Includes Summer and Winter Olympians and Paralympians, as well as
Canadian amateur athletes
TORONTO, Oct. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, joined by Canadian Olympians and
Paralympians, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) officials and special
guests, RBC announced the names of 47 world-class Canadian athletes who
will be part of the RBC Olympians Program from 2013 through 2015.
Combined, these exceptional athletes have earned a total of 31 Olympic
medals and 36 Paralympic medals.
As the first and longest-standing corporate sponsor of the Canadian
Olympic Team, RBC supports Canadian amateur athletes in both summer and
winter sports. Since 1947, the company has encouraged healthy, active
lifestyles, while building a lasting legacy for Canadian athletes
through partnerships with organizations including the COC.
"Investing in our athletes is an investment in Canada, and we are
thrilled to welcome these 47 incredible athletes to the RBC Olympians
Program," said Dave McKay, Group Head, Personal and Commercial Banking,
RBC. "RBC has a longstanding tradition of being committed to helping
Canadian athletes succeed—on and off the field of play and in their
transition to life after sport. We're here today to continue this
important relationship."
The RBC Olympians Program, which began in 2002, is a national initiative
that provides elite athletes with much-needed funding and flexible work
arrangements which allow the athletes to focus on training and
competition. The program also provides an opportunity to gain
career-oriented skills and experiences that help them succeed in their
transition to life after sport.
"Canada's Olympic and Paralympic athletes are some of our country's
greatest assets and they are proof that the power of sport can improve
our society, inspire and bring Canadians together," said Marcel Aubut,
President, COC. "Our athletes embody the true spirit of sport and
Canada—though they may compete in individual events, they come together
as a team and rally an entire country behind their efforts."
Returning to the RBC Olympians roster are well-known Canadian Olympians
and Vancouver 2010 gold-medalists Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue (Figure
Skating), 2013 World Champion Patrick Chan (Figure Skating), Marc
Kennedy (Curling), Benoît Huot (Paralympic Swimming), Jayna Hefford
(Ice Hockey) as well as Greg Westlake, captain of the Canadian men's
sledge hockey team.
With the upcoming Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games mere months away, all
RBC Olympians will be looked up to by young Canadian athletes from
across the country that dream of one day competing in the Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
"Canadians rally behind our athletes—it's in our DNA as a proud,
patriotic country," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State
(Sport), also present for today's announcement. "Our Olympic and
Paralympic athletes embody the true spirit of Canada, dedicating
themselves to their sport and proudly representing their country on the
world stage."
Continuing its legacy of supporting amateur athletes, the RBC Olympians
Program recruits and hires both current and retired Olympic and
Paralympic athletes to work as community ambassadors for RBC while
bringing the Olympic messages of excellence, teamwork, leadership, and
commitment to Canadian communities. In addition, athletes are outfitted
with the necessary business skills to have a career after sport. At
today's event, RBC also announced that since the program began, nearly
200 current and retired Olympic and Paralympic athletes have
participated in the RBC Olympians Program, with 10 becoming full-time
RBC employees.
The RBC Olympians for 2013/2014 are:
British Columbia
-
Will Dean, Rowing
-
Scott Frandsen, Rowing
-
Rosalind Groenewoud, Freestyle Skiing - Halfpipe
-
Trevor Hirschfield, Wheelchair Rugby
-
Darcy Marquardt, Rowing
-
Christian Redmann, Beach Volleyball
-
Doug Vandor, Rowing
Alberta
-
Viviane Forest, Paralympic Alpine Skiing
-
Joshua Riker Fox, Modern Pentathlon
-
Kristina Groves, Long Track Speed Skating
-
Marc Kennedy, Curling
-
Brady Leman, Freestyle Skiing - Ski Cross
-
Carla Macleod, Ice Hockey
-
Bobbi-Jo Slusar, Ice Hockey
Manitoba/Saskatchewan
-
Miranda Biletski, Wheelchair Rugby
-
Jillian Gallays, Wrestling
-
Brad Jacobs, Curling
-
Colin Mathieson, Wheelchair Racing
-
Jill Officer, Curling
-
Robbi Weldon, Paralympic Cycling
Ontario
-
Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey
-
Ashley-Lynn Brzozowicz, Rowing
-
Jason Burnett, Trampoline
-
Patrick Chan, Figure Skating
-
Becky Kellar Duke, Ice Hockey
-
Heather Hamilton, Athletics - Pole Vault
-
Jayna Hefford, Ice Hockey
-
Martha McCabe, Swimming
-
Derek O'Farrell, Rowing
-
Mark Oldershaw, Canoe - Sprint
-
Brian Price, Rowing
-
Kevin Rempel, Sledge Hockey
-
Cody Sorensen, Bobsleigh
-
Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue, Figure Skating
-
Greg Westlake, Sledge Hockey
Quebec
-
Caroline Calvé, Snowboard - Alpine
-
François Coulombe Fortier, Taekwondo
-
Hugues Fournel, Kayak
-
Benoît Huot, Paralympic Swimming
-
Mikaël Kingsbury, Freestyle Skiing - Moguls
-
Marie-Claude Molnar, Paralympic Cycling
-
Caroline Ouellette, Ice Hockey
-
Benoît St-Amand, Sledge Hockey
Atlantic Canada
-
Adam Lancia, Nova Scotia, Wheelchair Basketball
-
Una Lounder, Nova Scotia, Kayak
-
Ben Russell, Nova Scotia, Canoe - Sprint
About RBC and Amateur Sport
RBC supports amateur sport in communities across Canada, from
recreational to competitive activities, and from grassroots to
elite-level athletes. At the grassroots level, RBC is committed to
supporting programs which help children develop the confidence and
skills they need to enable them to play, and become happy, healthy and
active for life. RBC is proud to be the longest-standing corporate
supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, since 1947, as well as a
premier sponsor of Hockey Canada. Visit www.rbc.com/sponsorship.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed
more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community
investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.
SOURCE RBC
