January 11, 2012 – The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011-12 Para-Equipment Fund, presented by Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business, and supported by Sport Canada and the CPC.

The Para-Equipment Fund delivers grants of up to $5,000 to national sport organizations and provincial and local-level clubs to purchase adapted equipment – for sports such as wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey or sit-skiing, for example – to enable people with a disability to participate in sport.

In all, 33 sports organizations across the country, representing 21 different sports among them, have received a total of $116,670.

Grants are awarded to cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50 per cent of the equipment costs, bringing this year’s total equipment investment to $233,340.

“We recognize that while it is important to support the Canadian Paralympic Team competing on the world stage, it is also vital to support introductory efforts to help more Canadians with a disability get active in the first place,” said Steven Keith of Petro-Canada, a long-time partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and presenting sponsor of the Para-Equipment Fund.

“Access to adapted equipment can sometimes be a barrier for people with a disability trying sports for the first time. We’re extremely proud to support this grassroots initiative and to help organizations make it easier for all Canadians to have the opportunity to participate.”

“On behalf of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, I’d like to congratulate all the recipients of the Para-Equipment Fund,” said Henry Storgaard, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “It’s very exciting to see the increase in the availability of adapted sports equipment, ensuring that more people with a disability can enjoy the benefits of sport. Thank you, Petro-Canada, for supporting this essential program.”

The next round of applications for the Para-Equipment Fund will be accepted starting January 25, 2012. (Applications for the Recruitment Programs Fund, which helps organizations provide positive introductory sport experiences for people with a disability, will also open Jan. 25.)

Please visit www.paralympic.ca/funding for more information.

2011-12 Para-Equipment Fund Recipients
– Association québécoise de sports pour paralytiques cérébraux, Boccia, Montreal, Quebec
– Tbo Tbon Wheelchair rugby, Montreal, Quebec
– Athletics NB Para-athletics, Dieppe, New Brunswick
– Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing – National Capital Division, Para-alpine skiing and snowboarding, Ottawa, Ontario
– Canoe Kayak Saskatchewan, Canoe/kayak, Regina, Saskatchewan
– Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association, Para-equestrian, Duncan, British Columbia
– Disabled Skiiers Association of BC, Para-alpine skiing, Richmond, British Columbia
– Manitoba Wheelchair Sports Association, Wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, Winnipeg, Manitoba
– National Cycling Centre-Canadian Sport Centre Calgary, Para-cycling, Calgary, Alberta
– NB Quad Rugby, Wheelchair rugby, Riverview, New Brunswick
– Ottawa Stingers Wheelchair Rugby Club, Wheelchair rugby, Ottawa, Ontario
– Pacific Volleyball, Sitting volleyball, Richmond, British Columbia
– Revelstoke Nordic Club, Para-Nordic skiing, Revelstoke, British Columbia
– SASKI Skiing for Disabled, Para-Nordic skiing, Regina, Saskatchewan
– Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario, Sledge hockey, Ottawa, Ontario
– St. Catharines Rowing Club, Rowing, St. Catharines, Ontario
– Variety Village, Wheelchair basketball, Toronto, Ontario
– Association québécoise des sports en fauteuil roulant, Wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis, Montreal, Quebec
– Hockey Luge Montreal, Sledge hockey, Montreal, Quebec
– Adaptive Sports Foundation, Para-alpine skiing, canoe/kayak, Knowlton, Quebec
– Balmy Beach Canoe Club, Canoe/kayak, Toronto, Ontario
– BC Blind Sports and Recreation, Goalball, Vancouver, British Columbia
– Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing – NS Division, Para-alpine skiing and snowboarding, Halifax, Nova Scotia
– Calgary Wheelchair Rugby Association, Wheelchair rugby, Calgary, Alberta
– City of Surrey Sitting volleyball, Surrey, British Columbia
– Cross Country Ski Association Manitoba, Para-Nordic skiing, Winnipeg, Manitoba
– Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled, Wheelchair basketball, para-athletics, boccia, Mississauga, Ontario
– London and District Wheelchair Sports, Wheelchair rugby, London, Ontario
– Pilot Butte Sledge, Sledge hockey, Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan
– Regina Ski Club, Para-alpine skiing, Regina, Saskatchewan
– Rowing British Columbia, Rowing, Richmond, British Columbia
– Tennis Canada, Wheelchair tennis, National
– Toronto Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair rugby, Toronto, Ontario