publication courtesy of the Canadian Olympic Committee
TORONTO (December 12, 2022) – On Monday, the Federal Minister for Sport, the Honorable Pascale St-Onge, announced that an investment of $2.4 million would be allocated to support Canada’s mental health strategy for high performance sport. .
This investment in the high performance sport mental health strategy will enable organizations in the high performance Canadian sports community to provide athletes, coaches and other stakeholders in the sports system with increased support for crisis care, education and the training.
The Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sports Institute Network issued the following statements Monday in support of the announcement:
“The COC applauds Minister St-Onge and the Government of Canada for this significant investment in Canadian sport. Investments like this, which will address the urgent mental health needs of Canadian athletes, are a crucial step in making the sport as safe and inclusive as possible. This has been an especially challenging time for the mental health and well-being of Canadian athletes. We are pleased to see a large portion of these funds go directly to Game Plan, an athlete wellness program we created in 2014 with our sports partners and Deloitte, further enhancing the experience and programs dedicated to mental health and well-being of athletes. ”
– David Shoemaker, Executive Director, Canadian Olympic Committee
“We commend the leadership of Minister St-Onge and the Government of Canada, who continue to champion safe and inclusive sport, including investing in improving and maintaining mental health across the high performance system. The CPC is also pleased to work cooperatively with partners, the COC, OTP and COPSIN, to ensure optimal delivery and improve prevention. Today’s important announcement from the Government of Canada supports the CPC’s commitment to creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for athletes, guides, coaches and participants.”
– Karen O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee
“This much-needed financial investment will allow us to provide the necessary support for Own the Podium and its partners to build on the cultural and wellness work that has already begun in support of Canada’s national sports organizations to ensure a safe, fun and enjoyable experience that protects all participants in high performance environments. We want to thank Minister St-Onge and the Government of Canada for their continued care and commitment to ensuring that everyone in Canada’s sports system feels supported, safe and enjoys their personal journey in sport.”
– Anne Merklinger, CEO, Own the Podium
“Working daily with Olympic and Paralympic athletes from across Canada, experts from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sports Institutes Network (COPSI Network) member institutes and centers are on the front lines of seeing the urgent and growing need for services and initiatives. . that support the mental health and well-being of athletes. More than 10,000 athletes in Canada’s high performance sports pathway through our Network will benefit from increased education and programming. The constituents of the COPSI Network appreciate the interest of Minister St-Onge and the Government of Canada in the mental health and well-being of athletes and applaud this innovative investment that will make a difference in both daily training and performance planning. post-race.”
– Gaëtan Robitaille, Spokesperson, Canadian Institute of Olympic and Paralympic Sports Network
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Media Contacts:
Thomas Hall, Director, Communications and Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 514-709-1054
E: thall@olympic.ca
Nicole Watts, Manager, Public Relations
Canadian Paralympic Committee
C: 613-462-2700
E: nwatts@paralympic.ca
Chris Dornan, Advisor, Communications
own the podium
C: 403-620-8731
Email: chris.dornan@ownthepodium.org
Jean Gosselin, Head of Communication
Canadian Institute of Olympic and Paralympic Sports Network
C: 514-757-9092
E: jgosselin@insquebec.org
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