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Suncor Increases Funding for ‘Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence’ Program

release by the Canadian Olympic/Paralympic Committee

COCSeptember 17, 2014 (Calgary, Alberta) Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business, today announced the 2014 Fuelling Athletes and Coaching Excellence (FACE) recipients along with a major increase in funding for the program. The 2014 FACE recipients from across Canada represent both summer and winter sports, and athletes competing in individual or team events.

This year, Suncor, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) increased the funding amount for each athlete and coach pairing from $8,000 to $10,000. In total, this increases Suncor’s annual financial commitment to the program from $400,000 to $500,000.

“The FACE program is the cornerstone of our Olympic and Paralympic legacy and we are excited to increase the funding for both coaches and athletes, fuelling their dreams to compete on the international stage,” said Louis Côté, director, loyalty and strategic partnerships, Suncor. “The drive and discipline of the athletes and coaches chosen is astounding. Congratulations on becoming this year’s FACE recipients.”

The COC, CPC, and their National Sport partners work together each year to run the FACE program, which 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, which highlights Petro-Canada’s long-term support and recognition of the value of coaches to the development and performance of athletes. These coaches incur their own costs on the road to developing the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic stars of tomorrow.

“It’s wonderful to see renewed and strengthened support from Petro-Canada, who has supported Canadian athletes for more than 25 years,” said Marcel Aubut, COC president. “We look forward to cheering on the athletes as they continue to gear up for success on the world stage.”

“On behalf of our athletes and coaches, we would like to thank Petro-Canada for helping build a strong parasport system in Canada and investing in tomorrow’s champions,” added Gaétan Tardif, president, CPC. “These grants will provide vital funding for athletes looking to compete against world-class competition.”

Beginning with the Petro-Canada Torch Scholarship Fund in 1988 and continuing through its re-launch as the FACE Program in 2007, the program has provided more than 2,600 Canadian athletes and coaches with almost $9 million in direct financial support. These resources help athletes achieve national carded status and coaches improve their skills.

This year’s group of recipients includes five previous recipients (Donna Vakalis, Jazmyne Denhollander, Julia Ransom, Virginie Chénier, Zachary Burt), along with Dylan French, the Canadian flagbearer at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

The 2014 FACE program recipients are:

Athlete Sport Home Town Coach
Alex Cairns Para-Alpine Skiing Richmond, BC Nick Brush
Alex Tougas BMX Pitt Meadows, BC Ken Cools
Alexander Elliot Para-Swimming Kitchener, ON
Alexandre Corriveau Diving Quebec City, QC Stephane Lapointe
Audrey Vaillancourt Biathlon Quebec City, QC Martin Tremblay
Britt Mayer Wheelchair Rugby Prince Albert, SK Kevin Kirkup
Carle Brenneman Snowboardcross Richmond, BC Marcel Mathieu
Catrine Lavallée Aerials Montreal, QC Caroline Franc
Catherine Dubois Ice Hockey Charlesbourg, QC Pascal Dufresne
Daniel Dubreuil Long Track Speed Skating Lévis, QC Gregor Jelonek
Donna Vakalis Modern Pentathlon Toronto,ON John Hawes
Dusan Boskovic Water Polo Ottawa, ON Michel Roy
Dylan French Fencing Richmond, BC Victor Gantsevich
Erin Rafuse Sailing Toronto, ON Mark Asquith
Evan Neufeldt Skeleton Saskatoon, SK
Faith Zacharias Diving London, ON Lioudmila Zakharenko
Filip Ilijevski Table Tennis Toronto, ON Max Surprenant
Gamal Assaad Swimming London, ON Paul Midgley
Halle Pratt Synchronized Swimming Edmonton, AB Jennifer Tregale
Jack Kosterman Wheelchair Basketball New Westminister, BC Marni Abbott-Peter
Jazmyne Denhollander Slalom Canoe Chilliwack, BC Michal Staniszewski
Jenny Zhao Fencing Etobicoke, ON Paul ApSimon
Jérémy Briand Triathlon Montreal, QC Luc Morin
Jessica Furlan Athletics Winnipeg, MB Wynn Gmitroski
Julia Ransom Biathlon Penticton, BC Richard Boruta
Kayla Mack Rugby Saskatoon, SK Francois Ratier
Keven Saint Jean Taekwondo Montreal, QC Alexandre Villeneuve
Kevin Macdonald Ski Cross Mississauga, ON Stanley Hayer
Kyle Reyes Judo Brampton, ON Hiroshi Nakamura
Laura Bietola Mountain Biking Greenwood, ON Dan Proulx
Liam Hickey Wheelchair Basketball St. John’s, NL Todd Hickey
Lucas Rumball Rugby Scarborough, ON Chris Silverthorn
Marissa Papaconstantinou Para-Athletics Markham, ON Bill Stephens
Martin Duif Wheelchair Rugby Dorchester, ON Garett Hickling
Mathea Stevens Modern Pentathlon Rockland, ON John Hawes
Megan Lane Equestrian Collingwood, ON Volker Moritz
Mirela Rahneva Skeleton Ottawa, ON
Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt Cross Country Skiing Morin-Heights, QC John Jaques
Rachel Honderich Badminton Toronto, ON Jennifer Lee
Rachel Klassen Luge Saskatoon, SK Guntis Rekis
Roman Sadovsky Figure Skating Toronto, ON Tracey Wainman
Rowan (RJ) Barrett Jr. Basketball Mississauga, ON Mark Wharton
Ryan Van Praet Paratriathlon London, ON Carolyn Murray
Sebastien Beaulieu Alpine Snowboard Quebec City, QC Patrik Haudet
Sebastien St-Germain Trampoline Montreal, QC Karina Kosko
Sebastien Gagnon Short Track Speed Skating Laval, QC Laurent Daignault
Tony Gil Golf Vaughan, ON Robert Ratcliffe
Val Sweeting Curling Redvers, SK Renee Sonnenberg
Virginie Chénier Archery Montreal, QC Sylvain Cadieux
Zachary Burt Judo Ajax, ON Dave Burt

For more information on the FACE program, visit facebook.com/dreambig.





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