$18,000 awarded to support Canadian athletes and local community skating clubs
TORONTO, ON: Canadian Tire announced today a new bursary program for Canadian figure skaters and presented the first bursaries to 12 athletes. The bursary program, part of Canadian Tire’s recent partnership with Skate Canada, is aimed at recognizing novice and junior figure skaters competing at the 2013 Canadian Tire National Figure Skating Championships and their local skating clubs. Canadian Tire is making a continued commitment to develop community based programs in support of amateur athletes.
“Whether it’s a first pair of skates or equipping professional athletes, the Canadian Tire family of companies has a long history of supporting athletes at all skill levels,” said Landon French, Vice President, Sport Partnerships at Canadian Tire. “Together with Skate Canada, we look forward to continuing to encourage the development of outstanding athletes across Canada.”
The bursaries, totalling $18,000, were presented to novice and junior winners in four categories, men’s, women’s, pair and ice dance, for a total of 12 different athletes and 9 skating clubs. Each athlete was awarded $500 along with $1,000 for their local skating club.
Novice Recipients
Women: Zoe Gong, 15, Minto Skating Club, from Ottawa, Ont.
Men: Daniel-Olivier Boulanger-Trottier, 16, CPA Ste-Anne-Des-Plaines from Montreal, Québec
Pair: Rachael Dobson, 13, Preston Figure Skating Club, from Campbellville, Ont. and Alexander Sheldrick, 22, Preston Figure Skating Club from Paris, Ontario
Ice Dance: Danielle Wu, 14, Burnaby Figure Skating Club from Burnaby, BC and Spencer Soo, Burnaby Figure Skating Club, from Burnaby, B.C.
Junior Recipients
Women: Larkyn Austman, 14, Connaught Skating Club, from Coquitlam, B.C.
Men: Anthony Kan, 17, York Region Skating Academy, from Richmond Hill, Ont.
Pair: Haleigh Bell, 16, Mariposa Winter Club, from Acton, Ont. and Alistair Sylvester, 18, Stratford Skating Club, Sebringville, Ont.
Ice Dance: Madeline Edwards, 16, Inlet Skating Club from Port Moody, B.C. and Zhao Kai Pang, Inlet Skating Club from Burnaby, B.C.
“This is just the start of a strong partnership between Skate Canada and Canadian Tire,” said Benoît Lavoie, President, Skate Canada. “Providing this financial support to both our novice and junior champions and to the club they represent, is a tremendous encouragement to everyone involved. We are delighted that they are recognizing the dedication of our athletes and are offering them support to pursue their dreams.”
About Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.a) (TSX:CTC) is one of Canada’s most-shopped general retailers and the country’s largest sporting goods retailer, with more than 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast. Our primary retail business categories – Automotive, Living, Fixing, Playing and Apparel – are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division, which offers such products and services as credit cards, retail deposits, in-store financing, product warranties, and insurance. Nearly 68,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada’s most recognized and trusted brands.
For further information contact:
Leah Gaucher
Canadian Tire
416.544.7785
leah.gaucher@cantire.com
Kathryn Perry
Highroad Communications
416.644.2269
kathryn.perry@highroad.com
Share