Minister Gosal to meet 2011 Para-Equipment Fund recipients, mark opening of applications for 2011-12

OTTAWA – Aug. 24, 2011 – Media are invited to play wheelchair basketball with members of the Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled and the Honourable Bal Gosal, the Minister of State (Sport), to celebrate the club’s successful Para-Equipment Fund application and mark the opening of the application process for the Fund for 2011-12.

The Para-Equipment Fund, supported by Sport Canada, Petro Canada, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee, has helped the Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled in Brampton, Ontario, purchase new sports equipment that can be used by athletes with a disability through a $5,000 grant. The Cruisers are a non-profit charitable organization which provides sport and recreation opportunities to people living in the municipalities of Peel and Halton.

The Para-Equipment Fund aims to assist local and provincial organizations increase the number of people with a disability active in sport by helping cover the cost of adapted equipment. Grants are awarded to cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment up to a maximum of $5,000. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50 per cent of the total equipment costs. In 2010-2011, the Fund awarded a total of $250,000 in grants for both summer and winter sports, which when combined with the matching funds from the clubs, totalled an investment of $500,000 in adapted sports equipment.

The Fund aids the approximately one in seven Canadians living with a disability become active in parasport. One of the barriers to sport participation is access to equipment, a contributing factor to the fact that less than three per cent of the approximately 4.4 million Canadians with a disability participate in organized sport.

• What: Media photo opportunity to mark the successful application of the Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled. The photo opportunity will consist of the Honourable Bal Gosal giving a short statement followed by a presentation of a sled for sledge hockey and a wheelchair for wheelchair basketball bought through the Para-Equipment Fund to representatives of the Cruisers Sports Club. Following the photo opportunity, the Minister and members of the media will be invited to participate in a half-court wheelchair basketball game.
• When: 11 a.m., Friday, August 26
• Where: Gymnasium of Cassie Campbell Community Centre 1050 Sandalwood Pkwy W, Brampton, ON
• Who: The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), Howard McIntyre, Vice President of Marketing, Petro Canada (a Suncor Energy business, Cruisers Sports Club coaches, athletes and administrators, François Robert, Executive Director, Partnerships, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Lynda Charters, Executive Director, Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association
  

About the Para-Equipment Fund
The Para-Equipment Fund was launched in 2005 by the Canadian Paralympic Commitee with the help of the federal government and Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business. Grants are awarded to cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment up to a maximum of $5,000. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50 per cent of the equipment costs. In 2010-2011, the Fund awarded a total of $250,000 in grants for both summer and winter sports, bringing the total equipment investment to $500,000. The Para-Equipment Fund is now accepting applications for 2011-12 at www.paralympic.ca.

About the Crusiers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled
Cruisers Sports for the Physically  Disabled is a non-profit charitable organization that provides sports and recreational opportunities to people with physical disabilities living in the municipalities of Peel and Halton. The Cruisers offer five sports programs - sledge hockey, wheelchair basketball, track and field, boccia and multi-sports. For more information please visit www.cruisers-sports.com.

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

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For more information:
Alison Korn                                                                           Mark Dottori
Manager, Media Relations                                                 Director of Communications
Canadian Paralympic Committee                                    Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243                                               Tel: 613-569-4333 ext.242
Cell: 613-298-4927                                                              Cell: 613-294-5951
akorn@paralympic.ca                                                         mdottori@paralympic.ca