This year’s recipients are: Curl BC, the National Capital District and PEI divisions of the Canadian Association of Disabled Skiers, Wheelchair Sports Alberta, Cornerbrook Disabled Skiing, Cross-Country Alberta, the Canadian Snowboard Federation, and Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. They will use the funds to purchase cross-country and alpine sit-skis, biathlon air rifle systems for athletes with visual impairment, hockey sledges, and equipment that enhances the skills of wheelchair curlers.
The availability and prohibitive cost of Paralympic sport equipment is a fundamental barrier to sport participation and athlete development. “The Paralympic Equipment Fund helps give athletes with disabilities a chance to participate in sport at the recreational or competitive levels, as well as provide rising stars with high-performance equipment to use in competition,” says CPC President Carla Qualtrough.
The fund has far reaching effects: for example, the dollars will enable Cross-Country Alberta to move forward on its 2007 strategic plan to integrate disabled Nordic skiing into its Cross-Country ski program for able-bodied athletes.
“It was a make or break deal because without the funding we would not be able to buy the sit-skis, poles and other equipment needed to run a disabled Cross-Country ski program,” says Cross-Country Alberta sport manager Michael Neary.
“Petro-Canada is strong supporter of the Canadian Paralympic movement and developing athletes,” says Steven Keith, Director of Olympic Activation at Petro-Canada. “Providing the best possible equipment helps developmental athletes improve their performance and ultimately help them reach the Paralympic podium.”
The Paralympic Winter Sports Fund is an annual program. The next call for applications will be in the spring 2007. For more information, email equipment@paralympic.ca.
About Petro-Canada
Petro-Canada is one of Canada’s largest oil and gas companies, operating in both the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry in Canada and internationally. Petro-Canada creates value by responsibly developing energy resources and providing world class petroleum products and services. Its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PCA and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCZ.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is a non-profit, charitable, private organization that is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). CPC is comprised of 40 leading national and provincial sport organizations. CPC delivers programs that strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Canada, including sending Canadian teams to the Paralympic Games. The CPC empowers persons with physical disabilities, through sport, at all levels. For more information, visit our website at: www.paralympic.ca.
