Parliamentary Secretary Lemieux attends Winter Sports Clinic for Veterans, injured soldiers and their families

Adaptive sports facilitate successful transition to civilian life

OTTAWA, Feb. 11, 2015 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux today attended the fifth annual Winter Sports Clinic organized by the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing and National Capital Division (CADS-NCD).

The clinic provides those who have served with the opportunity to participate in adaptive sports instruction and peer/mentor relationships that promote physical health, mental health and rehabilitation. Veterans, injured soldiers and family members can take part in adaptive skiing, swimming, sledge hockey and other activities.

Quick Facts

• The Winter Sports Clinic, held from February 9 to 13, 2015, at the Calabogie Peaks Resort, will host 20 Canadian and 15 American Veterans.
• The Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing (CADS) is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that promotes alpine skiing and snowboarding for persons with a disability.
• The National Capital Division (NCD) is a member organization of CADS that oversees the programs and services operating in the regions of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.

Quotes

"I want to thank the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing, the National Capital Division and its partners for organizing this annual sports clinic. Events like this allow Veterans and their families, particularly ones impacted by an injury, to improve their health and wellness within a team-based environment that has many of the hallmarks of the team building and camaraderie they know from their days in the military."
The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs

"Having served in the military, I fully support events like the Winters Sports Clinic that bring Veterans and their families together. This clinic allows those who have served to participate in adaptive sports that promote mental and physical health."
Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

Associated Links

• Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing
• Video: 2014 Winter Sports Clinic and impact on Veterans
• Transition to civilian life

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

Martin Magnan, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans of Affairs, 613-996-4649; Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468