May 17, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) – AthletesCAN and Investors Group are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary. In keeping with their commitment to amateur sport in Canada, Investors Group established a bursary fund for Canada’s top high performance athletes.

A national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians, Investors Group annually awards twenty $5,000 bursaries to assist Canada’s elite amateur athletes with the costs of training and competition. Selection criteria includes: athletic achievement, financial need and community involvement. Since its inception in 2000, the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund has provided more than $1,200,000 to Canadian athletes. AthletesCAN administers the bursary on behalf of Investors Group.
Fonds d’athlètes amateurs Equipe Groupe Investors

“Investors Group provides these bursaries to acknowledge the commitment to excellence our nation’s elite athletes demonstrate year after year,” says Richard Irish, Vice-President, Community Affairs and Area Marketing for Investors Group. “We understand that this commitment involves leading unique lifestyles requiring Canada’s athletes to carefully balance the demands of work and school with training and competition. For 12 years now, we have been pleased to support Canada’s athletes with bursaries totaling over $1 million to help foster that balance.”

In 2011, Olympic swimmer Annamay Pierse was one of 20 recipients to earn the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund Bursary of $5,000 through AthletesCAN.

“Becoming a world class athlete takes incredible determination, focus and hard work,” says Annamay, Olympic swimmer and world record holder. “The hours required to train, and subsequently recover your body do not leave time for much else, especially not a job,” she adds. “Having supporters like Investors Group and AthletesCAN, who provide direct support to Canadian athletes is truly incredible. Taking away the financial burden so many athletes face and allowing them to ‘get their job done’ is what is raising Canada’s athletes to higher successes. The Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund allowed me to do everything possible on my Olympic journey. For that I am truly grateful.”

AthletesCAN Interim Executive Director, Tracy Taylor adds: “The athletes recognized through the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund are champions both on and off the field of play.  AthletesCAN is proud to partner with Investors Group each year to recognize Canada’s top athletes and thanks Investors Group for their continued leadership and support.”

The 2012 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary recipients are:

– Philippe Beaudry (L’arrondissement du Plateau, Québec) – Fencing
– Justine Bouchard (Wetaskiwin, Alberta) – Wrestling
– David Calder (Victoria, British Columbia) – Rowing
– Ryan Cochrane (Victoria, British Columbia) – Swimming
– Mark de Jonge (Halifax, Nova Scotia) – Kayak
– Ryan Dodd (Olds, Alberta) – Waterski
– Daria Gaiazova (Banff, Alberta) – Cross-Country Skiing
– Paul Gauthier (Vancouver, British Columbia) – Boccia
– Pat Grant (Toronto, Ontario) – Karate
– Mellisa Hollingsworth (Eckville, Alberta) – Skeleton
– Darcy Marquardt (Richmond, British Columbia) – Rowing
– Whitney McClintock (Cambridge, Ontario) – Water Skiing
– Summer Mortimer (Burlington, Ontario) – Paralympic Swimming
– Caroline Ouellette (Montreal, Quebec) – Hockey
– Diane Roy (Sherbrooke, Quebec) – Wheelchair Athletics
– Lyndon Rush (Humbolt, Saskatchewan) – Bobsleigh
– Eric Sehn (Edmonton, Alberta) – Diving
– Christine Selinger (Regina, Saskatchewan) – ParaCanoe
– Paul Tingley (Halifax, Nova Scotia) – Para Sailing
– Jessica Vliegenthart (Kamloops, British Columbia) – Wheelchair Basketball

A special thanks to our selection committee members Greg Edgelow (Wrestling), Andrew Haley (Swimming), Chelsea Lariviere (Athletics), Beckie Scott (Cross Country Skiing), and Sami Jo Small (Hockey).

Look for a congratulatory ad in the May 19, 2012 News section of the Globe and Mail.

About Investors Group

Investors Group, founded in 1926, is a national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians through a network of over 4,600 Consultants located throughout Canada. In addition to an exclusive family of mutual funds and other investment vehicles, Investors Group offers a wide range of insurance, securities, mortgage and other financial services.

About AthletesCAN

As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.