[K. Thorne]

The Record (Sherbrooke)

Byline: Mike Hickey

Tue 16 May 2006

Page: 18

Column: From the Bleachers

Source: Special to The Record

The Quebec Foundation for Sports Excellence is celebrating its 20th year of providing financial and moral support for Quebec's elite athletes.

Their contributions to the provincial sport landscape can't be overlooked.

At a time when budgets for sports and extracurricular activities are being cut or eliminated, the Foundation is providing funds for athletes' training and competitions.

Three weeks ago a trio of promising Eastern Townships athletes received bursaries from pulp and paper giant Cascades to help them continue their year-round training and their pursuit of international recognition while wearing Canadian colours.

Sherbrooke's Christelle Doyon, Catherine Hogan of Bedford and Sutton's Marie-Claude Surprenant were among 14 Quebec athletes who received $55,000 in grants. The province continues to lead the country in soliciting corporate donors for its amateur and international athletes.

In addition to providing funding for the 14 athletes, Cascades also announced that it had become the major sponsor of two young and promising freestyle skiers -- moguls sensations Alexandre Bilodeau and Audrey Robichaud -- until the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Such sponsorship has become a Quebec legacy.

Last month Olympc medallist Clara Hughes of Glen Sutton gave thanks to Hubert Lacroix for his personal support of her career over the past three years.

Lacroix, a corporate lawyer and former head coach of the McGill Martlets women's basketball team, supports two world class athletes under the auspices of the Foundation.

Like other Quebec athletes funded by the Foundation, Hughes has benefited not only financially but in other avenues of life as well. The monies received are used for personal trainers, sport psychologists and often enable an elite athlete to concentrate on competitions and in most cases academia. It is not surprising that a majority of the recipients are also excellent students.

The Foundation has also played an integral role in the development of Quebec university athletes. Last year it doled out over $400,000 and has plans to double that amount by 2010.

Last year's bursary winners included Bishop's University's Anouk Boulanger and Annie Martin of the University of Sherbrooke.

The list of companies supporting the Foundation is a who's-who of successful Quebec businesses, including the National Bank, Videotron, Hydro-Quebec, Saputo, Cascades, Molson Foundation and the Cirque du Soleil. The Montreal Alouettes and Montreal Impact have also got involved in creating bursaries for high school, college and university football players.

While most of the aforementioned companies donate back to the community, providing bursaries to athletes is still a novel idea in this country, with Quebec serving as the leader.

According to Cascades CEO Alain Lemaire, the company's success means giving back to the community and he feels strongly that it is an investment in the future of the province.

"We are convinced that offering Cascades Bursaries to some of the most promising athletes who represent the next generation of athletic excellence in the province of Quebec can make the difference, since they are remitted at a crucial moment in an athlete's career," Lemaire said.

"We have been involved in the Foundation since its first year in 1987, and we realize that these young people need out support and it is important for us to help these young people who are our future leaders."

[Lister Farrar]

This and the article by Barney Williams make me wonder about what investment has the greatest benefit. Both articles suggest funding elite athletes is important. I agree. But how much is the right balance? If our Olympians have funding, and do well, what is the net benefit for Canada? How about if we get more kids active, a la Silken Laumann's suggestion.

Yeah, I know the debate is an old one, but I still have little sense of what would make the bigger difference. It's also arguable both are part of the same contiuum, from role models and inspiration to PE and facilities.

So, have we got the balance right? (Leave aside the total amount for now; we all want more.)

[Fasta Masta]

Don't forget the grassroots as part of an integrated program.

I raced at the GP Raphael Levy for the 2nd time this year and was VERY impressed with the number of Minimees and peewees in boys and girls that they had racing.

There must have been at least 30 or 40 kids in each category, all kitted out and enjoying themselves immensly as part of the days activities. You barely ever see these categories in a race in ONtario, let aone these numbers of participants.

Its fine to have high performance programs but you need this type of involvment to feed the upper levels with talent.

Watch out for Quebec cyclists in the next 10 years.