OTTAWA (June 16, 2015) – AthletesCAN and Investors Group are pleased to announce that Canadian fencer Joanna Guy 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. 

“I feel AMAZING! I’m thrilled and filled with joy! To receive the Investors Group bursary twice in my career…just wow! I’m honoured!” says Joanna. “This has given me the strength to never stop fighting for my Olympic dream and to continue to share them with the next generation of upcoming fencers”, she adds. “I’ve always felt the pressure to be the best and perform every single time. However, I’m a fighter, and that is why I am an athlete!”

Since its inception in 2000, the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund has provided more than $1.5 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 15 years now, we have been pleased to provide Canada’s athletes with bursaries totaling $1.5 million to make those demands easier to manage.”

In 2014, Olympic synchronized swimmer Karine Thomas was one of 20 recipients to earn the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund Bursary of $5,000 through AthletesCAN. 

“There are few organizations working so tirelessly to assist Canadian athletes as Investors Group and AthletesCAN”, says the 2015 Pan American Games medal hopeful.  “Their generosity and commitment to amateur sport in Canada has made a tremendous difference in my life and the lives of many Canadian athletes.  As I prepare for this summer’s Pan American Games in Toronto, I cannot help but be thankful for their encouragement, and for their belief in my ability to one day achieve my dream of standing atop the Olympic podium”, adds Karine.  “Their support has allowed me to focus solely upon my objectives – training, recovery, and competing amongst the best in the world – and to do so without the financial worries that so many of Canada’s top athletes face on a daily basis.  As we compete in Toronto this summer on the road to Rio, I rest assured knowing that organizations such as Investors Group and AthletesCAN will be there to support us every step of the way.”

AthletesCAN Executive Director, Ashley LaBrie adds: “AthletesCAN is proud to partner with Investors Group, one of Canada’s leading corporate contributors of direct funding to our country’s top high performance athletes.  As a champion of leadership on and off the field of play, Investors Group has recognized the athletic accomplishments, financial need and community involvement of Canadian athletes through the Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund for more 15 years. On behalf of Canadian athletes, AthletesCAN applauds Investors Group for their continued leadership and support where it is needed most.”  

Congratulations to this year’s recipients who will continue to leave their mark the Canadian sport landscape and inspire the next generation of champions across the country.

The 2015 Team Investors Group Amateur Athletes Fund bursary recipients are:

Patricia Bezzoubenko (Thornhill, ON) – Rhythmic Gymnastics

Laura Brown (Vancouver, BC) – Cycling 

Marie-Eve Croteau (Quebec, QC) – Para-Cycling

Marco Dispaltro (St-Jerome, QC) – Boccia 

Roseline Filion (Laval, QC) – Diving

Ariane Fortin (St-Nicolas, QC) – Boxing

Marc-Actoine Gagnon (Terrebonne, QC) – Freestyle Skiing

Joanna Guy (Mississauga, ON) – Fencing 

Rachel Homan (Ottawa, ON) – Curling

Kyle Jones (Oakville, ON) – Triathlon 

Kip Kangogo (Lethbridge, AB) – Athletics 

Jane Kirby (Guelph, ON) – Rugby

Justin Kripps (Summerland, BC) – Bobsleigh

Audrey Lacroix (Pont-Rouge, QC) – Swimming 

Pamela LeJean (Halifax, NS) – Para- Athletics 

Cleopas Ncube (Kingston, ON) – Wrestling

Guillaume Ouellet (Victoriaville, QC) – Para Athletics 

Taylor Pischke (Winnipeg, MB) – Beach Volleyball

Roberta Sheffield (Ottawa, ON) – Para Equestrian 

Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, ON) – Ice Hockey

A special thanks to our selection committee members Greg Edgelow (Wrestling), Andrew Haley (Swimming), Jayna Hefford (Hockey), Trevor Hirschfield (Wheelchair Rugby), and Maria Samson (Rugby).

About Investors Group

Investors Group, founded in 1926, is a national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians through a network of over 4,500 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.