, QC Meng Chen
Swimming
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Catherine Table Tennis Drummondville, QC David Jacques
Dauplaise
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Cendrine Browne Cross Country Barrie, ON Louis Bouchard
Skiing
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Charles Moreau Para-Cycling Victoriaville, QC Sebastien Travers
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Christin Tsai Badminton Richmond, BC Darryl Yung
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Dave Blais- Freestyle Skiing - Lac-Beauport, QC Caroline Franc
Langlais Aerials
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Eleanor Harvey Fencing Hamilton, ON Paul ApSimon
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Gabrielle Daleman Figure Skating Toronto, ON Andre Berezintsev
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Genevieve Haley Wrestling Shawville, QC Paul Ragusa
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Greg Rafter Skeleton Calgary, AB Keith Loach
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Jackson Carroll Taekwondo Halifax, NS Kathy Pyke
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Jazmyne Canoe/Kayak Chilliwack, BC Jonathan Allen
Denhollander
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Jessica Ruel Weightlifting Rouyn-Noranda, QC Rene Bellemarre
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John Leslie Para-Snowboard Winnipeg, MB Candice Drouin
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Jon Versteeg Snowboard - Kelowna, BC Chris Witwiki
Slopestyle
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Julia Ransom Biathlon Penticton, BC Richard Boruta
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Justin Karn Paralympic Judo Guelph, ON Mark Burgess
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Katelyn Lehner Athletics Prince Albert, SK Stirling Lehner
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Keegan Zanatta Swimming Victoria, BC Ryan Mallette
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Kurt Oatway Para-Skiing - Edmonton, AB Nick Brush
Alpine
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Mischa Partridge BMX Duncan, BC Ken Cools
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Molly Carlson Diving Fort Frances, ON Mike Lang
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Monika Burgess Judo Kitchener, ON Mark Burgess
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Nicholas-Guy Para-Swimming Quebec City, QC Valerie Cyr
Turbide
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Patricia Gymnastics Vancouver, BC Svetlana Joukova
Bezzoubenko Rhythmic
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Peter Brothers Swimming Victoria, BC Ryan Mallette
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Pierre-Luc Poulin Kayak Quebec City, QC Luc Grenier
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Robert (Bob) Para-Archery Moose Jaw, SK Ken Chipley
Hudson
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Sabrina Gill Gymnastics - Mississauga, ON Lisa Cowan
Artistic
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Sarah-Anne Brault Triathlon Levis, QC Gary Pallett
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Tayler Wilton Snowboardcross Toronto, ON Dave Balne
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Virginie Chenier Archery Montreal, QC Sylvain Cadieux
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Yoan Gauthier Speed Skating - River-du-Loup, QC Laurent Daignault
Short Track
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Zachary Burt Judo Ajax, ON Dave Burt
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Junior Women's Basketball Ontario Donna Branch
National
Basketball Team
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Men's Rugby Team Rugby British Columbia Geraint John
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Men's Sledge Sledge Hockey Alberta Todd Sargeant
Hockey Team
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Jr-FISU Men's Water Polo Quebec Michel Roy
Water Polo Team
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Jr-FISU Women's Water Polo Quebec Andrew Robinson
Water Polo Team
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Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Rugby British Columbia Kevin Orr
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For more information on the FACE program, visit www.facebook.com/dreambig.
About Suncor Energy
Suncor Energy is Canada's leading integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development and upgrading, conventional and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand. While working to responsibly develop petroleum resources, Suncor is also developing a growing renewable energy portfolio. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.
About the Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team's podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the COC delivers resources that Canada's elite athletes need to perform at their best and give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada's Olympic movement, the COC works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. By sharing our athletes' stories, we inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and Parapan American Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.
For more information about Suncor Energy please visit our web site at suncor.com, follow us on Twitter @SuncorEnergy or read our blog, OSQAR.
Contacts:
Media inquiries:
403-296-4000
media@suncor.com
Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office
Jane Almeida
Manager, Media Relations
416-324-4120 or Cell: 416-540-1788
jalmeida@olympic.ca
Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office
Dimitri Soudas
Executive Director, Communications
416-324-4136 or Cell: 289-388-6419
dsoudas@olympic.ca
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations and Communications
613-569-4333 ext. 243 or Cell: 613-298-4927
akorn@paralympic.ca
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Martin Richard
Executive Director, Communications and Marketing
613-569-4333 ext. 224 or Cell: 613-725-4339
mrichard@paralympic.ca
