February 12, 2013 (Toronto, ON) – The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) announced the 12 recipients of the WISE Fund grants, each valued at $900.

The Women in Sport Encouragement (WISE) Fund was created to help finance sport initiatives and assist members of the sport community in Canada. The annual grant is primarily to support women leaders develop and organizations that are currently offering or creating sport programs targeted to girls and women.

“CAAWS is pleased to support the WISE Fund grant recipients and recognize their efforts in developing their own leadership skills as coaches or officials and in offering sport programs that will give girls and women an opportunity to be actively engaged” said CAAWS Executive Director, Karin Lofstrom.

The 2013 WISE Fund marks the tenth time CAAWS has offered the grant program. Since the program’s inception in 2004, CAAWS has now supported 116 individuals and organizations, dispersing over $104,400 to members of the sport community.

This year’s recipients include ten organizations, one coach and one official. The following have been selected:

2013 WISE Fund Recipients
– Cycling BC – Vancouver, BC (Supported by Cycling Canada)
– Club de patinage artistique de Verdun – Verdun, QC (Supported by Skate Canada)
– Fédération Québécoise de boxe olympique – Montreal, QC (Supported by the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association)
– Jocelyne Mc Lean – Gatineau, QC (Supported by Swimming Canada)
– Judo Alberta – Calgary, AB (Supported by Judo Canada)
– Lappe Nordic Women on Skis – Thunder Bay, ON (Supported by Cross Country Canada)
– Lower Mainland Ringette Association – Metro Vancouver, BC (Supported by Ringette Canada)
– Oakville Girls Softball Association – Oakville, ON (Supported by Softball Canada)
– Ontario Basketball – Toronto, ON (Supported by Canada Basketball)
– Okotoks Minor Ball Association – Okotoks, AB (Supported by Softball Canada)
– Rugby Nova Scotia – Halifax, NS (Supported by Rugby Canada)
– Sheena Tremblay – Yellowknife, NWT (Supported by Cross Country Canada)

For detailed bios of the grant recipients, please visit the CAAWS website HERE.