October 27, 2005 – The Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), announced today the names of the final 20 Canadian high performance athletes who have been awarded a $10,000 bursary from the Pure Determination Fund to help cover their training, competition and equipment costs.


“The grant from the Dairy Farmers of Canada is an essential resource for athletes to train at a more competitive level,” said Pure Determination Fund recipient Warren Shouldice (freestyle skiing, Calgary, Alta.). “These funds will really make a difference and will go a long way towards helping me achieve my dream of excellence at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.”


Launched in 2002, the Pure Determination Fund has delivered on its four-year commitment of awarding $800,000 in total grants to Olympic hopefuls across Canada. The annual fund was developed after a DFC study on the under-financing of athletes determined that individuals with the greatest need were those who ranked from sixth to 16th in the world standings.


Recipients of the Pure Determination Fund were chosen by a special selection committee. This year, the committee was comprised of Olympians Veronica Brenner and Nicolas Gill, Nathalie Noël from DFC as well as Caroline Assalian, Mike Christie and Debbie Muir from the COC.


To be eligible to receive a grant, athletes must be ranked between sixth and 15th in the world in individual events or between sixth and 12th in team sports, be in training to represent Canada at the Olympic Games, be members of their national teams’ development programs or training groups, and must earn less than $75,000 in gross income.


“For the past four years the Pure Determination Fund has been instrumental in providing much needed funding to Canadian high-performance athletes,” said COC Chief Executive Officer Chris Rudge. “I commend Dairy Farmers of Canada for their commitment and successful efforts towards developing Olympic hopefuls in our country.”


Dairy Farmers of Canada is the national lobby, policy and promotion organization representing Canada’s 17,000 dairy producers. Founded in 1934, DFC is run for producers, by producers. The operation of the organization, including promotion activities, is completely funded by them. DFC’s membership includes provincial milk marketing boards, dairy producers’ associations, cooperatives, milk recording and breed-related organizations. For more information visit the DFC website at www.dairygoodness.ca.


The Canadian Olympic Committee is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada’s involvement in the Olympic movement, including Canada’s participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For more information, see the COC website: www.olympic.ca.