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RBC announces 28 Olympic and Paralympic athletes as RBC
Olympians
TORONTO, September 24, 2007 — RBC today announced
the 28 exceptional Canadian athletes who have joined the RBC
team as RBC Olympians for the next year.
The RBC Olympians Program is a national initiative that provides
elite athletes with an opportunity to gain career-oriented
experience with a flexible work schedule that gives them the
time necessary to train and compete. The career skills and
experiences gained from working at RBC will help these athletes
at different stages of their careers.
"As an RBC Olympian, I have the opportunity to develop
the skills needed to be successful in my career after sports,
while also allowing me to share my experiences and stories
with students and communities across Canada," said Andrea
Holmes, Vancouver-based RBC Paralympian, 2004 Paralympian
(Athens), Athletics. "The RBC Olympians program supports
amateur sport in Canada by helping Canadian athletes succeed,
whether they are competing for Canada or starting a new career."
This year's RBC Olympians are a collection of hopefuls and
medallists, such as Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey gold medallist
(2006, 2002), Blythe Hartley, Diving bronze medallist (2004)
and Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming gold medallist (2004).
"The RBC Olympians Program supports amateur athletes
by providing them with the funding and flexibility they need
to succeed," said Jim Westlake, group head, Canadian
Banking, RBC. "Working at RBC, the athletes will be able
to apply their exceptional skills and knowledge to a different
playing field. We hope their experiences with the program
will help them realize their fullest potential both in sports
and in their future careers."
Through the RBC Olympians Program, the athletes act as community
ambassadors across the country, sharing their Olympic and
Paralympic Games' experiences, as well as current aspirations
with schools and community groups, RBC clients and employees.
RBC Olympians also help raise awareness and support for amateur
sport, inspiring Canadians to be physically fit and participate
in sports at all levels.
RBC Olympians for the next year are:
British Columbia
- Andrea Holmes, Paralympic Athletics, 2004 Paralympian
- Ravi Kahlon, Field Hockey, 2000 Olympian
- Anne-Marie Lefrançois, Alpine Skiing, 2002 Olympian
- Crispin Lipscombe, Snowboarding, 2006 Olympian
- Gary Reed, Athletics, 2004 Olympian
- Kristi Richards, Freestyle Ski, 2006 Olympian
- Donovan Tildesley, Paralympic Swimming, 2004 Paralympian
- Chris Wong, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian
Prairies
- Fiona Bell, Ice Hockey, Silver Medallist - 1998 Olympian
- Lisa Blackburn, Swimming, Olympic Hopeful
- Steve Elm, Speed Skating, Silver Medallist - 2006 Olympian
- Blythe Hartley, Diving, Bronze Medallist - 2004 Olympian
- Colleen Sostorics, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian
Ontario
- Jeff Bean, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian
- Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006
Olympian
- Jacquie Cook, Rowing, 2004 Olympian
- Claire Carver-Dias, Synchronized swimming, Bronze Medallist
- 2000 Olympian
- Perdita Felicien, Athletics, 2004 Olympian
- Jayna Hefford, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian
- Gillian Apps, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian
Quebec
- Martine Albert, Biathlon, 2006 Olympian
- Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming, Gold Medallist - 2004
Paralympian
- Sandra Lize, Water Polo, 2000 Olympian
- Dominique Maltais, Snowboarding, Bronze Medallist - 2006
Olympian
Atlantic Region
- Joël Bourgeois, Athletics, 2000 Olympian
- Alex Duckworth, Snowboarding, Olympic Hopeful
- David Kikuchi, Gymnastics, 2004 Olympian
- Jay Hugh Smith, Gymnastics, Olympic Hopeful
More information on the RBC Olympians can be found at www.rbc.com/sponsorship/rbcolympians.html.
RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT
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:
Jackie Braden, RBC media relations, (416) 974-2124
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