Minister Gosal shoots hoops and presents adaptive equipment to Brampton’s Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled

Brampton – Aug. 26, 2011 – The Para-Equipment Fund, a fund supported by Sport Canada, Petro-Canada (a Suncor Energy business) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee, has awarded Brampton’s Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled $7,500 to purchase new chairs for wheelchair basketball and sleds for sledge hockey. The new equipment will allow the club to increase its programming, helping make it easier and more affordable for locals with a physical disability to get involved in sports.

To acknowledge and celebrate the strong support of the Government of Canada and Petro-Canada to the Canadian parasport system and to help launch of the application process for next year’s Para-Equipment Fund, the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), and Howard McIntyre, Vice President of Marketing at Suncor Energy presented some pieces of equipment before participating in a wheelchair basketball game with members of the Cruisers Sports Club.

“The Government of Canada is proud to support the Para-Equipment Fund and to play a leading role in the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport,” said Minister of State Gosal. “Our Government is committed to promoting meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities to become involved in and develop through sport, according to their interests, abilities, and talents.”

The Para-Equipment Fund aims to assist local and provincial sports organizations to increase the number of people with a disability participating in sport. It helps cover the cost of adapted equipment. Grants are awarded to c over 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 being placed in communities across Canada.

“Over the last 23 years, Suncor Energy, through the Petro-Canada brand, has fuelled the dreams of Canada’s athletes, coaches and their families,” said Howard McIntyre, Vice President of Marketing at Suncor Energy. “Our primary focus is to support the development of athletes and coaches at the grassroots level. That’s why in 2005 we partnered with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to launch the Para-Equipment Fund, a grassroots initiative designed to enable athletes with a disability to participate in sport by reducing the financial burden associated with purchasing para equipment.” 

The Para-Equipment Fund aids the approximately one in seven Canadians living with a disability become active in sports. One of the financial 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.

“The Canadian Paralympic Committee is committed not only to podium performance, but also to ensuring that all Canadians have the opportunity to participate in sport”, said David Legg, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “We know that to achieve our goal of making Canada the world’s leading Paralympic nation, it is imperative to be involved with sport participants, volunteers and coaches from the playground to the podium to create a sustainable sport system. The Para-Equipment Fund is an example of that grassroots commitment and I would personally like to thank our corporate and government partners, as well as our member organizations and clubs for their commitment to helping Canada move toward achieving this goal.”

The Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled received $7,500 in funding from the fund for two sports (wheelchair basketball and sledge hockey). The Cruisers are a non-profit charitable organization which provides sport and recreation opportunities to people living in the municipalities of Peel and Halton.

“We were very excited to receive this funding”, said Linda Beacham, President of the Cruisers Sports Club for the Physically Disabled. “This money went directly to the purchase of sleds and chairs for hockey and basketball and has had an immediate and direct impact to the services and programs we can offer. The Para-Equipment Fund is a great resource for Canada’s parasport system.”

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 per sport. 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