OTTAWA (June 14, 2016) – AthletesCAN and Investors Group are pleased to announce that national team fencer Kelleigh Ryan has been awarded a $5,000 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary.

In keeping with their commitment to amateur sport in Canada, Investors Group established a bursary fund for Canada’s top high performance athletes. A national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians, Investors Group annually awards twenty $5,000 bursaries to assist Canada’s elite amateur athletes with the costs of training and competition. Selection criteria includes: athletic achievement, financial need and community involvement.

Since its inception in 2000, the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund has provided more than $1.6 million to Canadian athletes. AthletesCAN administers the bursary on behalf of Investors Group.

“Investors Group considers it an honour to help support our nation’s elite athletes with these bursaries,” says Trevor Krahn, Manager, Community Affairs for Investors Group. “Athletes at this level are constantly juggling the demands of work and school with training and competition. For 16 years now, we have been pleased to provided Canada’s athletes with bursaries totalling $1.6 million to make those demands easier to manage so they can get more out of life.”

“AthletesCAN applauds Investors Group’s contributions as a leader in corporate support of Canada’s national team athletes”, says AthletesCAN Executive Director Ashley LaBrie.  “This bursary recognizes the dedication and leadership Kelleigh exhibits both on the field of play and in the community.  We look forward to seeing the impact of this bursary throughout her quest for excellence as an athlete and a role model.”

Kelleigh’s recent sport accomplishments include earning a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, 2015 Copenhagen Satellite World Cup, and 2015 Canada Cup.

“I’m really proud and honoured to have been selected for this bursary, particularly because it emphasizes both athletic pursuits and giving back to your sport and young athletes,” says Kelleigh. “I find it personally very rewarding to give back through coaching, refereeing and mentoring, and I believe it’s really important for the future of our aspiring athletes,” she adds. “Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund will allow me to keep pursuing my dream of competing in the Olympics for Canada.”

2016 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund Bursary Recipients:

Joshua Binstock (Richmond Hill, ON) – Beach Volleyball

Kieran Block (Edmonton, AB) – Sledge Hockey

Andrea Burk (North Vancouver, BC) – Rugby

Adam Dukovich (Ottawa, ON) – Boccia

Ariane Fortin (Saint-Nicolas, Lévis, QC) – Boxing

Raphaël Gagné (Lac Beauport, QC) – Mountain Bike

Taryn Grant (Winnipeg, MB) – Water Ski

Byron Green (Courtenay, BC) – Wheelchair Rugby

Rachel Hannah (Guelph, ON) – Athletics

Cassie Hawrysh (Brandon, MB) – Skeleton

Rachel Homan (Ottawa, ON) – Curling

Danielle Lappage (Olds, AB) – Wrestling

Ness Murby (Salt Spring Island, BC) – Para Athletics

Victoria Nolan (Toronto, ON) – Para Rowing

Mathieu Roy (St-Gervais, QC) – Softball

Ben Russell (Dartmouth, NS) – Sprint Canoe

Kelleigh Ryan (Ottawa, ON) – Fencing

Kirsten Sweetland (Whistler, BC) – Triathlon

Charley Thomas (Didsbury, AB) – Mixed Doubles Curling

Noemie Thomas (Richmond, BC) – Swimming

For more information, please contact:
Ashley LaBrie
Executive Director
AthletesCAN
(613) 526-4025
alabrie@athletescan.com
www.athletescan.com

About Investors Group
Investors Group, founded in 1926, is a national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians through a network of approximately 5,300 Consultants located throughout Canada. In addition to an exclusive family of mutual funds and other investment vehicles, Investors Group offers a wide range of insurance, securities, mortgage and other financial services.

About AthletesCAN
As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.