Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here to share with you information on the Canadian Paralympic Committee and our athletes and coaches who are preparing for London. I'm the CEO. I proudly represent the 150 athletes and 40 coaches who will be representing our country in London in

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you very much for that question. You're absolutely right: it's the journey, not the gold medal. I think that restores an individual's sense of pride, confidence, and achievement. To reflect on what Peter just said, that ability to be part of a team, to compete, to be the b

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you for that question. As a matter of fact, in Quebec, at the University of Sherbrooke, we have researchers and research facilities helping to develop equipment for Paralympic athletes or athletes with disabilities. We're working very diligently, not only at the University

Canadian Heritage committee  That chair was an example of someone competing at the top of the elite sport at the world-class level. We are working with suppliers across the country, with corporate sponsors, and with government support, to help with the accessibility to further equipment for children in schoo

Canadian Heritage committee  We will proudly send 150 athletes to London.

Canadian Heritage committee  From my perspective, the Paralympics and the Pan Am Games in Toronto provide a huge opportunity for us to ensure that accessibility to all facilities are first-class and that legacy opportunities go beyond facilities into more volunteers, more athletes, more coaches, all of these

Canadian Heritage committee  That's absolutely right. It's not only the facility that has to be accessible but accessing it. You can imagine a wheelchair team trying to get to a facility. It involves special transportation requirements. All of this will be built into the Toronto and southern Ontario environm

Canadian Heritage committee  In the Paralympic community we operate at both ends of the spectrum. Our mandate is to field the Canadian Paralympic team going to the Paralympic Games, and to bring the best of the best to that arena. The coaches at that level of course are very elite, and are very focused on

Canadian Heritage committee  At the Paralympics, I don't have that available right off my tongue right now. Well...It's 12. Right. Sorry, I apologize; I thought you meant every level and classification.

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely.

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, I have 150 athletes attending. I'm sorry I'm not fluent with the ones who will be competing for the first time. I'm not fluent in their names at this point in time. I could get back to you on that.

Canadian Heritage committee  In terms of the competitions we're not competing in, that's probably about two-thirds of the events and opportunities to compete. We're not competing in two-thirds. The reason for that is multifold. First, perhaps the Canadian Paralympic athlete did not make the qualifying stand

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure to be here today to talk about our wonderful paralympic team and the Paralympic Games in London. We had an exceptional experience two years ago in Vancouver at our home games in 2010. That really provid

Canadian Heritage committee  I wish I knew the answer to that. It is true. I see it every day, our athletes see it all the time. The Olympic athletes come home, and professional athletes, and they get bonus money for competing. Watches and jewellery are tossed at them. Our athletes simply don't receive that.

Canadian Heritage committee  Since I've taken this job, my elbows have certainly gotten a little bit sharper in trying to toss them around a little bit more to make sure there is equitable and respectful treatment of all of our athletes. In many cases that is true; they are treated very, very well and very e