Canadian Olympic Foundation Raises Funds for Gold Medal Podiums
WINNIPEG – Today, the Canadian Olympic Foundation (COF) continues its partnership with Gold Medal Plates (GMP) with a much anticipated event at the RBC Convention Centre. It is the third of the 10-city, cross-country series of fundraisers to raise funds for high performance sport in Canada.
“It is fantastic to see so many of Winnipeg’s people out to support Gold Medal Plates and Canada’s athletes,” said Simon Whitfield, four-time Olympian and two-time Olympic medallist. “These events are crucial in raising funds to help our country’s athletes be the best that they can be and Winnipeg has certainly shown that they value Canada’s sporting heroes.”
“We are fortunate that for the past 10 years, Gold Medal Plates has been instrumental in helping to raise funds for athletes in our country,” said Marcel Aubut, Canadian Olympic Foundation Chair and Canadian Olympic Committee President. “This continued support is possible because of events like this one, which go a long way in making progress a reality for so many of our worthy sporting heroes.”
In the afternoon, Olympians stopped by Ronald McDonald House Manitoba to share the Olympic Movement with the families and patients living there. Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children who are being treated at nearby children’s hospitals.
“Ronald McDonald House Manitoba is such an important organization and one that truly makes a difference in the lives of families with kids facing some difficult times,” said Sue Holloway, four-time Olympian and Los Angeles 1984 silver and bronze medallist. “I am so grateful that I am able to join Ronald McDonald House Manitoba to give back to families in Winnipeg when they need some happiness in their lives.”
In addition to Whitfield and Holloway, numerous other Canadian Olympians were also in attendance at the evening’s fundraising event, including: Wanda Guenette (1996); Rhiannon Leier (2000 and 2004); Michelle Sawatzky-Koop (1996); Mary Dempster (1976); Doreen Botterill (1964 and 1968); Curt Harnett (1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996); Michelle Cameron Coulter (1988); Al Coulter (1984 and 1992); David Pelletier (2002); Greg Joy (1976); Michelle Lischinsky (2000); Marie-Eve Marleau (2008); Susan Auch (1988, 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2002); Mark Oldershaw (2008 and 2012); Janine Hanson (2008 and 2012); France St-Louis (1998); Mark Nichols (2006); and Fiona Smitt-Bell (1998).
Similar events are scheduled to take place in Toronto, Regina, Calgary, Victoria, Saskatoon, St. John’s and Ottawa. Net proceeds will support high performance athletes through programs such as Own the Podium.
