Executive Council
Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
May 15, 2015

Recognizing Athletic Excellence

Premier�s Athletic Awards Honour Province�s Top Athletes

Close to 120 of the province�s most accomplished young athletes, representing 26 sports, were honoured yesterday (Thursday, May 14) by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, during the 11^th annual Premier�s Athletic Awards. The ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn in St. John�s.

�The Premier�s Athletic Awards program was developed to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of our province�s top athletes, and to encourage them, and support them, in their continued pursuit of excellence. The awards program acknowledges the passion and commitment these elite athletes have for their chosen sport, and provides them with financial assistance to help offset the cost of their continued athletic development.�
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The program provides grants ranging from $500 to $1,500 to assist young athletes in covering the costs associated with training and competition at the elite level. The amount each athlete receives is dependent on the level of competition in which they are engaged, and their respective accomplishments.

A complete list of award winners can be found in the backgrounder below.

�These young athletes are an inspiration to us all. They continue to reach new levels of athletic achievement provincially, nationally and internationally and, equally as important, they serve as examples of how to live an active, healthy lifestyle. As a Provincial Government, we remain committed to the development and support of athletic excellence. We want to provide our provincial athletes � particularly our emerging athletic talent � with every opportunity to reach their goals.�
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development

Thursday�s event also included the presentation of Team Gushue Scholarship Awards, valued at $5,000 each, to Jillian Forsey of Kippens (athletics) and Ben Taylor of St. John�s (target shooting). This is the second consecutive year each of these athletes has been awarded the Team Gushue Scholarship.

Ms. Forsey is enrolled in the Pre-Medicine Honours Program at the University of West Virginia. She has broken a number of long-standing provincial long-distance running records over the past year, and was ranked number one in Canada in 2014 in the outdoor 5,000-metre event.

Mr. Taylor recently completed a Bachelor of Science degree from Memorial University. He was Canadian Air Rifle Champion two years in a row and was ranked in the top 100 in the world in 2014. He recently earned gold medals at the Pan Am Games trials in Fort Benning, Georgia, and at the recent North Atlantic Air Gun Challenge in St. John�s.

Established in 2005, the Premier�s Athletic Awards program has provided more than $1 million to recognize and support athletic excellence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Over the past seven years, Provincial Government support for sport development has increased steadily from $2.5 million to $3.5 million annually.

For eligibility requirements and further information about the Premier�s Athletic Awards and other elite athlete assistance programs, see: www.swsd.gov.nl.ca/recreation/financial_assistance/athletic_excellence_fund.html.

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BACKGROUNDER
Premier�s Athletic Awards Recipients

2015 05 15                                                                        10:10 a.m.