50 athlete and coach parings receive $10,000 to
help fuel their sport dreams
Toronto,
Ontario – Today, Table Tennis Canada is proud to announce Filip Ilijevski and Maxime Surprenant as recipients of a Petro-Canada Fuelling Athletes and
Coaching Excellence (FACE) funding. Suncor, proud owner of Petro-Canada, annually
awards 50 athlete and coach pairings with funding to help fuel their sport
dreams.
“The
FACE program is the cornerstone of our Olympic and Paralympic legacy and we are
excited to increase the funding for both coaches and athletes, fuelling their
dream to compete on the international stage,” said Louis Côté, Director, Loyalty
and Strategic Partnerships, Suncor. “The drive and discipline of the athletes
and coaches chosen is astounding, congratulations on becoming this year’s FACE
recipients.”
Working
together with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), the Canadian Paralympic
Committee (CPC) and their National Sport partners, the FACE program provides
developing, pre-carded, Canadian athlete and coach pairings with $10,000 in
grants. These resources help athletes achieve national carded status and
coaches improve their skills over the long term.
This
year, Suncor increased the funding from $8,000 per athlete and coach pairing to
$10,000, and boosted the total annual financial commitment from $400,000 to
$500,000 for every year of the program going forward.
Beginning
with the Petro-Canada Torch Scholarship Fund in 1988 and continuing through its
re-launch as the FACE Program in 2007, the program has provided more 2,600
Canadian athletes and coaches with almost $9 million in direct financial
support. Recipients of the 2014 program funding represent both summer and
winter sports and represent Canada from coast to coast.
Previous
FACE recipients have gone on to great success on the international stage,
including at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, reaching the
podium 12 times. Medallists include: Mark Arendz (Para-Biathlon – Silver,
Bronze), Patrick Chan (Figure Skating – Silver, Silver), Mélodie Daoust (Ice
Hockey – Gold), Kaitlyn Lawes (Curling – Gold), Mac Marcoux (Para-Alpine –
Gold, Bronze, Bronze), Kevin Reynolds (Figure Skating – Silver), Marielle
Thompson (Ski Cross – Gold), Wheelchair Curling (Gold).
For more a complete list of 2014 FACE recipients or additional
information on the FACE program, visit www.facebook.com/dreambig.