AthletesCAN celebrates 15 years

							AthletesNOW
Special Edition – Forum 2007

AthletesCAN celebrates 15 years
Whitehorse provides backdrop for celebration of leadership

  AthletesCAN celebrated 15 years of leadership "North of 60" at the Athletes Forum,
Sept. 28 to Sept. 30 in Whitehorse, Yukon.
  The Forum is AthletesCAN's flagship event and is the largest and most inclusive
gathering of Canada's national team athlete representatives outside of competition. The
Forum provides the opportunity to bring together Canada's high performance athletes to
network with others, share ideas, learn about the sport system and develop leadership
skills. This year's theme, "Leaders for Life",
celebrated contributions of athlete leaders past and present and looked at the varied and
many roles of leadership.
  "The weekend was a wonderful opportunity for Canadian athletes to join together, talk
about leadership, share experiences, discuss athlete issues and get inspired to make a
difference in the sport community," says Claire Carver-Dias, president of AthletesCAN.
"By celebrating the work of athlete leaders past and present, we hope we've encouraged
athletes to become leaders for the future."
  “The Forum was a great experience," says first time Forum attendee Joshua Riker-Fox,
modern pentathlon. "The sessions were informative and valuable and the social time was
awesome! Meeting other athletes in both formal and informal settings allowed for a lot of
learning and a better understanding of the issues we all face."
  Presentations were given by Thomas Grandi of the David Suzuki Foundation, Bill
Cooper of VANOC, Lane MacAdam of Sport Canada, Carla Qualtrough, president of the
Canadian Paralympic Committee and Marie-Claude Asselin of SDRCC. A special
leadership panel was led by AthletesCAN alumni Lori Johnstone, JP Cantin, Carla
Qualtrough and Michael Smith.
  Other highlights of the weekend included hosting the second annual KidsCAN School
Day, the presentation of the AthletesCAN Leadership Award, the election of four new
board members and a birthday party-themed welcome banquet that culminated in a
passionate keynote address by AthletesCAN Leadership Award Recipient Bobby Milroy
who encouraged other athletes to "challenge assumptions".
  "The Forum was a great success on so many fronts - from engaging presenters to
dynamic group discussions to a fun and interactive KidsCAN School Day - it truly was a
success," says Jasmine Northcott, Athlete Forums Director and Operations Manager.
"The breadth of leadership that resonated in our athlete delegates was not only
inspiring but very fitting given the theme of "Leaders for Life". This was a great
opportunity to bring our flagship event and our athletes North of 60 and I wish to thank
Whitehorse for their generous support and Yukon hospitality."
  "Playing host to Canada's top athletes was a fantastic experience for our community,"
says Moira Lassen, who headed up the local organizing committee in Whitehorse. "These
people have so much to offer society as they share so openly their motivating stories and
their life challenges. The Yukon has truly moved into another dimension of sport."
  AthletesCAN thanks our Forum sponsors: Sport Canada, Sport Yukon, Canadian
Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Yukon Convention Bureau,
Active Schools, Yukon Brewing Company, Air North, NorCan, Staples Whitehorse,
HBC, CAAWS, CCES, Whitehorse Parks and Recreation, Athletics Yukon and Klondike
Visitors Association.
  Special thanks to Local Organizers Moira Watson and Susanne Behrens, all the
volunteers who helped out throughout the weekend and JP Cantin for creating the Forum
wrap-up slide show.

KidsCAN School Day 2007
Athletes travel throughout the Yukon to promote sport and health

  They flew on cargo planes and drove for hours through mountainous wilderness. They
encountered bears, elk and frigid temperatures. But nothing could keep current and
former national team athletes from reaching kids in Whitehorse and surrounding Yukon
communities.
  The second annual KidsCAN School Day, in partnership with Sport Yukon and Active
Schools, was held as part of AthletesCAN's Forum. On Sept. 27th, 28 athletes headed out
to six schools in the City of Whitehorse, as well as schools in Dawson City, Faro,
Carmacks, Haines Junction and Destruction Bay, to spread their inspirational messages of
sport and the importance of physical activity and health to the children of the Yukon.
  "Visiting the schools was definitely a highlight for me at this year's AthletesCAN
Forum," says Rhythmic Gymnast Erika-Leigh Stirton, who traveled to Haines Junction
and Destruction Bay. "I felt blessed to be able to reach out to the communities and to get
to experience the culture first hand. I was awed by the magnificent scenery as we drove,
and then amazed by the schools we visited. The kids' enthusiasm and energy was
contagious and being able to share my sport and experiences with these students filled me
with tremendous joy! I hope I have inspired these students to go after their dreams, no
matter what they are!"
  AthletesCAN would like to thank to Jeanne Burke of Active Schools for her hard work
in organizing the day and all the volunteers who helped get the athletes to the different
locations. Special thanks to JP Cantin who created a School Day slideshow.

KidsCAN School Day Reaction

"The students were riveted to the floor." Elijah Smith School.

"Keep them (the athletes) here as long as you can - especially the the boxer.” Takhini
Elementary School

"We kept them (the athletes) so long in Carmacks that they just about couldn't make it to
Faro.” Tantalus School

"Fascinating and motivating. Thank you for bringing us this opportunity."
Golden Horn School
Thanks to all the athletes who participated in KidsCAN School Day 2007.
Krystina Alogbo, Water Polo
Lauren Barwick, Equestrian
Vivian Berkeley, Lawn Bowls
Iain Brambell, Rowing
John David Burnes, Archery
Erin Carter, Cycling
Claire Carver-Dias, Synchronized Swimming
Ian Cockerline, Luge
Chris Daw, Curling
Alec Denys, Archery
Jason Dunkerley, Athletics
Barbara Hastings, Bowling
Stacie Louttit, Sailing
Marie-Eve Marleau, Diving
Jason Myslicki, Nordic Combined
Andrew Nisker, Tennis
Kris Odegard, Racquetball
Erik Petursson, Diving
Joshua Riker-Fox, Modern Pentathlon
Corey Robinson, Wrestling
Michael Smith, Wrestling
Erika-Leigh Stirton, Rhythmic Gymnastics
Kevin Stittle, Sailing
Adam Trupish, Boxing
Jessica Tuomela, Swimming
Sheila Turner, Rugby
David Willsie, Wheelchair Rugby
Chris Wolfenden, Volleyball

AthletesCAN welcomes four new board members
  Four new board members were elected to the AthletesCAN Board of Directors in
Whitehorse. Erin Carter - Cycling, Chris Daw - Curling, and Andrew Nisker - Tennis,
join the board for two year terms, while Jason Dunkerley - Athletics, will sit for a one
year term.
  "I'm excited to have a new roster of highly skilled athlete leaders join us at the table,"
says AthletesCAN President Claire Carver-Dias. "Each of them bring exciting
backgrounds and individual strengths that will be definite assets to AthletesCAN."
  AthletesCAN thanks departing board members Iain Brambell, Aaron Lowe, Erik
Petursson, Scott Sandison and Michael Smith for their time and commitment.


Erin Carter - Cycling
  Erin competed for the Canadian Cycling team in both road and track disciplines from
1997-2006. Over her ten-year cycling career, she competed in multiple World
Championships, Pan Am Championships, the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and earned
many National Championship titles. Prior to her cycling career, Erin competed in figure
skating for 10 years.
  Throughout her athletic career, Erin invested energy, enthusiasm and passion into sport
through public speaking with the Esteem Team, freelance writing, and running a women's
only cycling group in Winnipeg called the Velodonnas.
  Erin is now pursuing a Masters Degree in International and Intercultural
Communications through Royal Roads University while working for the University of
Manitoba in their Public Affairs Department. Erin lives in rural Manitoba in the
francophone village of Ste. Anne des Chenes.


Chris Daw - Curling
  Chris is a multi sport, multi-attending Paralympic athlete who has been involved in
sport since the age of seven. He has been a member of the Canadian teams for athletics,
basketball, rugby, sit volleyball and curling, for both Olympic (administration) and
Paralympics (athlete) Games. In 2006, Chris won curling gold at the winter Paralympic
Games in Torino. He is only one of a few athletes to represent Canada at both summer
and winter Paralympic Games. Chris loves not only being an athlete but also a coach,
receiving the 2004 Ontario Coaching Award of Excellence.
  Chris has been actively involved in sport development though representation on various
committees including president of the Wheelchair Curling Association, vice chair of
disabled integration at the 2000 Canada Games and also sits as a member of the Canadian
Paralympic High Performance & Development Committees. He holds degrees in
management, psychology and forensics anthropology.
  Chris enjoys martial arts, mountain climbing, parachuting and scuba diving.
  His motto is..."The only limits which exist are the ones in your mind!"


Andrew Nisker - Tennis
  While on a tennis scholarship at Vanderbilt University, Andrew won the SEC Singles
Championship and was honoured as the outstanding graduating student-athlete in the
south-east region of the NCAA. After graduation Andrew pursued a career in
professional tennis. His career highlights include being named to the Davis Cup Team in
2002, teaming with Frank Dancevic in 2002 to reach the round of 16 of the Tennis
Masters Series event in Toronto and representing Canada in the 2003 Pan American
Games.
  After retiring from tennis, Andrew earned his LL.B/M.B.A. degree from the University
of Western Ontario and the Ivey School of Business. Andrew is currently articling at
Bennett Jones LLP.
  Andrew lives in Toronto and enjoys spending time with his wife Sarah and his dog
Cheese.


Jason Dunkerley - Athletics
  Jason was born blind with a condition affecting the way the optic nerve is attached to
the brain. He grew up in Northern Ireland before immigrating to Canada with his family
in 1991 at the age of 13.
  Jason discovered a passion for middle distance running in high school in Brantford,
Ont. At the University of Guelph, where he studied international development and
Spanish, Jason met a runner named Greg Dailey who became his main guide running
partner. This was the genesis of a running relationship which is in its 10th year and has
brought Greg and Jason two Paralympic silver medals in 2000 and 2004, four world
championship appearances, and four Pan American titles.
  Greg and Jason are coming off their best season ever in which they captured gold in
both the 800m and 1500m races at the Para Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro,
establishing new Canadian and Para Pan American records in both events and
coming within 0.41 seconds of surpassing the longstanding 800m world record for blind
athletes. Greg and Jason hope to use this breakthrough as a springboard in preparing them
to be at the top of their competitive game going into the Paralympic year in 2008.
  Jason currently trains in Ottawa where he lives with his wife Colleen. When not
training, he enjoys playing the guitar.

The AthletesCAN 2007-2008 Board of Directors :

Claire Carver-Dias, President, Synchronized Swimming
Trevino Betty, Vice President, Athletics
Andrew Nisker, Treasurer, Tennis
Erin Carter, Secretary, Cycling
Daniel Igali, Canadian Olympic Committee, Wrestling
Alec Denys, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Archery
Chantal Petitclerc, Commonwealth Games Canada, Athletics
Sara-Lynne Knockwood, Aboriginal Sport Circle
Jason Myslicki, Nordic Combined
Chris Daw, Curling
Jason Dunkerley, Athletics

Badminton Player Bobby Milroy receives 2007 AthletesCAN Leadership Award
  Badminton Player Bobby Milroy was presented with the third annual AthletesCAN
Leadership Award at the Forum in Whitehorse.
  The award, sponsored this year by the Canadian Olympic Committee, recognizes the
contributions of Canadian athlete leaders and celebrates the importance of athlete
representatives and the successes they have achieved through their work as leaders and
change agents. Bobby's leadership efforts have led to positive changes to the sport of
Badminton throughout the world.
  "I have always been inspired by not only Canada's great athletes, but also the athlete
leaders who give hope and direction at all levels of sport," says Milroy, 28, of Edmonton.
"In aspiring to the examples of athlete leaders before me, I have seen a strength within
Canadian athletes that I believe will be the foundation for a great sporting future. It is
with sincerity and pride that I thank AthletesCAN and the Canadian Olympic Committee
for recognizing my efforts."
  Bobby has been a member of the Canadian Badminton Team since 1997 and is a former
junior and senior national champion. He has represented Canada in over 150 international
competitions, including three Commonwealth Games, and is currently ranked 33rd in the
world.
  Off of the court, Bobby is the first ever Canadian to hold the position of president of the
Badminton Players Federation. He was elected in 2004 and unanimously re-elected in
2006.
  Among his many successes, Bobby has increased the federation's membership by
almost 1000 per cent, fundraised for youth badminton programs throughout the world,
and in June 2007 brokered an agreement with the Badminton World Federation Council
for a Policy of Gender Equality for the sport. Bobby was nominated for the AthletesCAN
Leadership Award by his national team Badminton teammate, Anna Rice.
  "Bobby is an excellent example of the impact athletes can have on their fellow athletes,
their sport and the sport system when they reach beyond training and competition," says
AthletesCAN President Claire Carver-Dias. “I look forward to seeing what great things
Bobby accomplishes in the future."
  "The Canadian Olympic Committee chose to sponsor this award for the first time to
recognize the importance of strong athlete leadership for the continued development of
the Canadian sport system," said Marc Gélinas, COC Director of Athlete and Community
Relations. "Bobby Milroy certainly exemplifies a passion for leading and motivating
other athletes, and we congratulate him for his accomplishments both on and off the field
of play."
  The AthletesCAN Leadership Award was created in 2005 and is presented annually to a
national team athlete or former national team athlete who has made a significant
contribution to sport and athletes through their involvement as an effective athlete leader,
advocate, or as a builder of bridges for athletes within their sport community.
  The 2006 AthletesCAN Leadership Award was presented to Beckie Scott. Lori
Johnstone and Lilo Ljubisic received the inaugural award in 2005.

Mississauga to host Athletes Forum 2007

  AthletesCAN is pleased to announce that the 2008 Athletes Forum will be held in the
City of Mississauga.
The Forum is AthletesCAN's flagship event and is the largest and most inclusive
gathering of Canada's national team athlete representatives outside of competition. The
Forum provides the opportunity to bring together Canada's high performance athletes to
network with others, share ideas, learn about the sport system and develop leadership
skills. As part of the Forum, AthletesCAN and the City of Mississauga will also host the
third annual KidsCAN School Day which will send national team athletes to local
schools with messages of sport, physical activity and health.
  "AthletesCAN is very excited to bring the Forum and KidsCAN School Day to
Mississauga," says AthletesCAN Athlete Forums Director and Operations Manager
Jasmine Northcott. "We look forward to working with the community and inviting
national team athletes to experience the outstanding facilities and hospitality of
Mississauga. Thank you to the City and Mississauga Tourism for their generous support
and welcome."
  "We encourage programs that support Canada's national athletes and promote active,
healthy lifestyles," says Mayor Hazel McCallion. "The City of Mississauga is proud to
have been selected host site for the next AthletesCAN Forum and we look forward to
welcoming Canada's best to Mississauga in 2008."
  The Forum will be held at the Hilton Toronto Airport from October 2-5, 2008.