Speed Skating Canada – OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Speed Skating Canada today revealed the five finalists in contention for this year’s Intact Insurance Club Excellence Award, a new annual award that provides funding to speed skating clubs undertaking initiatives that will help grow the sport in their communities.

Generously sponsored by Speed Skating Canada’s longstanding partner, Intact Insurance, this award recognizes the contributions of local speed skating clubs to sport and community development and the importance of grassroots programs to high-performance success.

Dozens of clubs from across the country submitted project ideas, ranging from the purchase of new safety mats or skating equipment, to safe sport initiatives and open houses to increase awareness of the sport. Submissions were evaluated based on the need in the local community, the potential for positive impact, the plan and resources in place to roll out the project and the ability to measure its success.

The five clubs in contention for this year’s award are the Annapolis Valley Speed Skating Club (NS), Calgary Grizzlies Speed Skating Club (AB), Club de patinage de vitesse Sherbrooke (QC), Club de patinage de vitesse Centre-Sud (QC) and Kingston Striders Speed Skating Club (ON).

The winning club will receive a $10,000 grand prize and a visit from two national team athletes during the 2019-20 season. The remaining four finalists will each receive a $2,500 cash prize, an amount calculated based on the number of medals won by the Canadian national team this past season.

Event	Medals	Prize
Short Track World Cups	24	$1,200
Short Track World Championships	5	$250
Short Track Junior World Championships	2	$100
Long Track World Cups	12	$600
Long Track World Championships	7	$350
Long Track Junior World Championships	0	$0
Total	50	$2,500

For every World Cup and World Championship medal won by Canadian athletes, $50 is added to each of the finalist prizes. Based on results from the 2018-19 season, this year’s finalists will each be awarded $2,500.

 

Since 2010, Intact Insurance has donated a total of $340,000 to speed skating clubs across Canada through the former Podium Tracker program. Funds previously dedicated to that program will now be distributed via this new award, which has similar eligibility criteria and prizing.

 

Intact’s ongoing support of Speed Skating Canada has helped elite athletes achieve their gold medal dreams, while also bolstering local speed skating clubs as they develop the next generation of Olympians and grow the sport’s popularity in communities across Canada.

 

The winner of this year’s Intact Insurance Club Excellence Award will be announced at Speed Skating Canada’s 2019 Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 8 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

 

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MEDIA

Alain Brouillette
Email: communications@speedskating.ca 
Phone: 613-601-2630