OTTAWA (February 7, 2008) – AthletesCAN is pleased to introduce the Team ACAN Program which matches athlete representatives (reps) with AthletesCAN board members to encourage ongoing dialogue.
The program provides athlete reps with mentorship from proven athlete leaders and with benefits such as network building, learning about other sports and gaining leadership skills. On the flip side, the program will help AthletesCAN to keep a pulse on what’s happening with athletes across all sports and to foster athlete leaders.
“Athlete reps play an important role in the Canadian sport system by acting as a link between their national sport organization (NSO) and athletes within their sport,” says AthletesCAN President Claire Carver-Dias. “AthletesCAN board members look forward to working with athlete reps to provide support and guidance as they aim to keep the athlete perspective front and centre in their respective sports.”
The Team ACAN Program stems from a successful initiative created for the 2007 AthletesCAN Forum that matched athlete reps with AthletesCAN board members to provide a point of contact leading up to and at the event.
“Heading to my first AthletesCAN Forum as a first-time athlete rep, it was really helpful to have an athlete leader available to answer my questions and address my concerns,” says Modern Pentathlete Rep Joshua Riker-Fox. “Having a year-round contact at AthletesCAN will be beneficial as I navigate my responsibilities as the athlete rep for my sport.”
Diver Marie-Eve Marleau, who has been an athlete rep since 2005 and has attended three AthletesCAN Forums, adds: “AthletesCAN has always been open and responsive to my questions and concerns as an athlete rep, but having a specific contact adds a real sense of ease and comfort. I’m looking forward to participating in the Team ACAN Program and working with AthletesCAN year round.”
AthletesCAN’s board of directors consists of 11 current and former national team athletes.
For more information, contact:
Rachal Fleury
Communications Manager
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025
rfleury@athletescan.comwww.athletescan.com
AthletesCAN is the collective voice of Canadian national team athletes. Established in 1992, AthletesCAN provides programs of leadership, advocacy and education to ensure a fair, responsive and supportive sport system for athletes.