TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - From steep downhill runs to deep halfpipes, soaring jumps to grueling trails, starting this winter, Mackenzie Investments will fuel the passion of winter athletes across Canada with a new, four-year sponsorship of Snow Sports Canada, touching seven premier national snow sport organizations. Mackenzie is also building on its long history of supporting grassroots alpine skiing in its home province through a new five-year partnership with Alpine Ontario.
"From recreational participants to World Cup athletes, Canadians are known for their enthusiasm, sportsmanship and success in snow sports, and Mackenzie is very proud to contribute to this passion," said Jeff Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mackenzie Investments. "It takes talent, constantly challenging the status quo to drive improvements and a passion for excellence to be an elite athlete. And the same goes for the team at Mackenzie in our pursuit of excellence in everything we do. Just like athletes, we are measured against the best and we are motivated and inspired by focusing on being the best."
The following national sport organizations (NSOs) under the Snow Sports Canada umbrella will benefit from Mackenzie's sponsorship: Alpine Canada, Biathlon Canada, Canada Snowboard, Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, Cross Country Canada, Nordic Combined Canada and Ski Jumping Canada.
Mackenzie's sponsorship (#Mackenzie) will allow the NSOs to develop high performance teams by providing elite coaches, high caliber training facilities, top-notch equipment, technology and innovation. The commitment will also allow more emphasis on building youth participation and providing financial support for less established athletes.
"Mackenzie Investments' commitment will enable numerous elements and initiatives that are critical to the success of winter athletes across the country, from coaching to competition," said Bruce Robinson, CEO, Canadian Freestyle Ski Association. "This breakthrough support ensures our performance athletes will be able to focus on training, competing and winning, while raising the profile of their sports so more young Canadians will be inspired to follow in their tracks."
"By including Biathlon Canada in their sponsorship, Mackenzie helps grow the profile of our sport and encourages others to get involved as participants, coaches and volunteers," said Biathlete, Rosanna Crawford. "Canada's winter sports define who we are on the world stage, and we're grateful to Mackenzie for their investment in our success."
As an Official Partner of Snow Sports Canada, Mackenzie's logo will appear on the competition clothing, gear and outerwear of all competitive team members and coaches across the seven sport disciplines. Mackenzie's brand will also be prominently featured at World Cup events from 2014 to 2018.
Mackenzie Investments is also excited to support Alpine Ontario as a Premiere Partner and receive high profile exposure on Ontario Alpine Ski Team helmets, jackets, speed suits and other apparel, as well as event-specific clothing, bibs, flags and banners at over 100 Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 age group events.
Alpine Ontario funding will be used for grassroots to elite development programs, training for coaches, equipment and events across the province.
"Many of Ontario's finest racers graduated from the Mackenzie Mountain League and still credit that program for instilling in them not only the skills foundation to become champions but also a deep love for the sport," said Scott Barrett, Acting Executive Director, Alpine Ontario Alpin. "Having support from Mackenzie at the grassroots level right here at home as well as across the snow sports spectrum at the national level can only prove to be a tremendous boost for winter sports in Canada and our athletes across the board."
Athletes and participants are encouraged to share this announcement via social media using the hash tag #Mackenzie.
The sponsorships continue Mackenzie Investments' long legacy of supporting Canada's national ski team and numerous amateur race programs and events. For more information about Mackenzie's sponsorships, visit mackenzieinvestments.com/sponsorships.
Mackenzie Investments was founded in 1967, and is a leading investment management firm providing investment advisory and related services. With $72.2 billion in assets under management as at August 31, 2014, Mackenzie Investments distributes its investment services through multiple distribution channels to both retail and institutional investors. Mackenzie Investments is a member of the IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM) group of companies. IGM Financial is one of Canada's premier financial services companies with approximately $144 billion in total assets under management as at August 31, 2014. For more information, visit mackenzieinvestments.com.
Snow Sports Canada is a partnership of seven of Canada's premier winter sport organizations that have joined forces to support the overall development of winter sport in our country. Representing over 93,000 registered members and 5.4 million recreational participants, Snow Sports Canada seeks to leverage the combined experience and expertise of their coaches, trainers, athletes and support staff to deliver high performance content to recreational snow sport participants in Canada. Snow Sports Canada's mission is to ensure the safe participation in, and growth of, winter sport in Canada by providing access to the expertise of our national teams and to support the development of winter sport through the acquisition of corporate partners.
Alpine Ontario Alpin (AOA) is the provincial governing body for the sport of alpine ski racing in Ontario. Alpine Ontario's newly refined mission is to provide leadership and structure for high quality, sustainable and affordable programming and to communicate the competitive, recreational and lifestyle benefits of ski racing to the community. AOA represents four divisions, 44 member clubs and over 30,000 active athletes, coaches and officials (volunteers). AOA coordinates several successful programs across the province and continues to foster the development of "state of the art" ski-racing programs from the grass roots level to the elite level.
SOURCE Mackenzie Investments
Image with caption: "Mackenzie Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Carney celebrates the announcement of a multi-year sports sponsorship with Snow Sports Canada and Alpine Ontario. From left to right: Len Valjas, Cross Country Skiing; Dave Duncan, Alpine Ski Cross; Kevin Hill, Snowboard Cross; Jeff Carney, Mackenzie Investments; Atsuko Tanaka, Ski Jumping; Travis Gerritts, Freestyle Aerials; Rosanna Crawford, Biathlon. (CNW Group/Mackenzie Investments)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140905_C2310_PHOTO_EN_5359.jpg
Trish Tervit, Environics Communications, 416-969-2809, ttervit@environicspr.com; Liana George, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Mackenzie Investments, 416-967-2219, lgeorge@mackenzieinvestments.com; Auburn Sigurdson, Snow Sports Canada, 604-569-0480, auburn@twentytengroup.com; Andrea Russell, Communications Director, Alpine Ontario, 705-444-5111, communications@alpineontario.caCopyright CNW Group 2014