RUGBY CANADA THANKS THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA FOR COMMITMENT TO AAP

LANGFORD, BC – Rugby Canada would like to thank The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, along with the Government of Canada and Sport Canada, for their commitment to the Athlete Assistance Program.

Today, at the WinSport Markin MacPhail Centre at the Canadian Sport Institute in Calgary, Hehr announced increased funding to the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP).

“On behalf of Rugby Canada I would like to thank The Honourable Kent Hehr, the Government of Canada and Sport Canada for their continued commitment to the Athlete Assistance Program,” said Allen Vansen, Rugby Canada CEO.

“Our athletes train day-in and day-out at our Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence and having the government’s support means they can focus solely on their performance without the burden of worrying about financial difficulties.”

The investment will increase annual funding by an additional $5 million for a total of $33 million, which represents an 18 percent increase.

"The 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro were an incredible moment for Canadian Rugby and we could not have done it without the financial support of the Athlete Assistance Program, Sport Canada and the Government of Canada,” said Ghislaine Landry, RIO 2016 Bronze Medalist and Canadian Captain. “On behalf of my teammates and I, I’d like to thank The Honourable Kent Hehr.”

“Having moved to Langford, B.C. this Summer to train full-time, the financial support I have received through the Athlete Assistance Program from Sport Canada and the Government of Canada makes it possible for me to chase my dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist at Tokyo 2020,” said Jake Thiel.

For more information on the Athlete Assistance Program, please click here

-30-