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VICTORIA - High performance student athletes in Victoria and Kelowna now have the chance to split their school day between academics and training - giving them a better competitive edge - thanks to a $60,000 investment in two pilot sport schools established by Canadian Sport Centre Pacific (CSC Pacific) and PacificSport Okanagan, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

Each of the two pilot secondary schools will welcome 15 student athletes when they open their doors in September. Students enrolled in the program will spend half their day at their regular high school and half their day at the BC Sport School at the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence (PISE) in Victoria or the PacificSport Athlete Academy in Kelowna.

The sport schools are different from other sport academies in B.C. as participation is limited to high-performance athletes identified by CSC Pacific, PacificSport Okanagan and provincial sport organizations. Every student will have a personalized learning and training plan that includes courses in sport and human performance, personal tutoring, as well as time to train, study and compete. In addition, the sport schools offer multi-sport programming.

Quick Facts:

• The Province is providing $60,000 toward opening the first two pilot schools in Victoria and Kelowna.
• The high-performance sport development curriculum of the sport schools is the IGNITE program, which focuses on the elements of athleticism that build a well-rounded foundation based on balance, strength, speed and explosive power.
• Academic support in Victoria is being provided through the Sooke school district 62 (SD 62) and Juan de Fuca Distributed Learning.
• The sport school in Victoria is being delivered at PISE under the working title BC Sport School.
• The Victoria pilot partnership is with CSC Pacific, PISE, Camosun College and SD 62. As a result of this partnership, a teacher from SD 62 will be on site to deliver the sport school curriculum and provide educational support to athletes.
• Academic support in Kelowna is being provided through Central Okanagan school district 23 (SD 23).
• The sport school in Kelowna is being run by PacificSport Okanagan under the working title PacificSport Athlete Academy.
• The Okanagan pilot partnership is with CSC Pacific, PacificSport Okanagan and SD 23.
• As a result of this partnership, a teacher from SD 23 will be on site to deliver the sport school curriculum and provide educational support to athletes.

About CSC Pacific and PacificSport Okanagan:

CSC Pacific and PacificSport Okanagan, in partnership with the national network of Canadian Sport Centres and BC network of PacificSport Centres, deliver sport performance programs and services to help athletes and coaches win medals for Canada. Working in support of our national and provincial sport partners, the CSC Pacific and PacificSport Okanagan are creating a stronger system for the development of athletes, coaches, integrated support teams and sport performance facilities.

CSC Pacific and PacificSport Okanagan are supported by 2010 Legacies Now, the Province of B.C., Sport Canada, Own the Podium 2010, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and corporate supporters.

Find out more at: www.cscpacific.ca

Contacts:

Gillian Rhodes
Communications Manager
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 356-6334

Scott Allen
Manager, Communications and Community Engagement
Canadian Sport Centre Pacific
778 327-4096