Montreal, July 29, 2011 – A fund supported by the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Petro-Canada and Sport Canada has helped the Quebec Adapted Sailing Association purchase a new sailboat that can be used by sailors with a disability.
Thanks to specially-designed boats and technology developed in Canada, everyone can sail independently no matter what their level of disability. The Quebec Adapted Sailing Association today held a christening of the new boat, a 2.4mR model.
“I love
sailing the 2.4mR,” said sailor Scott Lutes. “With this new
acquisition, I'll be able to train and race in a state-of-the-art
Paralympic-class boat.”
The 2010-2011 Para-Equipment Fund (PEF) is a grassroots initiative that aims to assist local and provincial organizations increase the number of people with a disability in sport by expanding the availability of adapted equipment.
Grants are awarded to cover 50% of the total cost of the equipment up to a maximum of $5,000. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50% of the total equipment costs. In 2010-2011, the Fund awarded a total of $250,000 in grants for both summer and winter sports.
Canadian Paralympic Committee CEO Henry Storgaard was present for the boat christening ceremony at the Pointe-Claire Yacht Club today.
“For the Canadian Paralympic Committee, winning medals at the elite level of sport is just one of our priorities,” said Storgaard. “We also want to help make it easier for Canadians with a disability to get started playing sports in the first place. We want to help inspire the next generation of Paralympic athletes.”
The Para-Equipment Fund was launched in 2005 by the Canadian Paralympic Commitee and Petro-Canada, a Suncor Enegry business.
“We are thrilled to be part of this initiative, as we know the cost of equipment can be a significant barrier to participation in Paralympic sport,” said Howard McIntyre, Vice President Marketing at Suncor Energy. “Over the last six years, Petro-Canada has contributed over $200,000 to this program, making a difference in the lives of many athletes with a disability who otherwise may not have gotten involved in sport.”
The next round of Para-Equipment Fund applications will occur later this summer.
For more
information :
René Dallaire
Directeur général
Executive Director
Association québécoise
de voile adaptée
Quebec Adapted
Sailing Association
514-846-2171
rdallaire@aqvaqc.com
www.aqvaqc.com
Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927
akorn@paralympic.ca
Web: Paralympic.ca
Facebook: Facebook.com/CDNParalympics
Twitter: @CDNParalympics
YouTube: YouTube.com/CDNParalympics
