Petro-canada: Paralympic Hopefuls Benefit From Equipment Fund

Petro-Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) today announced how $35,000 in grants to disabled sport organizations across Canada will be distributed this year. Eight grants were awarded nationally via the Paralympic Equipment Fund to increase the availability of high-performance Paralympic sports equipment.

"While our sights are very much on Canadian athlete success over the next two weeks as the Paralympic Winter Games kick off in Torino, we are happy to announce the support of local superstars through the Paralympic Equipment Fund - increasing their chances of glory on the podium here in B.C. in 2010," said Henry Wohler, President of the CPC.

Launched in November 2005, the Paralympic Equipment Fund is distributing grants of between $2,000 and $5,000 to eight community-based clubs and provincial sport organizations. The funds will assist in the purchase and customization of equipment unique to Paralympic sports including alpine and Nordic sit skis and hockey sledges. Grant recipients include Vancouver-based SportAbility and the Disabled Skiers Association of B.C.; Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing; Saskatchewan Wheelchair Sports Association; Saskatchewan Ski Association; Alpine Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Wheelchair Sports.

"Petro-Canada is committed to supporting Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the grassroots level," said Steven Keith, Director, Olympic Activation at Petro-Canada. "The Paralympic Equipment Fund is about providing our up-and-coming athletes with every opportunity to make it to the top of their sport, and we are proud to be a contributor to the program." Ross MacDonald, sledge hockey team member and Sport Development Coordinator at SportAbility, adds, "Sport has been a driving force in my life and the Paralympic Equipment Fund can help make sport participation a reality for athletes with disabilities, whether it be recreational or competitive. This grant will allow SportAbility to purchase 12 hockey sledges and sticks which will not only go a long way toward getting more athletes with disabilities playing sledge hockey, but will also give our rising stars high performance equipment to use in competition." Today's announcement took place at the West End Community Centre in Vancouver and included a sledge hockey demonstration led by Ross MacDonald and other members from SportAbility, which received a $4,000 grant to purchase hockey sledges and sticks.

The Paralympic Equipment Fund is an annual program. More information on submitting grant applications can be found at www.paralympic.ca or by email at [email protected].

About Petro-Canada Petro-Canada is one of Canada's largest oil and gas companies, operating in both the upstream and the downstream sectors of the industry in Canada and internationally. Petro-Canada creates value by responsibly developing energy resources and providing world class petroleum products and services. Its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PCA and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCZ.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a not-for-profit, charitable, private organization recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The CPC aims to develop and grow the Paralympic Movement in Canada, with a commitment to delivering programs that strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Canada and empower persons with physical disabilities through sport at all levels.

For more information please contact: Canadian Paralympic Committee Guy Napert-Frenette Senior Media Relations Coordinator (613) 569-4333 ext. 228 Email: [email protected]

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