Winter Athlete Spotlight

CAN Fund does our best work when our athletes are out of the spotlight and no one is watching or cheering or even aware of their journey to be the best in the world.

245 winter athletes have applied to CAN Fund for direct funding.

53% are female applicants and 47% are male applicants & represent 19 sports.

Jill Saulnier, Hockey, 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund Recipient

“CAN Fund is a huge part of the foundation of who I am as an athlete. Life is all about extra inches, and being supported by CAN Fund gives me that extra inch to help me be the best I can be so that I can make Canada proud every time I pull that jersey over my head.”

Paul Poirier, Figure Skating, 2-time Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund Recipient

“I first received a CAN Fund in 2009 leading up to the Vancouver Games. As a new member of the national team the support was invaluable in ensuring all my training needs were met leading into my first Games, and that support has not waned in the last 12 years, be it financial or emotional. The work of a few people to support hundreds and hundreds of athletes each Games and making sure they have all they need to be prepared and compete at their best I think is just really incredible. It pushes the boundaries of what we think individuals can achieve and also the way we think about supporting our athletes.”

55% winter applicants who applied to CAN Fund are in debt & have a negative income