Loto-Québec Supports 16 Inspiring Athletes with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence

Through Loto-Québec's Bursary Program for Athletes with Physical or Sensory Limitations

MONTREAL, April 30, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Ms. Laurie De L'Étoile-Harland, part of Loto-Québec's Direction of Social Commitment, revealed the names of the 16 athletes associated with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) who shared a total of $42,000 in bursaries through the Loto-Québec Bursary Program. The bursary presentation took place at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard during the Défi sportif AlterGo – an event where Loto‑Québec is a sponsor.

Loto-Québec is especially pleased to introduce this year's 16 bursary recipients – nine of whom are receiving a bursary for the first time. "It's an honour for Loto-Québec to recognize the talent, effort, and commitment these young athletes possess. We hope they will live the full extent of their passions during sports competitions – whether provincial or international," stated Ms. De L'Étoile-Harland.

In its eighth year, the bursary program supports athletes with physical or sensory limitations who are in the pursuit of sports excellence on the provincial, national, or international stage. Numerous former recipients have demonstrated their talent in previous years, including: Dominic Larocque (Sledge Hockey) – bronze medallist at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games; Valérie Grand'Maison (Para-Swimming) – three-time Paralympic Champion and holder of twelve world records; Daniel Chalifour (Para-Cycling) – combined winner of the Road World Cup in 2012 and participant at the London 2010 Paralympic Games; Maude Bergeron, (Boxing) - profoundly deaf athlete who won the 2012 Canadian Boxing Championship; and Jean-Philippe Maranda (Wheelchair Athletics) – ranked in the world's top-5 and aspiring to compete at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games.

The bursary program is managed by the FAEQ in conjunction with various sports federations and associations for athletes with physical or sensory limitations: Parasports Québec, the Association québécoise de sports pour paralytiques cérébraux (AQSPC), the Association sportive des sourds du Québec (ASSQ), the Association sportive des aveugles du Québec (ASAQ) and other sport federations.  

FAEQ President Mr. Claude Chagnon was thrilled with the continuation of this bursary program that assists inspiring athletes who have surpassed serious illnesses and accidents, "Each year we discover new athletic talent, new compelling stories, and new role models of resilience, courage, discipline, and hard work. This bursary program supports athletes with unique sports backgrounds, who have the Parapan American and Paralympic Games as their targets. We are pleased to play a part in their career progress and goals."

Loto-Québec 2015 Bursary Program – 16 Recipients  

First Name	Last Name	Sport	Federation	City
	Releve Category – $2,000 Bursaries
Annie	Bouchard	Para-Cycling	ASAQ	Baie-Saint-Paul
Michaël	Bouffard	Wheelchair Basketball	Parasports Québec	Lévis
Patrick	Des Groseillers	Powerchair Soccer	Parasports Québec	Repentigny
Béatrice	Guay	Badminton	ASSQ	Lévis
Philippe	Lord	Boccia	AQSPC	Blainville
Cindy	Morin	Goalball	ASAQ	Lévis
	Elite Category – $3,000 Bursaries
Aurélien	Bucquet	Sledge Hockey	Hockey Québec	Saint-Rémi
Josué	Coudé	Goalball	ASAQ	Québec
Matthieu	Croteau Daigle	Para-Cycling	ASAQ	Thetford Mines
Sophie	Gagnon	Hockey	ASSQ	Saguenay
Alison	Levine	Boccia	AQSPC	Côte-Saint-Luc
Dave	Richer	Boccia	AQSPC	Sainte-Julie
Jean-François	Sylvestre	Wheelchair Tennis	Parasports Québec	Saint-Cuthbert
Mathieu	Trudeau	Sledge Hockey	Hockey Québec	Candiac
	Excellence Category – $3,000 Bursaries
Philippe	Bédard	Wheelchair Tennis	Parasports Québec	Bromont
Jean-Philippe	Maranda	Para-Athletics	Parasports Québec	Sainte-Aurélie

About Loto-Québec

In keeping with its desire to lend support to organizations that work with athletes with physical or sensory limitations, Loto-Québec has established a major agreement with the FAEQ. Each year over the past eight years the Loto-Québec Bursary Program honours exceptional, inspiring athletes with physical or sensory limitations. The program was created in association with Défi sportif AlterGo and Special Olympics Québec – two key players in sport for athletes with a disability.

About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence: UNITED for SUCCESS

In 2015, the FAEQ will celebrate 30 years of success, conviction, and commitment. Equipped with a new theme - "United for Success", the Foundation will announce numerous renewals and new partnerships with leading businesses over the course of the year. The Foundation is unique, thanks to its personal approach, diligent management, and influential role in the realm of sport and education. The Foundation will distribute 1.2 million dollars in bursaries to more than 425 student-athletes throughout Quebec identified as Espoir, Releve, Elite, or Excellence level. The Foundation's bursaries reward academic excellence, encourage the balance of high performance sport and academics, highlight leadership and recognize perseverance. The FAEQ is moved to action by a genuine desire to unite with former bursary recipients and sponsor in the success of current bursary recipients, thereby making a difference in their academic, athletic, and/or personal development. Visit the Foundation's web site at faeq.com and click "Like" on its Facebook page at: FAEQ – Fondation de l'athlète d'excellence du Québec.

SOURCE Loto-Québec

Annie Pelletier, Communications Director, Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence, 514.252.3171 ext. 3538; Jean-Pierre Roy, Director of Communications & Press Relations, Loto-Québec, 514.499.5151