The Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulates Chantal Petitclerc on Senate appointment

OTTAWA, March 18, 2016 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulates Chantal Petitclerc, Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, on her appointment to the Canadian Senate.

"On behalf of the Paralympic community, I would like to congratulate Chantal for this appointment," said Gaetan Tardif, President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee.  "Chantal is such a strong role model for all Canadians.  She is recognised around the world for her Paralympic achievements and her leadership both on and off the field of play.

We are very proud to have Chantal lead our team at the Paralympic Games in Rio in September. Her professionalism, passion and commitment to excellence has and will continue to have a positive impact on our Canadian athletes. We are confident that she will carry on these strong attributes in her new role as Senator."

BACKGROUND

Chantal Petitclerc (Montreal, Que., originally from Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, Que., coached by Peter Eriksson), para-athletics: Petitclerc is one of the most successful athletes ever in Paralympic sport. She competed at five Paralympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) and won 21 medals, including 14 gold, in wheelchair racing. In 2008 she won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year and was named Canadian Press' female athlete of the year. Petitclerc is a public speaker, broadcaster and athlete mentor, currently serving as Team Canada's Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

News access BROLL of Chantal Petitclerc is available at: http://www.sendtonews.com/#!highlight/story/w9cnSY7Gsi

SOURCE Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Martin Richard, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] ext. 224, Cell: 613-725-4339, [email protected]; Jody Kingsbury, Manager, Athlete Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] ext. 225, Cell: 613-851-2337, [email protected]