$2.5M HBC Foundation Program Helps Fuel Success for Canadian Athletes
TORONTO, Feb. 23, 2018 /CNW/ – With the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang coming to a close, the HBC Foundation is proud to celebrate the success of its HBC Athlete Bursary Program recipients. A total of twenty HBC Athlete Bursary Program recipients joined the Canadian Olympic Team to compete in PyeongChang at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games with seven athletes reaching the podium, adding eight medals to Team Canada’s overall medal haul including four gold, two silver and two bronze.
The HBC Athlete Bursary Program recipients topping the podium include Kelsey Serwa – Freestyle Skiing – Skicross (Gold); Mikaёl Kingsbury – Moguls (Gold); Max Parrot – Snowboard Slopestyle (Silver); Justine Dufour-Lapointe – Moguls (Silver); Justin Kripps – Bobsleigh, two man (Gold); Samuel Girard – Short Track Speed Skating, 1,000m (Gold) and Short Track Speed Skating, 5,000m (Bronze) and Charle Cournoyer – Short Track Speed Skating, 5,000 m (Bronze). Each athlete captured the hearts of our nation as their Olympic dreams came true in PyeongChang over the past two weeks.
First announced in 2016 by the HBC Foundation, the HBC Athlete Bursary Program awards 50 Canadian athletes $10,000 per year until 2020. Many Canadian athletes struggle to cover costs involved with Olympic training. This $2.5 million investment helps contribute much-needed funding to Olympic hopefuls across Canada. Receiving a total of $50,000 over the course of five years, each recipient can invest toward activities that will benefit their development, including international competition, sport science support, training programs, equipment, coaching and nutrition.
“The HBC Athlete Bursary Program is a testament to the HBC Foundation’s ongoing commitment to sports excellence and helping Canadian athletes as they strive to compete at the highest level and achieve their goals and dreams,” said Alison Coville, President, Hudson’s Bay. “Investing in young Canadians to help them maximize their potential is something we are very proud of. Knowing we played a role in seeing these incredible athletes reaching the podium is so inspiring”
Since 2005, HBC Foundation has donated more than $46 million through fundraising programs such as the Red Mittens, an ongoing annual initiative that is symbolic of HBC’s commitment to Canadian athletes.
The following PyeongChang 2018 Canadian Olympic Team Athletes are all recipients of the HBC Athlete Bursary Program:
- Mikaёl Kingsbury – Moguls
- Justine Dufour-Lapointe – Moguls
- Erin Mielzynski, Alpine Skiing
- Melissa Lotholz, Bobsleigh
- Elisabeth Vathje, Skeleton
- Dustin Cook, Alpine Skiing
- Justin Kripps, Bobsleigh
- Yuki Tsubota, Freestyle Skiing
- Meghan Agosta, Ice Hockey
- Kelsey Serwa, Freestyle Skiing
- Marielle Thompson, Freestyle Skiing
- Simon d’Artois, Freestyle Skiing
- Kimberley McRae, Luge
- Ivanie Blondin, Speed Skating – Long Track
- Taylor Henrich, Ski Jumping
- Gilmore Junio, Speed Skating – Long Track
- Samuel Girard, Speed Skating – Short Track
- Charle Cournoyer, Speed Skating – Short Track
- Nathan Smith, Biathalon
- Max Parrot, Snowboard
ABOUT HBC FOUNDATION
Established in Canada in 2005 and in the U.S. in 2017, the HBC Foundation is the North American charitable arm of Hudson’s Bay Company. The foundation is a Canadian registered charity and a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization in the U.S. dedicated to improving lives by enhancing physical and mental health through education, access, research, and empowerment. By channeling the collective power of HBC’s banners in North America, including Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH and Gilt.com, the foundation helps to transform the mental health landscape.
ABOUT HUDSON’S BAY
HBC, incorporated in 1670, is North America’s oldest company. Hudson’s Bay has grown to become Canada’s most prominent department store, today operating 89 full-line locations and thebay.com. For the first time since the banner’s inception, Hudson’s Bay opened outside of Canada with 10 new stores in the Netherlands in 2017, and an online shopping destination at hudsonsbay.nl. This expansion introduces a new and exciting shopping experience in the Netherlands, catering to the Dutch market. Hudson’s Bay has established a reputation for quality, service, and style by offering well-edited assortments of exclusive and popular fashion, beauty, home and accessory designers and brands, as well as exclusive food concepts. It is part of the HBC brand portfolio.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC FOUNDATION
The Canadian Olympic Foundation empowers everyone to be an integral part of the Canadian Olympic Movement through giving in support of our Olympic athletes and future Olympians. We help enable Team Canada to thrive on their path to the podium.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team’s podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the Canadian Olympic Committee delivers resources that Canada’s elite athletes need to perform at their best and give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada’s Olympic movement, the Canadian Olympic Committee works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. By sharing our athletes’ stories, we inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
