Canadian Paralympic Committee Congratulates Winners of the 37th Canadian
Sport Awards

Recipients from the Paralympic Movement include the national wheelchair curling team, the Soldier On program, and volunteer Maureen Orchard

OTTAWA, March 9 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) would like to congratulate the winners of the 37th Canadian Sport Awards (CSA), specifically the three winners from the Paralaympic Movement in Canada. The CSA celebrate excellence in Canadian sport and recognize leaders from the sporting and corporate communities who have excelled in competition and commitment over the 2009 calendar year.

Canada's wheelchair curling team won the prestigious Team of the Year award. This award is given to a team that excelled on the world stage in 2009 and was awarded to the wheelchair curling team for their gold medal win at the 2009 World Championships. Canada's wheelchair curling team are the reigning gold medalists from the 2006 Paralympic Games, and will be defending this title at the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, March 12th-21st.

The Soldier On program earned the Spirit of Sport Story of the Year award, which recognizes values such as perseverance, inclusion, and a love of sport, while pursuing sporting excellence. Created in partnership by the CPC and Department of National Defense, the Soldier On program provides the resources and opportunities for ill and injured military personnel to fully and actively participate in physical fitness, health promotion, and sport activities.

"We are very honoured and humbled to accept such a distinguished Canadian Sport Award on behalf of all Canadian Forces personnel, family and friends of Soldier On that have contributed to its collective success," said Soldier On co-founders WO Andrew Mclean and Greg Lagacé. "This award reinforces our mission of using the power of sport, physical fitness and recreation to improve the quality of life of ill and injured CF personnel, and former personnel, and their families."

Also a parasport advocate, Maureen Orchard received the Volunteer Award. International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) President, Maureen Orchard is a full-time volunteer with over 30 years of experience. In her many different roles as President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Director, Coach, and Referee, Maureen's efforts have been instrumental in wheelchair basketball's growth worldwide.

"Congratulations to these three inspirational and influential recipients," said Henry Storgaard, Chief Executive Officer of the CPC. "We are delighted that so many members of the Paralympic Movement have been honoured by the True Sport Foundation and I hope these recipients and their achievements will inspire many other Canadians to get involved in sport."

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee ("the CPC") is a non-profit, private organization with 43 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic Movement. The CPC is responsible for creating an optimal high-performance environment for Canadian Paralympic athletes to win at Paralympic and Parapan American Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the CPC inspires all Canadians with a physical disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations. The Canadian Paralympic Committee is currently preparing for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, taking place from March 12 - 21, 2010 and where 55 Canadian Paralympic athletes will compete in Para-Alpine skiing, Para-Nordic skiing (cross-country skiing and biathlon), sledge hockey and wheelchair curling. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

For further information: Andrée Dion, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] x228, Email: [email protected]