Petro-Canada will help 50 more athletes and their coaches from across Canada move one step closer to their Olympic and Paralympic dreams, with the announcement of this year's Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE)(TM) program recipients.
The FACE program provides pre-carded Canadian athlete and coach pairings with $8,000 in financial grants that can be used for everything from training to equipment. This year's recipients include 10 from Alberta, which has the third highest number of FACE program athletes nationally.
"Representing Canada at the Olympic Games is one of the highest honours in Hockey," said Stephanie Ramsay, a FACE recipient from Edmonton. "But for developing athletes and their coaches, it can be difficult to raise enough money to access all the resources we need to succeed. Thankfully, programs like FACE help close the funding gap and put me and my fellow athletes one step closer to achieving our dream."
Working with National Sport Organizations across Canada, Petro-Canada's FACE program provides up-and-coming Canadian Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls with the resources necessary to help athletes achieve national carded status and to improve coaching skills over time. All Olympic and Paralympic sports are eligible for FACE program funding and follow the Sport Canada review process to qualify.
"Petro-Canada's FACE program* has provided more than 2,300 athletes and coaches with over $7 million since 1988," said Steven Keith, Director Olympic and Community Partnerships, Petro-Canada. "Building on our 21-year tradition of supporting developing athletes, Petro-Canada is committed to focusing efforts at the grassroots level in communities across the country."
As a National Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Petro-Canada has pledged $13 million in athletic funding. In addition to their commitment to the FACE program, Petro-Canada's Fuelling the Dream(TM) Fund contributes resources in support of Own the Podium, an initiative to help Canada become the number one medal winner at the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and to place in the top three nations at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
*FACE is formerly the Olympic Torch Scholarship Fund
This year's FACE program recipients from Alberta include:
- Anthony Prymack, Fencing, Calgary
- Anysia Unick, Gymnastics, Calgary
- Brady Leman, Ski Cross, Calgary
- John Fairbairn, Skeleton, Calgary
- Keegan Soehn, Trampoline, Red Deer
- Kimberley McRae, Luge, Calgary
- Peter Martel, Speed Skating, Red Deer
- Melissa These, Bobsleigh, Hay Lakes
- Stefan Read, Ski Jumping, Calgary
- Stephanie Ramsay, Hockey, Edmonton