$45,000 available to Canadian speed skating clubs through the 2017 Intact Insurance Podium Tracker Program

Home $45,000 available to Canadian speed skating clubs through the 2017 Intact Insurance Podium Tracker Program

Speed Skating Canada – Clubs have until Friday, March 31, to apply

Ottawa, March 27, 2017 – A total of $45,000, including one grand prize of $10,000 and seven $5,000 grants, are available to Canadian speed skating clubs as part of the 2017 Intact Insurance Podium Tracker Program.

Clubs have until Friday, March 31, to submit their application for $5,000 or $10,000 to help them tackle challenges such as the purchase of equipment, coaching services, recruitment or ice time.

Launched during the 2010-2011 season, the Intact Insurance Podium Tracker Program has donated up to now a total of $285,000 to 148 speed skating clubs across Canada.

The $45,000 donated by Intact this season represent the 45 individual medals, on a total of 64, won by Canadian skaters at Long Track and Short Track World Cups and World Senior Championships. For each of these individual medals, Intact Insurance is donating $1,000 to the Podium Tracker Program. The list of successful grant recipients will be announced in the spring of 2017.

“Intact Insurance is proud to partner with Speed Skating Canada and congratulate the team on their fantastic performances this year” said Robin Monniere, Vice President of Brand Development & Customer Experience at Intact Insurance, the premium partner of Speed Skating Canada.

“It’s evident these athletes strive for excellence, a fundamental value that is shared between our two organizations. We are proud to support the team on their journey to success, and will continue to invest and develop the next generation of athletes through our grassroots program, the Podium Tracker”.

“Speed Skating Canada would first like to thank Intact Insurance for its continued support to Canadian speed skating, and also for this year’s contribution of $45,000 for the Podium Tracker program,” said Speed Skating Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, Susan Auch. “We are confident that these funds will help speed skating clubs across the country achieve their goals and make the sport more accessible to members of their community, and we invite all clubs across the country to apply and have a chance to have a little extra financial support.”

Application forms and additional information regarding the Podium Tracker Program are available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at http://www.speedskating.ca/resources/clubs/podium-tracker.

More details are available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskating.ca.

About Speed Skating Canada

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey.

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance and Samsung, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and WinSport Canada.

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For information:

Patrick Godbout

Communications & Media Relations Manager

Speed Skating Canada

Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca

Phone: 514 213-9897

Website: www.speedskating.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC

Hazel Tan

Manager, External Communications