Speed Skating Canada – Online donations can be made through www.speedskating.ca/ydf 

Ottawa, November 3, 2016 – Speed Skating Canada is proud to announce the launch of the Youth Development Fund, which aims to support the future of speed skating across the country.

Through donations, including online at www.speedskating.ca/ydf, the Youth Development Fund will support programs geared towards the development of kids in speed skating through those around them: clubs, coaches and officials.

The Youth Development Fund was launched today in Calgary during the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating event. Representatives of the program will be in the “Fan Zone” all weekend long.

“Sport has had a huge impact on my life,” said Long Track Speed Skating Olympic multimedalist Kristina Groves. “Not only because of my four Olympic medals, but also because of what speed skating taught me through my career, including self-confidence, discipline, time management, determination, team work, professionalism and respect. All of these life values, which are very useful at any age, I did not only learn them when I was a National Team member; it started at a young age when I began skating in a club.”

“Speed Skating Canada’s Youth Development Fund is about to produce ongoing financial support for the development of community clubs and to provide the foundation for supporting young athletes, as well as officials and coaches, not only to support them on the ice so that Speed Skating Canada can pursue its long tradition of excellence, but also off the ice.”

Long-term speed skating volunteer and Speed Skating Canada’s Youth Development Fund chair, David Gilday, pointed out that this is a unique initiative supporting youth in sport in the national sport organization context.

“The Youth Development Fund will not support high performance programs as those have their own dedicated support, but focus on the developmental levels of skating”, he said. “In times of financial stress the grassroots level is often hurt, not by lack of will, but because of a lack of financial resources. The fund seeks to correct that.”

“Successfully supporting the developmental levels of skating, the Youth Development Fund will certainly have a lasting impact on high performance programs as more children participating in speed skating across Canada will produce more top level skaters that make Canada proud at the international level. Our whole speed skating program will benefit from this.”

The Youth Development Funds is eligible for tax deductible charitable receipts.

People interested in obtaining more information regarding the Youth Development Fund or in making a donation in another way can contact David Gilday at dgilday@speedskating.ca. 

Additional details regarding the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating in Calgary are available at:www.speedskating.ca/calgary2016.

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, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.

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