May 30, 2013 (St. Petersburg, Russia) – The presentation of the Olympic and Paralympic medals, which will be awarded at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games, took place in St. Petersburg today during the 11th “SportAccord” Annual International Sports Convention.

Guests of honor at the ceremony, which is often held in the year before the Games, included IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Jean-Claude Killy, CEO of the IPC Xavier Gonzalez and President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko.

The presentation ceremony was opened by Dmitry Chernyshenko, who gave the audience the main facts and figures about the Sochi 2014 medals and highlighted their uniqueness. The Olympic and Paralympic medals were then displayed and members of the public were able to view them up-close.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic medals are unique and feature the Sochi 2014 “Patchwork Quilt” – a mosaic of national designs from the various cultures and ethnicities of the Russian Federation. The medals have been carefully crafted to depict the landscape of Sochi from the sun’s rays reflecting through the snowy mountain tops onto the sandy beaches of the Black Sea coast. These contrasts in Russia’s natural landscape are embodied in the medals and will be an everlasting souvenir for the champions. The unusual combination of metal and polycarbonate lends to the medals a sense of lightness and distinctive beauty.

The front of the medal features the Olympic rings. The reverse contains the name of the competition in English, and the logo of the Sochi 2014 Games. The official name of the Games in Russian, English and French is engraved on the medal’s rim.

The Olympic Winter Games in Sochi will set a new record in terms of the number of sports events on show, so a record number of about 1,300 medals will be manufactured.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games will feature 12 new medal events including men’s and women’s snowboard and ski slopestyle, the ski halfpipe, snowboard parallel special slalom, womens’ ski jumping, the figure skating team event, the luge relay and the biathlon mixed relay.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic medals were designed in the same style. The form of the award symbolizes the integrity and strength of spirit of Paralympians, who are an example of the unlimited possibilities of humankind.

One side of the medals features the Paralympic symbol (three hemispheres, “agitos”); the reverse features the logo of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games and the name of the competition in English. The official name of the Games in Russian and English is engraved on the medal rim. The awards also contain inscriptions in Braille for the visually impaired.

A set of Sochi 2014 medals traditionally includes a bronze, silver, and gold medal. Depending on the type of metal used, the Sochi 2014 Olympic medals weigh between 460 and 531 grams, and the Paralympic medals – between 585 and 686 grams, due to their design peculiarities. Each medal is 10 mm thick and 100 mm in diameter.

May 09, 2013 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is pleased to announce the 2013-14 recipients of the Para-Equipment Fund, supported by Invacare Canada, as well as the Recruitment Program Fund. Both funds are supported by the Government of Canada’s Sport Support Program.

The Para-Equipment Fund (PEF) delivers grants of up to $5,000 to national and provincial sport organizations as well as local level clubs to purchase adapted equipment – for sports such as wheelchair basketball, sledge hockey, or skiing for people with visual impairments, for example – to enable people with a disability to take part in sport. Grants awarded help the sport organizations cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment.

This year, 42 sport organizations representing 17 parasports in regions across Canada received a total of $154,679.17 from the Para-Equipment Fund. Due to the matching nature of the Fund by the recipient, a total of $309,358.34 will be invested into the parasport system.

“Our involvement in the Para-Equipment fund allows us at Invacare and our performance wheelchair team at Top End to work towards our goal of making life’s experiences possible,” said Vince Morelli, General Manager of Invacare Canada, a leading manufacturer of wheelchairs for both everyday use and competitive sports. “The Fund will help nurture the hopes and dreams of more kids with disabilities, allowing them to participate and be active through Invacare’s product lines – and maybe even one day compete for Canada at the Paralympic  Games!”

The Recruitment Program Fund (RPF) awards grants of up to $10,000 to sports organizations to financially support the creation of a new sports program or the expansion of an existing successful program that provides a positive introductory sports experience for participants
with a disability.

Funds may be used towards enhancing program options, such as facility rental space, coaching, volunteer training and more.

This year, 28 sport organizations representing 18 parasports in regions across Canada received a total of $196,151.00 from the Recruitment Program Fund.

Between the two funds, a total of $350,830.17 in funds will be distributed to 60 sport organizations across the country (10 organizations are receiving both funds), representing 21 different sports. Including the matching of $154,679.17 by recipients of the Para-Equipment  Fund, a total of $505,509.34 will be invested in sports programs and sports equipment for people with a disability in Canada.

The complete list of recipients of the 2013-14 Para-Equipment Fund and Recruitment Program Fund is posted and downloadable HERE.

“Supporting the Para-Equipment Fund and Recruitment Programs Fund, and playing a leading role in the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport are things our Government is proud to do,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “By providing these opportunities for people with disabilities, we are helping develop athletes who could one day proudly wear the maple leaf and represent Canada on the international stage.”

“Making the benefits of sport available to all is critical to Canada becoming a world leading Paralympic nation,” said David Legg, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “To do this it is essential to make available quality introductory sport programming and adapted sports equipment in order to give those with a disability a place to play and a positive sport experience. I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Para-Equipment Fund and the Recruitment Program Fund, and thank Invacare Canada, the Government of Canada, and all involved in parasport for their dedication and efforts in helping develop Canada’s parasport system.”

February 04, 2013 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased to announce that the call for nominations for induction into the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame is now open.

The Canadian Paralympic Committee encourages all members of the Canadian Paralympic family to look to their members, athletes, coaches, leaders and others for those who could qualify as recipients of this prestigious award in one of three categories: athlete, coach, or builder.

All nominations must be received by the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame Selection Committee by March 15, 2013.

Inductees will be invited to attend the Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 10, 2013 in Toronto.

Nomination criteria
The Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame Selection Committee will be seeking nominees who meet a number of criteria, including:

Athlete:
– Athletic performance at the Paralympic Games and awards received
– Contribution to the Paralympic Movement
Coach:
– Influence on Paralympic athlete or team success
– Technical innovations and contributions to the development of the sport and/or coaching community
Builder:
– Has made a distinguished contribution to the development of Paralympic sport
– More information on the Paralympic Hall of Fame and its nomination criteria can be found on the 2013 Nomination and – Declaration Form available at www.paralympic.ca/halloffame

December 14, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) – Looking to make a difference this holiday season? Instead of battling crowds at the mall, make a donation in your loved one’s name – give the gift of sport!

And feel good about your spending this season.

A donation to the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s “Pass The Torch” fundraising campaign will help support Canada’s next generation of athletes with a disability. All donations are tax-deductible.

Every child deserves the chance to play sports, however it can be expensive for kids with a disability to get started – and that’s something we can all help change!

Funds raised will help provide these young people with the proper equipment to pursue an athletic career.

DID YOU KNOW?
– A pair of hockey skates can cost $200, but a sled for sledge hockey costs $550.
– Good running shoes might set parents back $100, but a quality sports wheelchair to race or play basketball in is worth $3,000.
– Getting involved in able-bodied skiing costs around $800, but buying a sit ski can cost over $3,200.

By contributing to Pass the Torch, Canadians can play a big part in providing kids with a disability with the opportunity to take part in sports.

Help families connect their kids to parasport. Please visit www.passthetorch.ca to donate.

On behalf of Team Canada – Thank You!

July 25, 2012 – The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) invites applications for the position of Chef de Mission for the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi (Russia), March 7-16. This is a volunteer position with responsibilities commencing in October 2012, and continuing through May 2014.

The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, showcasing the talents and abilities of the world’s best elite athletes with a physical disability. The CPC is a not-for-profit, charitable, private corporation recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the National Paralympic Committee of Canada. The mission of the CPC is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games.

Your application should include the following:
– A resume that highlights relevant experience (maximum 3 pages).
– A statement outlining how you can contribute to a strong Paralympic mission.
– A statement outlining your main reasons for seeking the position of Chef de Mission with the 2014 Canadian Paralympic Team.
– Name and contact details of 3 references.

Please send your complete application package to:
Chef de Mission Search Committee
Canadian Paralympic Committee
225 Metcalfe st., suite 310
Ottawa, ON K2P 1P9
Fax: (613) 569-2777
Email: jbridal@paralympic.ca

Deadline: Friday, September 14, 2012

Selection Process:
Applications must be received no later than 4:00 pm (EST) on Friday, September 14th, 2012. Applications received after this date will not be considered. While all candidates are thanked for their interest, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

A complete job description is available on the CPC website HERE.

The short-listing process, interviews and selection of the Chef de Mission will take place in September 2012 with the successful candidate expected to assume responsibilities effective October, 2012.

The Chef de Mission must be available full-time to attend the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games from approximately February 24th to March 18th, 2014. This position imparts a significant level of responsibility and will require a considerable commitment of time, energy and effort.

The successful candidate is expected to provide overall leadership to the 2014 Canadian Paralympic Team Mission, with key responsibilities including: attending a one week Chef de Mission Seminar in Sochi (likely February/March 2013), as well as other site visits as required; participating in regular conference calls and/or mission staff meetings; attending approximately 10-12 weekend meetings, national events, training sessions, selection trials, etc.; and, attending a four day mission staff Orientation Seminar in early Fall 2013. The CPC will cover the traveling expenses to meetings, seminars and the Games, as well as accommodation and meal costs incurred while fulfilling Chef responsibilities.

Qualifications:
– The ideal candidate must possess the following qualifications:
– Experience and/or involvement with national and international Games and events;
– Proven administrative and fiscal expertise, logistical ability, knowledge and appreciation of the unique – physical and mental demands which fall upon elite high performance athletes ;
– The ability to represent the Team in all policy and procedural discussions and/or matters;
– Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
– Facility with media interviews and public speaking;
– The ability to lead, motivate and foster team building;
– Demonstrated ability to work effectively with athletes, coaches and team officials;
– Strong organizational skills;
– Strategic and operational planning experience;
– Strong problem-solving and crisis management skills;
– Accept the responsibilities of leadership and demonstrate exemplary behaviour;

Preferable:
– Ability to communicate in both official languages;
– Ability to communicate in Russian
– Knowledge of CPC strategic framework, policies and issues related to Paralympic Games;
– Current involvement and/or linkage to CPC (eg. prior volunteer experience);

Thank you for your interest in the position of Chef de Mission for the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

March 26, 2012 (Mont Ste-Anne, QC) – She was into every high school sport, yet she was usure which one would become her passion. The teenage Robbie Weldon was also a speed-hungry Alpine ski racer and instructor in Thunder Bay. Even as she noticed her eyesight was becoming problematic, Weldon never tried out for a team she didn’t make.

“I played First Division soccer while I was in Brantford,” said Weldon, who, by the time she was 18, was in Brantford during the summer at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), learning how to adjust to a life with macular degeneration disease.

Like her Para-Nordic teammate, Brian McKeever, who lives with the same disease and sees only peripherally, Weldon didn’t let losing her eyesight be a barrier – in fact more opportunities opened to her. She played able-bodied soccer while competing for Canada in blind power lifting, setting records in the squat, bench press and dead lift.

In 2002, she started cross-country skiing recreationally, mainly because it was healthier than Alpine skiing and brought her into the natural world she loved. By then, she had established her career as a recreational therapist, and one day in 2006 at a work meeting, a colleague gave her a copy of “Abilities Magazine.” Cyclist Brian Cowie and his tandem pilot were on the cover, blowing away the competition at 60kph. “That’s what I want to do,” said Weldon to her colleagues.

“It was so weird, because on the way to the meeting, CBC Radio was announcing that Canada’s Paralympic Team was looking for athletes. I wondered, ‘Am I too old?’” She was 31 – the ideal age for endurance sports like Nordic skiing and bike racing.

Weldon watched the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Championships that year, because her home club of Lappe Nordic was event host, but tragedy hit the next day. “My father died at the workplace. They hadn’t secured a gate, and as a millwright, he was working and fell.” The Weldon family fell into the nightmare of challenging the safety standards of a huge corporation. “He wasn’t the only one to die at that site, or have a serious injury. We live without my father because of the negligence of a corporation.” The tragedy hit hard for Weldon.

In her work as a recreation therapist, at least 70% of her clients have brain or spinal cord injuries. She teaches them how to integrate themselves into the community; relearn how to take public transit, shop for groceries, and get into sports. Many para-athletes are disabled because of workplace injuries as a result of the negligence of their employers and Weldon would soon be skiing and cycling internationally with many of them.

Weldon attended a Para-Nordic ski camp in Canmore, AB, in August of 2006 and she was instantly hooked. She headed west again in late fall for the Nor-Am’s at Soverigen Lake, BC, and Canmore, and didn’t look back as she went on to compete in World Cups, World Championships and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. It turned out cycling would be her forte, however, and when she teamed up with former Olympian Lynne Bessette as her pilot, the sky was the limit.

In May 2010 Weldon was at the University of Calgary for physiological testing. Bessette waited in the wings, but only for an athlete who could generate the wattage necessary for world podium finishes. When Weldon cranked out the requisite watts, a winning team was born and the duo competed at the Canadian Championships in June.

“The day before the race, we rode for an hour. We won the 20km time trial and the 70km road race,” said Weldon. At the World’s that year, Weldon and Bessette were 2.7s off gold in the time trial and won the 80km road race. In Sydney, Australia, they took double gold at the World Cup and repeated the performance in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the World Championships and ParaPan Am Championships; they are the top team heading into London.

After winning two golds and a silver at the Canadian Para-Nordic Cross-Country Ski Championships, Weldon boarded a train to Montreal and then a flight to Florida to join the cycling team for a pre-Paralympic training camp. The London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games commence August 29, 2012 and the Canadian duo of Weldon and Bessette are undoubtedly the team to beat.

January 30, 2012 (Cable, WI) – Canada’s Mark Arendz came up just shy in his bid to win his fifth IPC Biathlon World Cup medal of the season after finishing fourth in the men’s 12.5-kilometre race on Sunday in Cable, Wisconsin, while Sean Halsted landed the top U.S. result with an eighth-place finish.

The 21-year-old Arendz, who snagged the bronze medal in Saturday’s 20-kilometre race, skied a consistent 12.5 kilometres and shot clean in each of his four stops on the range to finish one spot off the podium with a time of 38:55.0.

“It turned out to be a ‘What can you do’ kind of day,” said Arendz. Yesterday there were an number of mistakes that kept adding up but today everything was bang on. I was back in the proper mindset and had all cylinders burning and was ready to go. I was very happy with the skiing effort.”

Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I. had one of his best days ever on the range with shots hitting the target dead centre.

“The shooting felt as natural as a ski stride, it flowed harmoniously with the skiing,” said Arendz. “Nothing went wrong today, it just wasn’t my day. I was happier with my race today, finishing fourth, than I was of my race yesterday.”

Russian athletes grabbed the top-two spots on the podium. Kirill Mikhaylov finished on top with a time of 37:24.0, while Vladislav Lekomtev was second at 38:08.3. Norway’s Nils-Erik Ulset rounded out the podium in third at 38:40.7.

Ottawa’s Margarita Gorbounova and her guide of Brian Berry, of Thunder Bay, Ont., were the only other Canadians to suit up on Sunday, finishing seventh in the women’s 10-kilometre visually impaired category with a time of 55:37.4.

U.S. Athletes Crack Top 10 in Long-course
A sub-par performance Saturday during the biathlon short-course was all the motivation sit-skier and Air Force veteran Sean Halsted (Spokane, Wash.) needed to break into the top 10 finishers in the long-course biathlon today during the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Nordic Skiing World Cup at the Telemark Lodge in Cable, Wis.

“My performance yesterday wasn’t up to what I had hoped,” said Halsted, who had placed 13th with only 50 percent accuracy on the shooting range. Today he hit 17 of his 20 shots and covered the 12.5-kilometer course in 49 minutes, 47 seconds to finish eighth.

Navy SEAL Lt. Dan Cnossen (Topeka, Kan.) rallied from misses during his first two rounds of shooting to shoot flawlessly the rest of the race and finish 10th in 50:15 in the sit-ski division. He connected on 18 of his 20 shots.

“I knew if I didn’t bring it together, the race was going to go downhill fast,” he said.

Roman Petushkov of Russia, who won Saturday’s shot-course biathlon, repeated as sit-ski champion in 44:51, despite missing four shots on the day. For each missed target, athletes had to ski a 150-meter penalty loop, which added to their times.

Kelly Underkofler (St. Paul, Minn.) continued her strong showing in the shooting range, connecting on 19 of her 20 shots, just missing the podium with her fourth-place finish in the women’s standing division in 50:32. Finland’s Maija Jarvela claimed her second biathlon gold of the competition, finishing in 40:54 over the 10 km. women’s course.

“I felt good and shot well, so I’m happy with how I did today,” Underkofler said.

Sarah Edwards (Winter Park, Colo.) placed fifth in the women’s sit-ski division in 1:29:31. German Anja Wicker improved on her second-place finish from the day before to win in 50:18.

Russians continued to dominate the visually-impaired division. Lysova Mikhalina led a quartet of top Russian finishers in the women’s race, shooting flawlessly and finishing in 37:33. Russians claimed the top two spots on the men’s side, led by Nikolay Polukhin in 37:42. Visually-impaired athletes shoot with specialized guns fitted with lasers on their sites that emit audio feedback as the shooter’s aim closes in on a screen target.

Russian Kirill Mikhaylov won the men’s standing division in 37:24.

Athletes conclude the Wisconsin-portion of the competition Monday with middle distance races. Races start at 10 a.m. with sit-skiers skiing 5 km and standing and visually-impaired athletes skiing 10 km.

Competition concludes Feb. 1-2 at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis, where athletes will compete in a sprint and middle distance race. Races begin at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 1 and 10 a.m. Feb. 2.

It’s the first time the United States has hosted a major Paralympic Nordic ski event in seven years.

Results HERE.

January 26, 2012 (Ottawa) – The Canadian Paralympic Committee invites Canadian sports organizations to apply for the 2012-13 granting round of the Para-Equipment Fund, presented by Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business, and supported by the Government of Canada’s Sport Support Program.

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.

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.

“We’re extremely proud to support this grassroots initiative and help sport organizations cover the cost of adapted sports equipment. This will enable more Canadians with a disability to have the opportunity to participate in sport,” said Steven Keith of Petro-Canada, a long-time partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and presenting sponsor of the Para-Equipment Fund. “It’s very rewarding to know these funds are being used to purchase needed items of equipment that will be well-used by keen participants.”

 Applications for the 2012-13 Para-Equipment Fund will be accepted starting today, January 25, 2012. The deadline to submit applications is February 29, 2012.

 Please visit HERE for the application form and more information. An optional interactive webinar on the application process is scheduled for Monday Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. EST. To register, email lferris@paralympic.ca.

 Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, underlined the importance of the Para-Equipment Fund within the Canadian sport system.

 ”The Canadian Paralympic Committee is very pleased to be able to offer funding for adapted sports equipment through the Para-Equipment Fund,” said Storgaard. “We’re grateful to both Petro-Canada and the Government of Canada for making this grassroots level support possible, enabling more Canadians with a disability to participate in sport. The Para-Equipment Fund is an empowering, essential complement to our high performance initiatives.”

 About the Para-Equipment Fund (PEF)

 The Para-Equipment Fund was launched in 2005 by the Canadian Paralympic Commitee with the help of the Government of Canada and Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business. Grants are awarded to cover 50 per cent of the total cost of the equipment up to a maximum of $5,000. The applicant is responsible for covering the other 50 per cent of the equipment costs. In 2011-2012, the Fund awarded a total of $116,670 in grants for both summer and winter sports, bringing the total equipment investment to $233,340.

 About Suncor Energy, proud owner of Petro-Canada

 Suncor Energy Inc. is Canada’s premier integrated energy company. Suncor’s operations include oil sands development and upgrading, conventional and offshore oil and gas production, petroleum refining, and product marketing under the Petro-Canada brand. While working to responsibly develop petroleum resources, Suncor is also developing a growing renewable energy portfolio. Suncor’s common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. For more information about Suncor Energy Inc., please visit www.suncor.com.

 About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

 The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s vision is to be the world’s leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. For more information, visit HERE.

For more information, please contact:
Alison Korn
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: 613-569-4333 ext. 243
Cell: 613-298-4927 
akorn@paralympic.ca

Laura Ferris
Coordinator, Recruitment Program Support
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Tel: (613) 569-4333 x233
lferris@paralympic.ca

Web: Paralympic.ca
Facebook: Facebook.com/CDNParalympics  

Twitter: @CDNParalympics
YouTube: YouTube.com/CDNParalympics

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

November 14, 2011 (Cable, WI) – The United States Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic Committee, will be hosting the International Paralympic World Cup Nordic Ski series at Telemark Resort in Cable, WI. The week long event will be held from January 23-30.

This venue will host over one hundred athletes from over a dozen nations who will compete in biathlon and Nordic ski racing. We hope to have you experience the opportunity to be a volunteer for one day or one week and be a part of this historic event!

Provided are links to the event and volunteer opportunities! Please feel free to contact John Brown at john.brown@cxcskiing.org for additional information!

Preview Filled Volunteer Positions HERE.

Volunteer Opportunities Form HERE.

More about IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup HERE.

October 19, 2011 – Five snow sport athletes make up the shortlist for the Best Male Athlete Category for the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) 2011 Paralympic Sport Awards, proudly partnered by the IPC’s International Partner, Allianz. The award will be presented by the IPC to the top male athlete for his accomplishments at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games.

Finalists for the award include: German alpine skier Gerd Schoenfelder; Russian biathlete and cross-country skier Irek Zaripov; Slovakian alpine skier Jakub Krako; Canadian biathlete and cross-country skier Brian McKeever; and New Zealand alpine skier Adam Hall.

– Gerd Schoenfelder: After picking up five medals in Vancouver, the 41-year-old became one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in history, as he has now won 22 Paralympic Games medals, including 16 golds. At his sixth Winter Games in Vancouver, the German took four golds in Alpine Skiing (Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Super Combined) and one silver (Slalom). After winning two golds, a silver and a bronze at the 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sestriere, Italy, Schoenfelder announced his retirement.

– Irek Zaripov: The Russian, who lost both of his legs after a car accident back in 2000, won five total medals in Vancouver, including four golds and a silver. He struck gold in two Biathlon events (2.4km Pursuit, 12.5km Pursuit) and two Cross-Country Skiing events (15km Sitting, 10km Sitting), in addition to picking up a silver in Cross-Country (Sprint Sitting).

– Jakub Krako: The visually impaired Slovakian won gold in three Alpine Skiing disciplines in Vancouver – men’s slalom, giant slalom and Super G. The then-20-year-old also picked up a silver in the Super Combined. He capped off his year with a victory in the Super G World Cup, and then won the Slalom World Cup in 2011.

– Brian McKeever: At his home Games in Vancouver, McKeever, who started skiing at 3 and began losing his vision at 19, claimed gold in three events. McKeever won three Cross-Country Skiing disciplines: 20km Freestyle, 10km Classic Style and Sprint Classic Style. He won the Best Male Athlete Category in the 2007 Paralympic Sport Awards and was the first Canadian athlete with a disability to ski in an able-bodied event in 2007.

– Adam Hall: Born with spina bifida, Hall quickly became the pride of New Zealand at 22 after claiming an unlikely gold medal in the Alpine Skiing Slalom Standing event in Vancouver. After a stunning first run that put him well into the lead, a remarkable recovery following a fall in his second run pushed him to gold.

The award winner will be announced during a special ceremony held in conjunction with the 2011 IPC General Assembly in Beijing, China, in December.

May 04, 2011 – A group of Canada’s medal-winning cross-country ski athletes, who combined to win an unprecedented 25 medals at the World Championships, IPC World Championships, World Cup and IPC World Cup races this year, will celebrate a season of excellence by hopping on a luxurious 1926 CP train with a handful of distinguished guests for a tour from Calgary through the spectacular Rocky Mountains to beautiful Banff, AB, on May 5 as a fundraising event.

Alex Harvey, who teamed up with Devon Kershaw, to win the nation’s first-ever World Championship medal – a gold in the team sprint; Brian McKeever, who won three gold and one silver at the IPC World Championships; Ivan Babikov, who is one of three Canadian men to win a World Cup gold medal; Daria Gaiazova, who captured her first World Cup bronze medal this season; Olympian Perianne Jones, who finished this season with her strongest World Cup result of her career; along with two-time Olympian George Grey will all be on board the Canadian National XC Team Express on Thursday.

The unique fundraising experience will help Cross Country Canada deliver the resources Canadian athletes require to continue achieving podium results on the track to the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

April 29, 2011 – Canada’s Tyler Mosher, 2009 Para-Snowboard World Champ and 2010 Paralympic XC ski team member, completed three Birkebeiner events this season, and recently finished fourth and sixth at the World Snowboard Federation Para-Snowboard World Cup Tour finale in Lake Louise.

Mosher said that his snowboard results would have been better, had he not spent so much time on XC skis training for the Birkie loppets, and he’s considering tackling another next year. He’s also hoping snowboarding will be named a Paralympic sport for the 2012 Games in Sochi.

Read the article full Whistler Question article HERE.

April 14, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – The 2010-11 season is in the history books and will go down as a year that can only be dreamt of. With four World Cup seasons under my belt and my first Paralympic Games, I had two third place finishes at World Cup. One Cross Country and one Biathlon. With an awesome year of training behind me, I looked forward to the World Cup season. I was hoping to continue improving on previous results with a goal to land on the podium three or four times throughout the season. I got the year off to a stellar start, with a second in the first Biathlon race of the season. That result was a total shock to me and to everyone involved. I felt very natural on the range, which showed in my shooting not only in that first race but for the entire season. The final shooting percentage was 97%, 155 hits out of 160 shots in International competition. There were a few costly misses, the first being in the second Biathlon race. I struggled in the morning’s race but clean shooting in the afternoon part of the race led to a third place and my second podium for the year. The third Biathlon race will be one that sticks with me for some time. For one reason, it was my first World Cup victory, a huge milestone. The second reason was how I won that race. I believe there is no such thing as the perfect Biathlon race, but this one was as close as I have ever been. The skiing felt great, the boards were rockets, I loved the course and I paced the entire race bang on. Pinging the metal for 20 clean hits, everything seemed to come together and resulting in a huge accomplishment in a relatively young season. In Finland I was three for three for Biathlon podiums and second in the overall points.

That ended the first part of the season, which meant it was back to Canmore for two weeks, recover and train for the second competition block of back-to-back World Cups in Sweden and Germany. My red hot shooting continued for the Sprint in Sweden adding another ten clean hits. The Swedish cold tried to put a chill on my shooting and it succeeded somewhat. Having my worst shooting race of the season, missing two shots in the Individual. Two more Biathlon races led to two more podiums, I was second in the Individual and first in the Sprint. The win in the Sprint gave me the unique opportunity of racing the Individual in the Red Leader’s bib. Things heated up as the World Cup circuit headed to its third and final site. The weather in Germany was much warmer, but that wasn’t the only thing hot. My second in the Swedish Individual had dropped me to second in the overall, a mere ten points back. It was going to be a tight battle for first place in the overall and would be decided by the two remaining races. The first German Biathlon race was a Pursuit. Shooting clean in the qualifier would hand me the fastest time in the qualifier and a great start for the afternoon’s final. I took full advantage of that, closing the gap in half over the first loop, dropping five targets and closed the gap as I entered the range for the second time. Dropping five targets again, I got up and went for it. I took my third victory of the season and a commanding 40 point lead in the overall. But it was not to be. Illness struck hard the day before the final Biathlon race and I had to make a choice; either don’t start and settle for second or go in fighting and see how things shake up. In the end it was a bit of both. I started the race and hit all ten targets but could not ski a competitive time and finished 10th, second overall by four points. I did everything I could in that race. Sure I was disappointed but there was no reason to be. At 21, I had just finished second overall for Biathlon, heck I was 12th the year before. I was racing amongst guys that could all double my years on the circuit. It also didn’t come down to the last race; I could have sealed the deal by simply missing one less shot earlier in the season. To finish the year with three victories (one in each race format), two second place finishes and a third. Six out of seven Biathlon races found me on the podium. An incredible season!

It was time to get back to Canmore for a few weeks for training for the final event of the year, World Championships in Khnaty-Mansiysk, Russia. The first race was the Biathlon Pursuit, a miss in the qualifier set me back to finishing fourth in the morning and it would go on to hinder my afternoon. I would fight to get back onto the podium but would end up just short. The podium was separated by 5.4 seconds and I would finish ten seconds behind the winner. I was pleased with that start to the World Championships. My second race in Russia was the 20km classic. The weather would play a huge role in this race as the conditions were quite difficult to wax for. Our boys got it right and I skied to a 10th finish which was one of my best Long distance races. I struggled to find my speed for my third race, the Biathlon Sprint. A single miss dropped me from a possible third to sixth. I was disappointed with that. After a pretty deep heart to heart with my coach I changed my approach. I had been too caught up in the results. I wanted the result, I wanted a World Championship medal badly and I was unfortunately allowing that to distract my performance. In the final race, the Biathlon Individual, I still struggled to find my top speed but I gave it everything I had in the challenging slushy conditions. I found my edge again in the range, I had been one of the better shooters over the World Championships but I wasn’t 100% myself (probably 99% or so). Shooting 20 for 20, I would ski myself to a very satisfying fourth place. I left Khanty-Mansiysk without any hardware but a lot of lessons learned and an incredible experience. My worst Biathlon result this year was my best from the last World Championships. I would have loved to be bringing home some bling but it was my best World Champs. It took four years at least to get to where I am now and I just have to be patience, it will come when I’m ready.

As important as the results at the end of the year are how you got there is far more crucial. Training with Rocky Mountain Racers has been such a huge benefit to me. The results I was able to achieve this year are in large part due to the training, support and motivation I received from RMR. I mentioned earlier this year, the two ways of getting better; one is consistently being chased so in order to stay on top to you push yourself ahead. The other way is to fight your way from behind to catch up. That was exactly what I did this year. Right away when I started training with the club I knew that it was going to make a huge difference. I was just another athlete; I didn’t have a disability just a different way to do some things. Working with the club wasn’t just a benefit for me but for the other athletes as well. I can remember during the spring when we were doing a lot of strength work. Everyone else could do chin ups, I couldn’t. Just that simple fact made me want to try, even if it were just one at first I wanted to do a chin up. Then it came to one handed push-ups, I rocked those and it gave me the opportunity to help the others. One of the keys of this season’s success lies in the fact I could shoot almost every day. Sure we had tests and competitions during training where we all tried to be the best, but that also existed in the everyday training. One day one athlete would be the best on the next day it could be someone else. It’s not just that I trained with athletes my age, or able-bodied athletes it was that I was training with the best in Canada. Scott had an incredible season it started with fantastic results on the IBU Cup. Then he set records at Canada Games winning four Gold medals, the most any single athlete has ever done. Another teammate Aaron became the first skier to qualify for both Biathlon and Cross Country World Juniors in the same year. He then wrapped up his season with four National titles. These are only two of the many incredible athletes that I have the opportunity to train with. The club is extremely dedicated to its athlete. John and Luke do everything they can to offer the most competitive program in Canada. That doesn’t stop at the coaches, all the parents are always there helping out and cheering everyone in the club on. The parents and supporters are the ones that make the Rocky Mountain Racers’ program so successful. A big thanks to every one of them.

I give a lot of credit to this single year, but that’s not the truth either. My success is the accumulation of the past four years both training and competitions. The over 2000 hours I’ve trained has now built an endurance base. This allows me to train longer, harder which then allows me to get better. The racing experience has taught me a lot. How to react to the changing conditions, whether that is how to overtake another athlete or segment the course to discover the best plan of attack to gain seconds on others and not lose them. It has been four years of technique that I now have a satisfactory base upon which I can improve further on over the next few years. Six years of shooting has given me the confidence and skill to shoot clean in any circumstance. I can lie down on a mat and instantly judge whether I need to adjust my sights or not (which was required quite often in Khnaty-Mansiysk).

Support can come in some many different ways. Cross Country Canada has given incredible amount of support over the years and without them I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be where I am. They provide the resources and opportunities to train and succeed. Family support, we all know it’s there but I don’t think it’s recognized enough. Whether it’s encouraging words after a tough of race or training or a training partner for an intensity session (thanks Menno for that awesome intensity day on the Red Rec). Family is one of the biggest pillars that support the best athletes in the World. Being from the East Coast you are bought up helping each other out. In severe snow storms when one farmer helps out another, when neighbors come to together and help out in times of hardship (like the day after my accident several people showed up offering to help out in any way they could on the farm, most had never worked on a farm before). I again witnessed this kindness early this year. I was out East over Christmas and there happened to be an Atlantic Cup the first weekend in January in Charlo. I contacted the race organizers and asked if I could come and compete, as my brother and dad were already planning on going. They instantly said yes, no hesitation. I credit those races for the confidence I had at the first World Cup event. I had two great races there and that boost in confidence lasted I’m sure to the first Biathlon race in Finland.

As I wrap this review of the year up, I think it’s time for me to say my Thanks. But where do I beginning? My coaches Robin, Kaspar and John, your advice and countless years of knowledge have guided me to where I am now and I hope that we can continue and reach unthinkable heights. To the techs, you guys are the best! The skis are always fast and the grip solid, you work endlessly and deserve a huge Thanks. So to you Ian, Bruce and Laurent, Thanks. To Bjorn, first thanks for the skis in Sweden and Team Leader skills at World Champs. Thanks to Joanne for relieving all those sore muscles. It’s impossible to ski fast without the best boards, for that I trust in the red, blue and yellow of Salomon skis and boots. I may only use one pole but I rely on that one much more and I put all on weight on Leki poles. To everyone at RMR thank you and I want you to know I look forward to another year of working with you all. To every single person that has supported me in any way over the years I say THANK YOU, without you I could not do what I do.

I’m heading back to Canada for some time off, an opportunity to recover after a busy year. I will look back over the success of this past year and look forward to the next.

March 22, 2011 (Canmore, AB) – Brian McKeever will lean on childhood ski friend, Erik Carleton, to guide him to the top of the podium at the IPC Cross-Country Skiing and Biathlon World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, March 30 to April 10, Cross Country Canada announced today.

With Robin McKeever, who has guided Brian to 10 Paralympic medals including seven gold and three at the 2010 Games in Vancouver-Whistler, forced to the sidelines with a torn ACL, the legendary brother tandem tapped on the shoulder of the 33-year-old Carleton to carry the torch and lead the visually-impaired Brian in the cross-country skiing events at the 2011 World Championships.

“I was surprised and shocked when the McKeevers first asked me, but this is a great opportunity for me and one that I could never turn down,” said Carleton. “It is an honour to race with Brian. He and Robin have done so much for Para-Nordic sport, and I just hope to do whatever I can tohelp continue to build on what they have already accomplished.”

While Robin will return to guide his brother along the road to the 2014 Games, the elder McKeever was also named coach of Canada’s Para-Nordic Team this fall.

“Erik is a very talented, and dedicated athlete and a great friend who I know will do everything he can to ensure we have the opportunity to hear the Canadian anthem being played at the World Championships,” said Brian McKeever who has never worked with another guide other than his older brother since he began competing in Para-Nordic skiing prior to the 2002 Paralympics. “This is obviously a new beginning, but our goals will not change. We are focused on gold, and I’m excited to be heading to Russia knowing I have a great friend and hard-working athlete guiding me to the podium.”

Carleton and the younger McKeever are longtime friends who were introduced to skiing at the same time when they signed up at the same time for a Jackrabbit ski program in Calgary. The two began racing together at the age of 13, and the friends became roommates when they moved to Canmore after eventually qualifying for the National Development Team.

While McKeever’s accomplishments are well documented having won everything on the table in Para-Nordic sport including earning a spot on Canada’s 2010 Olympic Team, Carleton has had numerous top-10’s as recently as this season while mucking it out on the Haywood NorAm Series throughout hiscareer. A part-time database administrator with a degree in computer science from the University of Calgary, Carleton’s best results as a senior racer came at the 2000 National Championships when he won two bronze medals.

“This is a new experience for me racing internationally so I’m nervous about maintaining my form through the travel and time zone changes, but I am also extremely excited,” said Carleton. “Brian and Robin are connected in a way that I will never be able to replace, but I am confident I can ski a pace that will help Brian perform at his best and reach his goals.”

The newly-formed McKeever-Carleton duo will lead a high-powered Canadian contingent into the showcase event on the 2011 IPC calendar. The Canadian squad will include a group of six athletes who have combined to win medals at the Paralympics, World Championships or World Cups.

Six-time Paralympic medallist, Colette Bourgonje will be the lone athlete entered in the women’s sit-ski category. Saskatoon’s Bourgonje, who has competed in six Paralympics in both winter and summer sport, captured a silver and bronze medal at the Vancouver-Whistler Paralympics. Chris Klebl, of Canmore, Alta., who sits fourth overall in the men’s sitting class, has a World Cup bronze medal to his credit this year.

Rising young star, Mark Arendz of Springton, P.E.I., who has enjoyed a dream season in 2011 where he finished second overall in the IPC Biathlon World Cup standings in the men’s standing division will be gunning for his first World Championship medal. With a goal of following the legendary path set by Brian McKeever, the 21-year-old Paralympian shocked the world by winning three gold medals, two silver and two bronze medals this year.

Jody Barber, of Smithers, B.C., who has five IPC World Cup medals to her credit, rounds out the Canadian squad. Barber, who is a 2010 Paralympian and also an accomplished Para-Triathlete where she won a bronze medal for Canada at the 2010 Triathlon World Championships, will compete in the women’s standing category in cross-country skiing.

The Canadian contingent will depart for the IPC World Championships on March 23 where they will take part in a training camp prior to the weeklong competition, which kicks off March 30, 2011.