Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes joined Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell today in celebrating B.C.'s Sochi-bound athletes, coaches and mission staff who soon will participate in the 2014 Paralympic Games.

The 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will run March 7-16, 2014, in Sochi and will feature 12 athletes who were born or who train in B.C. - 22% of the Canadian team.

Oakes and Stilwell, who has won four gold Paralympic medals, kicked off the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific's Paralympic "WE CAN" campaign as they visited an inclusive gym at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE).

To support the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence's role in providing inclusive spaces for all athletes, Oakes announced the Province will provide a grant of $100,000 to assist with the development of a new accessible 400-metre, four-lane training track.

The B.C. government provides $2 million annually to Canadian Sport Institute Pacific to deliver programs and services in support of elite athletes, including para-athletes who train at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.

In attendance were para-alpine skier Morgan Perrin of Whistler, who competed in the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games, and Loren Pearson of Kamloops, who competes in para-rowing.

The Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence delivers inclusive fitness programs that promote active living and excellence in community sport. Patrons range from individuals pursuing general fitness to those competing at the national level and international levels.

Quotes:

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"Paralympians are a true inspiration to all British Columbians. Their determination and passion exemplifies the "WE CAN" spirit of the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and on behalf of the Government of British Columbia, I wish all of the athletes success in Sochi. I am also very pleased that we can contribute towards the new track planned at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence."

Michelle Stilwell, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum -

"I'm proud that British Columbia is a place where people of all abilities are given the opportunity and the supports they need to participate in sport. I send my best to the athletes as they strive for excellence in their chosen sport."

Jean-François Rapatel, Paralympic High Performance Athlete Development Advisor, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific -

"For a province that represents only 13% of our national population, we are proud of the fact that 22% of the 2014 Canadian Paralympic team will be comprised of athletes with a B.C. connection. Together with our partners, our team of sport scientists and professionals are committed to enhancing the current para-sport system to help win more medals for Canada. B.C.-based athletes brought home 74% of Canada's Olympic medals in 2010, which shows you our potential as we head into Sochi."

Robert Bettauer, CEO, Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) -

"PISE is committed to providing a barrier-free environment for all athletes, students and community patrons. In keeping with this priority, we provide an increasing range of adapted programming opportunities, ranging from high performance sport training to adapted physical literacy programs for youth."

Quick Facts:

• The "WE CAN" campaign is Canada's campaign in support of athletes competing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi.
• A total of 54 Canadian athletes will compete in all contested sports at the Sochi Paralympics: sledge hockey, wheelchair curling, para-alpine skiing, para-snowboard, para-Nordic skiing and biathlon. This total includes five guides for athletes with a visual impairment in para-Nordic and para-alpine skiing.
• The B.C. government contributed $24.5 million in capital funding to support the establishment of PISE.
• In addition to $2 million annually that is provided to the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development will provide close to $900,000 to support organizations that provide programs and services for adults with disabilities, including the BC Wheelchair Sports Association, the BC Adaptive Snowsports Association, and the BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association.

Learn More:

Canadian Sport Institute: http://www.csipacific.ca/

Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence in Sport: http://piseworld.com/

2014 Winter Paralympic Games: http://paralympic.ca/team-canada

Media Contact:

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 888-1462