Charlottetown, PE – Sport PEI is pleased to announce its inaugural KidSport Ambassador Team. The relationship was formed between KidSport PEI and the following accomplished, home-grown, athletes: Lorie Kane, Jared Connaughton, Mark Arendz, Brett Gallant, Emily Cameron, Mozzi Gyorio and Kameron Kielly.
Photo: Brett Gallant
Brett Gallant, from Charlottetown, PEI, currently plays second for the Brad Gushue Rink out of Newfoundland and Labrador.
He is also a 2016 Brier Silver Medalist, 2009 Canadian Junior Curling Champion, and a 2007 Canada Games Bronze Medalist
The mission is to create awareness of the KidSport Program, a charity that provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing sport. As elite athletes from PEI, the KidSport Ambassadors know the impact sport can have on youth. They recognize that all children deserve the opportunity to discover the power of sport.
Former Canadian Track Athlete and two time Olympian Jared Connaughton was asked to share his thoughts on becoming a KidSport PEI Ambassador. “I was excited to join (Team) KidSport for several reasons but specifically for the potential positive impact on the lives of young boys and girls, men and women sport can provide to their lives,” said Connaughton. “Without organizations like KidSport, access to foundational coaching, encouraging environments and safe equipment might never be realized.” Connaughton went on to explain that, “On PEI, sport is often the cornerstone of the community, a galvanizing force in building confidence and morale, and mostly importantly an opportunity to create a healthy sense of self and accomplishment, all important facets of a healthy productive society, all which ought to be accessible to all.”
Ambassadors Emily Cameron, Mark Arendz and Kameron Kielly’s first task was accept a cheque with KidSport PEI partner, D.P. Murphy Hotels and Resorts, represented by Mr. Danny Murphy, and Sport PEI President Tracey Clements for the funds raised at the recent KidSport Corporate Challenge.
In 2015, KidSport PEI disbursed over $150,000 in grants to over 640 youth. These grants aid in the rising costs of sporting equipment and registration fees. KidSport PEI is one of the only KidSport programs that do not implement any restrictions when it comes to the amount of families who apply for funding. In order to continue operating in this inclusive environment, fundraising efforts must be continuously generated each year.
For more information on Team KidSport, or the KidSport program, visit:
www.kidsportcanada.ca/prince-edward-island