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Olympic and Paralympic athletes join RBC team across Canada
RBC Olympians Program enables Canadian Olympians and Paralympians
to succeed both in competition and in life after sport
TORONTO, September 25, 2006 — RBC today announced
the 20 outstanding Canadian athletes who will become RBC Olympians
for the next year.
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| [download
high resolution image] Jim Westlake, Group Head,
Canadian Personal & Business Clients, welcomes
Dominique Maltais, 2006 Olympic bronze medalist
and RBC Olympian, to her first day of work at RBC. |
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The RBC Olympians Program is a national initiative that provides
elite athletes with an opportunity to gain career-oriented
experience within a flexible work schedule that allows them
the time necessary to train and compete. The career skills
and experiences gathered from working at RBC will help the
athletes at different stages of their careers.
"I'm delighted to be an RBC Olympian and experience
first-hand RBC's support for amateur sport in Canada,"
said Dominique Maltais, Petite-Rivière-St-François-based
RBC Olympian, 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, Snowboarding.
"RBC is giving me the chance to develop the skills I
will need to be successful in my life after sport while also
letting me share my experiences and stories with students
and communities across Canada."
This year's RBC Olympians are a collection of recently retired
Olympic competitors, Olympic hopefuls, and medallists, such
as Colleen Sostorics, Ice Hockey gold medallist (2006, 2002),
Kristi Richards, Freestyle Moguls, 2006 Olympian, and Paul
Tingley, Sailing, 2004 Paralympian.
"The RBC Olympians Program helps amateur athletes realize
their goals whether it's representing Canada on the world
stage or preparing for their future careers," said Jim
Westlake, Group Head, Canadian Personal and Business Clients,
RBC. "We provide competing athletes with the funding
and flexibility they need for training and competition, as
well as give both competing and retired athletes the opportunity
to develop new skills that help them in the next stage of
their lives."
Through the RBC Olympians Program, the athletes will act
as community ambassadors across the country, sharing their
Olympic and Paralympic Games experiences and current aspirations
with schools and community groups, as well as with RBC clients
and employees. RBC Olympians also help raise awareness and
support for amateur sport, inspiring Canadians to be fit and
participate in sports at all levels.
The full list of RBC Olympians includes:
British Columbia
- Jacqueline Cook, Rowing, 2004 Olympian
- Andrea Holmes, Paralympic Athletics, 2004 Paralympian
- Anne-Marie Lefrançois, Alpine Skiing, 2002 Retired
Olympian
- Ravi Kahlon, Field Hockey, 2000 Olympian
- Alexa Loo, Snowboard, 2006 Olympian
- Kristi Richards, Freestyle Ski, 2006 Olympian
Prairies
- Blythe Hartley, Diving, Bronze Medallist - 2004 Olympian
- Jared MacLeod, Athletics, Olympic Hopeful
- Colleen Sostorics, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian
Ontario
- Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006
Olympian
- Jason Dunkerley, Paralympic Athletics, 2004 Paralympian
- Perdita Felicien, Athletics, 2004 Olympian
- Bernard Luttmer, Sailing, 2004 Olympian
- Sami Jo Small, Member of the 2006 Gold Medal winning Canadian
Women's Ice Hockey team
Quebec
- Martine Albert, Biathlon, 2006 Olympian
- Dominique Maltais, Snowboarding, Bronze Medallist - 2006
Olympian
- Marc-Andre Moreau, Freestyle Ski, 2006 Olympian
Atlantic Region
- Joël Bourgeois, Athletics, 2000 Olympian
- David Kikuchi, Gymnastics, 2004 Olympian
- Paul Tingley, Paralympic Sailing, 2004 Paralympian
RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT
RBC Financial Group (RBC) sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots
events in local communities to national sport associations
that support the development of amateur athletes who compete
at home and abroad. As the longest-standing supporter of Canada's
Olympic Team, since 1947, RBC continues this sponsorship to
include the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
RBC is also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian
Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics
Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
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For more information, please contact:
Beja Rodeck, RBC media relations, (416) 974-5506
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