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Gibson, Hyndman, Lewis Receive 2015 Petro-Canada FACE Award

release by the Canadian Olympic Committee
Kinley Gibson  ©  Oran Kelly
October 16, 2015 (Calgary, AB) – Petro-Canada, a Suncor business, today announced the 2015 Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence (FACE) program recipients. The 2015 FACE recipients from across Canada represent both summer and winter sports, and athletes competing in individual or team events. Each athlete and coach pairing receives $10,000. Petro-Canada’s annual financial commitment to the program is $500,000.

“From coast to coast, Canada has many outstanding athletes and coaches and we’re honoured to support tomorrow’s Team Canada,” said Marc Goodman, director, loyalty and strategic partnerships, Suncor. “Each year we’re inspired by the dedication of our FACE program recipients. Congratulations to the Class of 2015.”

Developed by Petro-Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), and facilitated by their National Sport partners, the FACE program provides developing, pre-carded Canadian athlete and coach pairings with funding to help fuel their dreams. Coaches are selected along with the athletes they directly coach as they often incur additional costs on the road to developing the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic stars of tomorrow.

“Petro-Canada has supported Canadian athletes for more than 25 years and we are excited for this year’s funds to reach new athletes in need,” said Chris Overholt, CEO, Canadian Olympic Committee. “The funding Petro-Canada’s FACE program provides is crucial in ensuring the next generations of athletes receive the resources they need to succeed. Thank you, Petro-Canada.”

The FACE program, formerly the Petro-Canada Torch Scholarship Fund, was launched in 1988 and has provided more than 2,700 Canadian athletes and coaching pairs with almost $9.4 million in direct financial support.

“On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, I’d like to thank Petro-Canada for investing in Canada’s dedicated, up-and-coming athletes and their hard-working coaches,” said Gaétan Tardif, President, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “These grants will provide valuable funding for athletes looking to make their mark internationally and go on to pursue their dreams of representing Canada on the world stage. I have no doubt we will be seeing some of these names again in the future, on the podium at Rio, PyeongChang or beyond”

In the past, the FACE program has provided financial grants to Canada’s top athletes. In the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, there were more than thirty FACE recipients competing and contributing to Canada’s overall medal count, including; Patrick Chan, Mélodie Daoust, Kaitlyn Lawes, Marielle Thompson, Hayley Wickenheiser, Jim Armstrong, Mark Arendz, Mac Marcoux and Dennis Thiessen. Some notables from London 2012 Games included, Jasmin Glaesser, Rosie MacLennan, Robbi Weldon, and Mark Tewksbury, Canada’s Chef de Mission at the London 2012 Games and Barcelona 1992 Olympic gold medalist.

For more information on the FACE program, visit here.

Athlete Sport Hometown Coach
Robbie Andison Freestyle Skiing (Moguls) Oakville, ON Guillaume Turgeon
Danielle Arbour Wheelchair Basketball Goulds, NL Todd Hickey
Audrey Jean Baptiste Athletics Montreal, QC Cliff Mitchell
Loïc Beaulieau Fencing Sherbrooke, QC Charles St-Hilaire
Zoe Bergermann Snowboard Cross Erin, ON Rene Brunner
Kristen Cameron Wheelchair Rugby Charlottetown, P.E.I. Garett Hickling
Carsen Campbell Biathlon Vail, CO Richard Boruta
Marie Corriveau Cross-Country Skiing Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, QC François Pépin
Brianna Delmaestro Figure Skating Burnaby, BC Aaron Lowe
Kevin Drury Ski Cross Toronto, ON Sead Causevic
Sabrina Duchesne Para-Swimming St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, QC Johanne Giradin
Max Gallant Sailing Victoria, BC Steve MacBride
Maria Gheta Synchronized Swimming Timisoara, Romania Johana Vasquez
Ioana Gheta Synchronized Swimming Timisoara, Romania Johana Vasquez
Kinley Gibson Cycling Edmonton, AB Cameron Jennings
Scott Gow Biathlon Calgary, AB Roddy Ward
Xavier Grenier-Talavera Triathlon Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC Kyla Rollinson
Rachel Honderich Badminton Toronto, ON Jennifer Lee
Alex Hyndman Para-Cycling Morpeth, ON Sebastien Travers
Emmanuela Jada Rugby Kharfoum, Sudan Colette McAuley
Matt Joosten Freestyle Skiing (Moguls) Toronto, ON Guillaume Turgeon
Collina Joseph Wheelchair Curling Stittsville, ON Carl Rennick
Jessica Klimkait Judo Whitby, ON Kevin Doherty
Mathieu Leduc Ski Cross Chicoutimi, QC Stanley Hayer
Marine Lewis Mountain Bike Piedmont, QC Ian Hughes
Derek Livingston Snowboard (Halfpipe) Scarborough, ON Ben Boyd
Alex Loginov Swimming Toronto, ON Steve Price
Monica Lubczynski Fencing Pointe-Claire, QC Julian Badea
Carter Malyk Luge Calgary, AB Guntis Rekis
Chelaine McInroy Para-Alpine Skiing Surrey, BC John Newton
Marko Meduigorac Table Tennis Sherbrooke, QC Maxime Surprenant
Nicolas Ngarlem Weighlifting Montreal, QC Mark Nehme
Hamilton Nguyen Archery Husum, Germany Joan McDonald
Rachel Nicol Swimming Lethbridge, QC Peter Schori
Étienne Papineau Golf Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Robert Ratcliffe
Russell Pennock Triathlon Calgary, AB Bart Ujack
Jocelyn Peterman Curling Red Deer, AB Paul Webster
Kyle Reyes Judo Toronto, ON Hiroshi Nakamura
Cody Salomons Para-athletics London, ON Chris Williams
Jasmine Sepandi Ski Jumping Halifax, NS Gregor Linsig
Liam Smedley Canoe/Kayak Slalom Dunrobin, ON Michal Staniszewski
Taryn Suttie Athletics Saskatoon, SK Justin Rohde
Adam Tenwolde Canoe/Kayak Sprint Dartmouth, SK Chad Brooks
Rosalie Tremblay Speed Skating Saint-Félicien, QC Marc Gagnon
Cameron Wheelan Beach Volleyball Barrie, ON Adrianna Bento
Carmen Whelan Gymnastics Aurora, ON Iana Nadtotchii
Juliette Wheler Long-Track Speed Skating Saskatoon, SK Tim Comfort
Brandie Wilkerson Beach Volleyball Lausanne, Switzerland Dana Cooke
Derek Zaplotinsky Para-Nordic Skiing Smoky Lake, AB Bjorn Taylor




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