NEWS RELEASE for Immediate Release Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 2012CSCD0072-001233 Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Aug

NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 2012CSCD0072-001233 Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Aug. 28, 2012

Canada’s Paralympic team boasts big B.C. contingent

VICTORIA – The Canadian Paralympic team in London is getting a big boost from Canada’s western-most province, with British Columbia-born or-trained athletes making up 29 per cent of the team.

Of the 42 athletes B.C. is sending, 38 were born and raised here, while the other four have received substantial training support through the B.C. sport system. B.C. Paralympians in London will be competing in 18 different sports.

British Columbia is also sending a strong contingent of coaches, technical staff, medical and administrative team members, as well as athlete support personnel who call British Columbia home.

Kelowna wheelchair rugby athlete Garett Hickling will magnify British Columbia’s presence at the Opening Ceremony. In addition to his role as a competitor, Hickling has the honour of leading the Canadian Paralympic team as flag-bearer.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“B.C. athletes have historically done exceedingly well at the Paralympic Games, and, once again, our province is well-represented on the Canadian Paralympic team. B.C. athletes make up well over a quarter of the team, which – in itself – is something to be proud of. I know that all British Columbians join me in wishing our Paralympians the very best at the London Games.”

Wendy Pattenden, CEO, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific –

“For a province that represents only 13 per cent of our national population, we are proud of the fact that B.C. will be sending almost 30 per cent of the athletes who make up the 2012 Paralympic team. Canadian Sport Centre Pacific congratulates the athletes, coaches and support staff preparing to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games, and we are certain British Columbians will be inspired and enthralled by the athletic excellence on display over the next two weeks.”

Quick Facts:

147 athletes make up the Canadian Paralympic team. 29 per cent of the athletes representing Canada were either born in, or train in, British Columbia. 45 coaches and technical staff lead the Canadian Paralympic team in London. Of those, 24 per cent are from B.C. 27 medical staff are supporting the Canadian Paralympic team. Of those, 15 per cent are from B.C. 19 athlete support personnel play key roles with the Canadian Paralympic team during the event competitions. Of those, 21 per cent are from B.C.

Learn More: Canadian Sport Centre Pacific: http://www.cscpacific.ca/ Canadian Paralympic Team: http://www.paralympic.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts: Jeff Rud Scott Allen Communications Director Manager, Communications and Ministry of Community, Sport and Community Engagement Cultural Development Canadian Sport Centre Pacific 250 953-3677 778 327-4096 250 208-4028 (cell) 604 730-9625 [email protected]

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

BACKGROUNDER For Immediate Release Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural 2012CSCD0072-001233 Development Aug. 28, 2012 Canadian Sport Centre Pacific

British Columbia-linked athletes on the Canadian Paralympic team

Sport Name (Event) Hometown [Training Town if different]

Archery Kevin Evans (Men’s Compound Open) Jaffray

Athletics Michelle Stilwell (T52 - 100 m, 200m) Nanoose Bay Nathan Dewitt (T34 - 100m, 200m) Surrey Braedon Dolfo (T13 - 100m, 200m; T11-13 - 4 x 100m) Langley Dustin Walsh (T11 - 400m; T11-13 - 4 x 100m) Coquitlam

Boccia Paul Gauthier (Mixed Pairs, Mixed Individual) Vancouver Monica Martino (Mixed Pairs, Mixed Individual) Vancouver Josh Vander Vies (Mixed Pairs, Mixed Individual) Sarnia, Ont. [Vancouver]

Equestrian Lauren Barwick (Equestrian) Aldergrove Ashley Gowanlock (Equestrian) Surrey Eleonore Elstone (Equestrian) Langley

Goalball (Men’s) Ahmed Zeividavi, Vancouver Doug Ripley, Powell River Brendan Gaulin, Montreal [Vancouver]

Goalball (Women’s) Ashlie Andrews, Penticton

Judo Timothy Rees (100 kg) Waterloo/Kingston, Ont. [Victoria]

Rowing Joan Reid (Single Scull Fixed Seat) Enderby Tony Theriault (Mixed Coxed Four) Nanaimo Meghan Montgomery (Mixed Coxed Four) Victoria

Sailing Bruce Millar (Three Person Keel Boat – Sonar class) Victoria John McRoberts (Two Person Mixed Boat – SKUD) Victoria Stacie Louttit (Two Person Mixed Boat – SKUD) Victoria

Shooting Christos Trifonidis (SH1 - 10m Air Rifle Prone, 50m Air Rifle Prone) Vancouver Doug Blessin (SH2 - 10m Air Rifle Standing, 10m Air Rifle Prone) Port Coquitlam

Swimming Brianna Nelson (S7 - 100 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Breast, 200 IM, 400 free, 100 Free, 50 Free) Victoria Jana Murphy (S14 - 100 Back, 100 Breast, 200 Free) Victoria Sarah Mehain (S7 - 100 Back, 50 Fly, 100 Breast, 200 IM, 100 Free, 50 Free) Vernon Nathan Stein (S10 - 100 Fly, 100 Breast, 100 Free, 50 Free) Maple Ridge Donovan Tildesley (S11 - 100 Back, 100 Fly, 200 IM, 100 Free) Vancouver Scott Patterson (S5 - 100 Breast) Vancouver Brian Hill (S13 - 100 Fly, 100 Back) Duncan [Montreal, QC]

Wheelchair Basketball (Men’s) Robert (Bo) Hedges, Wonowon [Burnaby] Richard Peter, Duncan [Vancouver]

Wheelchair Basketball (Women’s) Jessica Vliegenthart, Kamloops [Victoria] Elisha Williams, Prince George [Tuscaloosa, Ala.] Janet McLachlan, West Vancouver [Trier, Germany]

Wheelchair Rugby Garett Hickling, Kelowna Trevor Hirschfield, Parksville Ian Chan, Vancouver Travis Murao, Richmond Fabien Lavoie, Quebec City [Vancouver]

B.C.-based coaches, support staff and athlete personnel support staff at the 2012 London Paralympic Summer Games

Name (Position), Sport, Hometown

Coaches and technical Vladimir Kopecky (coach) Archery, Kimberly Robert Lebel (coach) Goalball, Vancouver Martin George (assistant coach) Rowing, Vernon Laurier Primeau (head coach) Athletics, Burnaby Lewis Bevan (mechanic) Cycling, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales Andrea Taylor (head coach) Equestrian, Surrey Erik Stibbe (assistant coach) Sailing, Vancouver Marni Abbott-Peter (assistant coach) Wheelchair Basketball, Enderby Craig McCord (head coach) Swimming, Richmond Reginald Shaw (coach) Swimming, Mission

Medical Kim Oslund (athletic therapist) Wheelchair Rugby, Victoria Yvonne Visser (team therapist) Athletics, Nanaimo Bruce Pinel (sport psychologist) Wheelchair Rugby, Victoria Nancy Wong (physiologist) Wheelchair Rugby, Nanaimo

Administration Elisabeth Walker-Young (assistant chef de mission) CPC, Victoria Judy Joseph-Black (communications) CPC, Gabriola Island Rob Needham (executive director, sport) CPC, Vancouver Keith Wells (videographer) CPC, Victoria Mike Lonergan (team manager) Goalball, New Westminster Bob Hirschfield (equipment manager) Wheelchair Rugby, Parksville Andy Van Neutegem (manager) Wheelchair Rugby, Victoria

Athlete support personnel Benson Au (assistant), Boccia, Richmond Carrie McKellar (assistant), Boccia, Vancouver Dalia Mykolaitiene (assistant) Boccia, Vancouver Dylan Williamson (guide) Athletics, Langley

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect