Journey: The Impact Issue

Claudia Holzner - Artistic Swimming

the impact issue

Katie Vincent - Canoe

the impact issue

Contents

Issue no.1 summer 2021 A publication by CAN Fund 106 Berkeley St Toronto, ON M5A 2W7 (416) 487-4442

To Donate www.MyCANFund.ca

3 6 7 8 9 13 15 17 18 19 21 23 25 26 27 29 33 34 35 36

Year 5 Of The Journey Watching CAN Fund Alumni At The Games Thank You Frontline Workers Meet The Summer CAN Fund Recipients Special Feature 4 Ways To Give Women Supporting Women Our Most Popular Campaign Monthly Donor Community CAN Fund Legacy In Tokyo Learning From The World’s Best The Athletes Charity CAN Fund Side Gig Athletes Charity Dinner Reinvented CAN Fund Recipients As Seen In...

Comeback Story Celebrate The Magic Inaugural Virtual BE EPIC Run Another Impactful Fundraiser Art Fundraiser

Thank you to our Team

Jane Roos CAN Fund Founder

Conrad Leinemann CAN Fund COO

Ali Martincek CAN Fund Athlete Relations Manager

Meagan Walton CAN Fund Marketing/ Communications

Letter from Jane

I

survived a car accident that took the life of my dear friend Tina Lafontaine. I didn’t realize at the time that it would turn into my greatest life lesson. Like everyone reading this we all have choices, and the choices we make everyday reshape and redefine our future. The number one question I started to ask myself is what is my WHY? What is it that I am supposed to do with this one precious life I get to live?

Outside of love I believe “magic” is one of the most powerful words. Creating magic in people’s daily lives brings me pure joy.

I was fortunate to have a second chance and throughout my journey many people have come in and out of my life teaching me how to be awake in the moment and to keep being unreasonable. My coach would tell me you are always going to have problems, so have problems worthy of your life. Having 850 athletes apply to CAN Fund during a pandemic with donations down 50% are problems worth having!

One of my favourite movie endings is “The Pursuit of Happyness” when Will Smith’s character is asked “was it as easy as it looked?” This really resonates with me, building CAN Fund and getting people to care about athletes when they are out of the spotlight is not easy. It keeps me up at night. What is easy though, is in a world full of people who want to tell

you what you can’t do, every CAN Fund donor is telling our athletes what they can do! Every donation makes it a little bit easier to overcome the many obstacles our Canadian athletes face to wear the maple leaf. Our athletes continue to get back up, which is something I respect and inspires me to keep asking, despite the thousands of “no’s” I receive.

The Games are an extraordinary time where we are captivated by our athletes, their stories and their performances.

Every athlete you are watching has overcome so much to be there and for this reason we called our magazine Journey!

Tomorrow is not guaranteed and nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks.

To me, living a remarkable life is doing something every day my future self will be proud of.

I invite you to give me a call at 416-487-4442 to learn how you can be part of an athlete’s success and join them on their journey!

Lots of magic

Jane CAN Fund Founder

www.MyCANFund.ca

YEAR 5

Ghislaine Landry, Rugby Sevens Captain, 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2020 Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund Recipient “When we’re training for the Olympics, we prepare ourselves for every possible outcome we can think of, so when the day comes we are ready and we can remain focused. No one ever planned for a global pandemic, no one ever imagined having to re-do an Olympic year. The only way this has been possible is because of the support we have received to train in isolation, to build home gyms, to organize and afford another year of training, travel and life. 2020 was one of the hardest years of my life, and it would not have been possible without the support of CAN Fund and it’s wonderful donors like you.” - Ghislaine

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Pamphinette (Pam) Buisa, Rugby Sevens, 2020 Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient Pam helped coordinate two rallies in Victoria to “fight against injustice for black and brown people,” and created a mutual aid fund for those who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

“For myself it’s been a lot of figuring out what I can do in my position. I love rugby, I love my teammates, but I also know that it’s more than just rugby.” - Pam

“Being month So I wa ground realize enough the poo baled m - Kyra

Kierra Smith, Swimming, 2016 & 2020 Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund Recipient “Our Olympic trials for swimming were postponed a year from April 4th, 2020, to April 4th, 2021, and then again to May 24th, 2021. Our pools were open for practices, but not yet for competition, so instead, we had a “virtual” swim meet.

We swam time trials during our regular practice time and submitted our results to compare with the rest of the swimmers in the province. It’s not the same as a competition, but we have proven to be adaptable.” - Kierra Erika Polidori, Softball, 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient When the Games were postponed, Erika chose to go back to nursing and do her part on the frontlines.

“Working during the pandemic has been tough and mentally exhausting but the resiliency, teamwork, and strength of my coworkers has been energizing and made me so proud. “- Erika

ristmas, Water Polo, 2020 Olympian, nd Recipient

rained for the Games in her made hay bale pool in Calgary.

g out of the pool for over a was just a bit too long for me. was looking at buying an above d pool for the first time and I ed that none of them are deep h to tread water. Closing down ols was my last straw, so I … myself out and made my own.”

Congratulations to all of the CAN Fund #150Women recipients competing for Canada

We at Nicola Wealth are incredibly proud of how far you’ve come and share your commitment to delivering superior performance.

We are honoured to be a CAN Fund #150Women Premier Partner nicolawealth.com/150women

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE CAN FUND ALUMNI WHO ARE WORKING FOR CBC DURING THE TOKYO GAMES TO COVER OUR CANADIAN ATHLETES! Adam Kreek – Analyst Rowing Anastasia Bucsis – Reporter Alison Bradley – Analyst Softball Blythe Hartley – Analyst Diving Carol Huynh – Analyst Wrestling Cassie Hawrysh – Reporter John Hastings – Analyst Canoe/Kayak Slalom & CAN Fund Board Member Karen Furneaux – Analyst Canoe/Kayak Sprint Kelly Vanderbeek – Reporter ▫️ Kyle Shewfelt – Analyst Gymnastics Mark Heese – Analyst Beach Volleyball Perdita Felicien – Tokyo Today Scott Sandison – Analyst Field Hockey Summer Mortimer – Reporter

“I feel like I’m representing the maple leaf over there, the same way athletes are giving it their best - I go with the intention to give my best and do honour to their stories and connect Canadians to their stories.”

- Kelly VanderBeek

CELEBRATING FRONTLINE WORKERS

One way CAN Fund donors celebrate each athlete becoming an Olympian is through our Maple Leaf Home Paintings fundraiser. Each painting is a $250 donation to CAN Fund which supports our athletes who compete for Canada. With the postponement of the Games, we came up with a great idea to celebrate our frontline workers with Maple Leaf Home Paintings for their commitment to keeping an entire country safe.

The CAN Fund I STAY HOME FOR campaign invited athletes coast to coast to nominate a frontline worker in their life to be gifted a CAN Fund Maple Leaf Home Painting from our donors as our way of saying “Thank You.”

Each Maple Leaf Home Painting is a custom 8x8, acrylic on canvas with a gloss finish by artist Jane Roos.

THANK YOU! Adaptive Rowing Andrew Todd Bayleigh Hooper Jeremy Hall Jessye Brockway Kyle Fredrickson Archery Crispin Duenas Stephanie Barrett Tania Edwards Virginie Chenier Artistic Swimming Andrée-Anne Côté Audrey Joly Camille Fiola-Dion Cassandra Winkelaar Claudia Holzner Emily Armstrong Halle Pratt Jacqueline Simoneau Kenzie Pridell Rosalie Boissoneault Athletics Alicia Brown Alysha Newman Andrea Seccafien Benjamin Preisner Bismark Boateng Brittany Crew Christabel Nettey Crystal Emmanuel Dayna Pidhoresky Django Lovett Evan Dunfee Geneviève Lalonde Georgia Ellenwood Jerome Blake John Gay Julie-Anne Staehli Khamica Bingham Kyra Constantine Lauren Gale Leya Buchanan Lindsey Butterworth Lucas Bruchet Madeline Price Malindi Elmore Mohammed Ahmed Natalie Hawthorn Natasha Wodak Natassha McDonald Nicole Oudenaarden Noelle Montcalm Phylicia George Rachel Cliff Regan Yee Sarah Mitton Sekou Kaba Tim Nedow Trevor Hofbauer Badminton Jason Ho-Shue Brian Yang Beach Volleyball Ben Sexton Brandie Wilkerson Grant O’Gorman Sam Pedlow Sam Schachter Boccia Alison Levine Iulian Ciobanu Marco Dispaltro

Boxing Mandy Bujold Myriam DaSilva Rondeau Tammara Thibeault Canoe/Kayak (Sprint) Alanna Bray-Lougheed Alex Scott Andréanne Langlois Brian Malfesi Courtney Stott Hannah MacIntosh Katie Vincent Laurence Vincent-Lapointe Lissa Bissonette Madeline Schmidt Mark de Jonge Marshall Hughes Natalie Davison Nicholas Matveev Pierre-Luc Poulin Roland Varga Simon McTavish Sophia Jensen Vincent Jourdenais Canoe/Kayak (Slalom) Ben Hayward Cam Smedley Florence Maheu Haley Daniels Liam Smedley Lois Betteridge Michael Tayler Spencer Pomeroy Cycling (Track) Aidan Caves Allison Beveridge Amelia Walsh Annie Foreman-Mackey Ariane Bonhomme Derek Gee Georgia Simmerling Hugo Barrette Jay Lamoreux Kelsey Mitchell Kinley Gibson Lauriane Genest Michael Foley Nick Wammes Vincent De Haître Cycling (BMX) James Palmer Cycling (XCO) Peter Disera Diving Caeli McKay Celina Toth Francois Imbeau-Dulac Jennifer Abel Meaghan Benfeito Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu Pamela Ware Rylan Wiens Vincent Riendeau Equestrian Shelby Brost Fencing Alex Cai Alanna Goldie Eleanor Harvey Eli Schenkel Gabriella Page

Meet the athletes our CAN Fund donors have impacted on their journey to compete for Canada.

We are continuing to fund para athletes who will be representing Canada (Aug 24th - Sept 5th)

Jessica Guo Joseph Polossifakis Marc-Antoine Blais-Belanger Marissa Ponich Maximillien Van Haaster Maxine Brinck-Croteau Shaul Gordon Field Hockey (Men’s) Adam Froese Antoni Kindler Balraj Panesar Brandon Pereira Brendan Bissett David Carter David Vandenbossche Devohn Noronha Teixera Floris Van Son Gabriel Ho-Garcia Gordon Johnston Iain Smythe James Kirkpatriack James Wallace John (Fin) Boothroyd John Smythe Keegan Pereira Mark Pearson Matthew Sarmento Oliver Schofield Richard Hildreth Scott Tupper Sukhi Panesar Taylor Curran Field Hockey (Women’s) Alison Lee Brienne Stairs Caashia Karringten Danielle Hennig Kate Wright Maddie Secco Natalie Sourisseau Sara McManus Stephanie Norlander Gymnastics (Men’s Artistic Gymnastics) Jackson Payne René Cournoyer Gymnastics (Rhytmic Gymnastics) Katherine Uchida Gymnastics (Trampoline) Jeremy Chartier Samantha Smith Sarah Milette Sophiane Méthot Gymnastics (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) Ana Padurariu Ellie Black Emma Spence Rose Woo Shallon Olsen Victoria Woo Indoor Volleyball Lucas Van Berkel TJ Sanders Judo Antoine Valois-Fortier Arthur Margelidon Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard Ecaterina Guica

Jessica Klimkait Shady El Nahas Modern Pentathlon Kelly Fitzsimmons Robert Bonomo Para Athletics Austin Smeenk Janz Stein Liam Stanley Nathaniel Riech Pamela LeJean Renee Foessel Para Canoe/Kayak Mathiue St-Pierre Para Cycling Alexander Hyndman Charles Moreau Keely Shaw Marie Ève-Croteau Michael Sametz Para Equestrian Winona Hartvikson Para Swimming Abigail Tripp Katarina Roxon Morgan Bird Nicholas Bennett Nicolas Guy Turbide Shelby Newkirk Para Triathlon James Cook Jessica Tuomela Jon Dunkerley Kamylle Frenette Stefan Daniel Rowing Andrea Proske Avalon Wasteneys Caleigh Filmer Carling Zeeman Christine Roper Cody Bailey Conlin McCabe David De Groot Gabrielle Smith Gavin Stone Hillary Janssens Ivy Elling Quaintance Jakub Buczek Jennifer Casson Jennifer Martins Jessica Sevick Jill Moffatt Joshua King Kai Lagerfeld Kasia Gruchalla-Weiserski Kristen Kit Kristina Walker Laura Court Lisa Roman Luke Gadsdon Mackenzie Copp Madison Mailey Matthew Buie Maxwell Lattimer Morgan Rosts Nicole Hare Patrick Keane Rebeccer Zimmerman Stephanie Grauer Susanne Grainger

Sydney Payne Tim Schrijver Trevor Jones Will Crothers Rugby (Men’s) Justin Douglas Rugby (Women’s) Bianca Farella Breanne Nicholas Britt Benn Caroline Crossley Charity Williams Elissa Alarie Emma Chown Ghislaine Landry Julia Greenshields Kaili Lukan Karen Paquin Kayla Moleschi Keyara Wardley Olivia Apps Pamphinette Buisa Sara Kalijuvee Sailing Alexandra Ten Hove Oliver Bone Sarah Douglas Tom Ramshaw Shooting Elizabeth Longley Lynda Kiejko Sitting Volleyball Jennifer Oakes Payden Olsen Soccer Erin McLeod Nichelle Prince Quinn Softball Emma Entzminger Erika Polidori Holly Speers Janet Leung Jenna Caira Jennifer Gilbert Jennifer Salling Joey Lye Kaleigh Rafter Kelsey Jenkins Larissa Franklin Morgan Rackel Natalie Wideman Sara Groenewegen Victoria Hayward Sport Climbing Alannah Yip Sean McColl Swimming Finlay Knox Jade Hannah Katerine Savard Kayla Sanchez Kierra Smith Markus Thormeyer Mary-Sophie Harvey Stephanie Horner Sydney Pickrem Taylor Ruck Tessa Cieplucha Yuri Kisil

Table Tennis Eugene Wang Jeremy Hazin Taekwondo Skylar Park Yvette Yong Triathlon Amélie Kretz Joanna Brown John Ramussen Water Polo Amanda Amorosa Axelle Crevier Claire Wright Clara Vulpisi Elyse Lemay-Lavoie Emma Wright Gurpreet Sohi Hayley McKelvey Jessica Gaudreault Joelle Bekhazi Kelly McKee Kindred Paul Kyra Christmas Monika Eggens Shae Fournier Wheelchair Basketball (Men’s) Collin Higgins David Eng Nikola Goncin Wheelchair Basketball (Women’s) Arinn Young Cindy Ouellet Danielle DuPlessis Élodie Tessier Erica Gavel Kady Dandeneau Maude Jacques Puisand Lai Rosalie Lalonde Sandrine Bérubé Tamara Steeves Tara Llanes Wheelchair Tennis Robert Shaw Wrestling Amarveer Dhesi Alexandria Town Danielle Lappage Darthe Capellan Diana Weicker Emily Schaefer Erica Wiebe Hannah Taylor Jessica MacDonald Jordan Steen Korey Jarvis Natasha Fox Olivia Di Bacco

CAN FUND AWARD The CAN Fund Impact Award celebrates extraordinary Canadians. Individuals from all different sectors are being acknowledged for the significant impact their work has made and continues to make in the lives of others.

CAN Fund is proud to honour Pat Bolger as a CAN Fund Impact Award winner joining Dr. Peter Jensen and Ron MacLean. Pat has been part of the CAN Fund family since the very beginning and continues to make a difference in the lives of our Canadian athletes today. He is a two-time Olympian, having represented Canada in wrestling at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Games. In 1970, Pat’s father, Frank, wrote a letter to their local MLA encouraging the Federal Government to start financially supporting Canadian athletes.

That letter was read in the House of Commons and as a result, Pat was part of a very small group of 8 athletes that received $2,000 for the year. This paved the way for the beginning of government funding to our top level athletes competing for Canada on the world stage.

Today, Canada’s best athletes receive $1,765 a month to live on from the government, a significant increase from the 70’s but still underscores the importance of CAN Fund in filling the funding gap that our athletes face to wear the maple leaf.

Pat also introduced CAN Fund to Taxi Advertising Agency co-founders, Paul Lavoie and Jane Hope. That introduction resulted in Taxi producing a national pro bono PSA which included two commercials and a print campaign. The CBC followed the making of the PSA and created a documentary that aired on The National. Currently, Pat is a member of the CAN Fund Athlete Selection Committee, a position he has held for over a decade. He continues to be our most faithful and passionate volunteer, giving countless hours of his time to CAN Fund. Thank you Pat for your dedication and helping our Canadian athletes on their journey to being world class!

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STAY FOCUSED, DO THE WORK, WEAR THE MAPLE LEAF, INSPIRE A NATION

4 WAYS

TO GIVE @150Women • @CANFund

1 Make a one time donation By making a one time donation you will have an immediate impact on an athletes’ ability to train and compete for Canada.

2 Patrons of Sport Monthly Donor $10 or more a month, you choose. Automatic deductions are made from your credit card each month and you can change the amount at any time. At the end of the year, you will receive a tax receipt for your total donation along with the names of the athletes you have supported.

3 CAN Fund #150Women Join a community of women coast to coast who are donating $150 or more to support female athletes.

Over 1100 women are now CAN Fund #150Women members and to date 365 female athletes are CAN Fund #150Women recipients, receiving $6,000 each.

4 Adopt An Athlete Corporate Canada and business leaders have made this our #1 program at CAN Fund since 2003. Donation is $10,000.

CAN Fund will work with your company to facilitate the opportunity for you to meet your athlete after the Games and to personally hear how your donation impacted their journey.

www.MyCANFund.ca

Launched

Nov 2017

Over

1100 Members

365 Female Athletes Funded

10,000 Member Goal by 2022

CAN Fund #150Women is a network of exceptional women from every province, ranging in age from 18-82, who are donating $150 or more to support female athletes. Our members imagine a world where we all improve each other’s lives by sharing knowledge, passions and networks to build a community of purpose.

Some CAN Fund #150Women features include our BE EPIC Class which are evenings of inspiration and learning led by CAN Fund #150Women members and CAN Fund #150Women recipients. Each week we also celebrate one of our members in our BE EPIC Spotlight Series via @150Women.

SAVE THE DATE: The 4th ANNIVERSARY BASH is happening on November 30th, 2021!

Sponsorship opportunities available.

“The Games are so much more than 2 weeks, it’s the YEARS that go into it and without your support I don’t know what we do.” - Erica Wiebe, Wrestling, 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2020 Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient

ADOPT AN Meet one of the many athletes who was supported through our CAN Fund Adopt An Athlete program!

Khamica Bingham, Athletics, 2-time Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund Recipient

We subscribe to things every month like cable, internet and music because they benefit our lives, but our Patrons of Sport Monthly Donors benefit the lives of our athletes who compete for Canada and inspire a nation. We are so grateful for our monthly donor community and the comfort they bring by knowing they are always there.

Join Patrons of Sport for $10 or more a month www.MyCANFund.ca

CAN Fund Legacy In

“Without CAN Fund it would have been very hard to put in the training and make the sacrifices needed to stand at the top step of the podium.”

Rosie MacLennan, Trampoline, 2012 & 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, 4-time Olympian, 6-time CAN Fund Recipient

CAN Fund started impacting Rosie’s journey in 2007. Now Rosie gives back to CAN Fund paying it forward to support her fellow athletes on their world class pursuit.

Tokyo

When Axelle Crevier hops into the pool as a member of the Canadian Women’s Water Polo Team at the Tokyo Games, she’ll be reprising some CAN Fund legacy. Axelle is the second Olympian in her family, following in the footsteps of her mother, Marie-Claude Deslières, who competed for Canada in the same sport at the Sydney Games in 2000. Both Marie-Claude and Axelle are CAN Fund Recipients; one in 1999 and the other in 2020.

Above: Axelle is the child in the middle staring at the water polo ball with her mother Marie-Claude, father and two siblings. The photo in the circle is Axelle today representing Canada.

CAN Fund Recipient since 2003, Nikola Girke is the most veteran athlete for Canada competing in Tokyo. She is sailing in her 5th consecutive Summer Games having also represented Canada in Rio, London, Beijing and Athens.

Malindi Elmore was first a CAN Fund recipient in 2003 and competed in Athletics in the 800m at the Athens Games. Now, 17 years later, she is poised for her second Games appearance in Tokyo, this time competing in the Marathon.

Malindi is 41, a mother of 2 boys and a multiple CAN Fund recipient.

A speaking series by Canadian athletes Our athletes are great storytellers and through CAN TALKS they are sharing their journey of success, failures, lessons learned and behind the scenes experiences on what it takes to go after your dream, living boldly and overcoming many obstacles. To date, 53 athletes have hosted CAN TALKS. We are so proud of 3-time Olympic basketball player and CAN Fund Recipient Miranda Ayim for being named as one of Canada’s flag bearers for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2020 Games.

Watch her CAN TALKS - Stillness As A Competitive Advantage, featured on our CAN Fund YouTube Channel.

CAN TALKS

Miranda Ayim - Basketball Stillness As A Competitive Advantage

CAN Talks athlete roster

Learn from the world’s best.

Every CAN TALKS is raising support for CAN Fund.

To book for your company, team or event, e-mail: Ali.CANFund@gmail.com or Call: 416-487-4442

Testimonials “These CAN Talks are great. All of the athletes have obviously put careful thought into what they say, and the Q&A is fun. Gen was like a ray of sunshine today. I am very pleased to be a CAN Fund supporter”. - Robin Campbell, CAN Fund #150Women Member “One of my favourite things to come out of this quarantine has been the daily CAN TALKS hosted by CAN Fund. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with Canadian athletes who host the zoom calls and share their experiences, training strategies, mental skills and Olympic expertise.”

- Erika Polidori, Softball, 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient

New Era of Athlete Collaboration

Snowboarder Mercedes Nicoll was asked by Sway Beverages to choose a charity to support through their campaign and she selected CAN Fund.

Athletes refer to CAN Fund as a family and the pandemic took that to a whole new level building an even stronger community. The Sydney Games was the first time CAN Fund supported athletes including Olympic gold medalist wrestler Daniel Igali! It is now easier to share with Canadians the athletes who are not CAN Fund recipients as opposed to naming the athletes who are. It seems at some point in nearly every athlete’s journey they rely on CAN Fund. From Adam van Koeverden, Clara Hughes, Jon Montgomery to Christine Sinclair.

Athletes are taking over CAN Fund on social media sharing a behind the scenes look at their journey, doing interviews with each other and reaching out to their media contacts to do stories on the impact of CAN Fund.

CAN Fund Alumni are giving back by becoming monthly donors and joining CAN Fund #150Women. The Fund has hired athletes part-time and athlete parents are sharing the Fund with their networks.

The legacy of CAN Fund has inspired this new generation of athletes to step up, to collaborate and to shape a CAN Fund that is for each other, to help each other succeed. The athletes’ charity! Until all of us have made it, none of us have made it.

Rower Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski created a CAN Fund Donor thank you video with producer Jesse Jost (pro bono).

The video is featured on www.MyCANFund.ca.

BEHIND THE SCENES

TUESDAY TAKEOVER WITH Trevor Hofbauer - Athletics

@CANFund Marathoner Trevor Hofbauer’s Behind the Scenes Takeover Graphic.

Sprinter Khamica Bingham giving her car to support another athlete, Beach Volleyball player Grant O’Gorman.

MEET OUR

CAN FUND

SIDE GIG Athletes

During the pandemic we had the amazing opportunity to welcome these athletes to the CAN Fund team, working part-time while also balancing their training commitments. We are grateful for their incredible work ethic and dedication to helping share the impact of CAN Fund with Canadians.

Claudia Holzner, Artistic Swimming, 2020 Olympian & Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient “She believed she could, so she did.”

Ashley Pryke, Athletics “Stay healthy, have fun with it, and embrace all the moments. Because anything can happen.”

- Simone Biles

Eleanor Harvey, Fencing, 2-time Olympian & Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

Susanne Grainger, Rowing, 2-time Olympian, 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist & Multiple CAN Fund Recipient “Learn something new every day.” - My dad!

Dylan Bennett, Taekwondo “Keeping on, keeping on.”

Kierra Smith, Swimming, 2-time Olympian & Multiple CAN Fund Recipient “The world is run by people who keep showing up.”

Maddy Price, Athletics, 2020 Olympian & Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient “Make each day your masterpiece.” – John Wooden

Christine Roper, Rowing, 2-time Olympian, 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist & Multiple CAN Fund Recipient “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

– Naele Donald Walsch

Rebecca Frangos, Sport Climbing “Chasing a dream is like building a sandcastle.

Every grain of sand is important, even if you can’t see them all.” – Alexi Pappa

Maggie Coles-Lyster, Cycling “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass.

It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

– Vivian Greene

Elevate dinner conversations to a world-class level at your next dinner, by reserving a seat for a CAN Fund recipient. The Pre-Game Meal is at your home, with your friends and CAN Fund invites an athlete to join and share their journey. Your guests are then invited to make a donation to CAN Fund. Make your Pre-Game Meal as casual or as elegant as you like. There is a six guest minimum and it is available across Canada.

Email: Events@CanadianAthletesNow.com for more details.

“We loved hosting the Pre-Game Meal at our house. The stories that the athletes shared really brought their journey to life and allowed our friends to get a glimpse into what it takes to achieve greatness.

I highly recommend the experience!!”

- Andrew Long & Gina Mollicone-Long, Whistler, British Columbia

CAN Fund RECIPIENTS as seen in...

S

Above: Brigette Lacquette and Sarah Nurse - Hockey (Elle Canada) Top Left: Jayna Hefford - Hockey, Amelia Walsh - BMX and Crystal Emmanuel - Athletics (Zvelle) Top Right: Phylicia George - Athletics & Bobsleigh, Waneek Horn-Miller - Water Polo, Alanna Yip - Sport Climbing and Natalie Spooner - Hockey (Estée Lauder) Bottom Left: Skylar Park - Taekwondo (Adidas) Bottom Right: Evan Dunfee, Athletics (Kraft)

Our CAN Fund Comeback Journey: One of the most inspiring athletes we have ever met is Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski who won Olympic gold on July 29th, 2021 in the women’s 8 rowing. Her journey to stand on top of the Olympic podium in Tokyo is truly remarkable.

2020 Olympic Gold Medalist, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient

On June 13th, Kasia found out she was officially named to the Olympic team as one of the twenty nine rowers to wear the maple leaf in Tokyo! That same day while out cycling on a training ride, Kasia had a terrible accident where she suffered 32 stitches to her face, 17 stitches in her side and 8 stitches in her left knee. She also needed surgery to repair her broken collarbone. All of this, with the Games starting in just over a month. CAN Fund immediately made Kasia a 2021 CAN Fund #150Women recipient to help her with her recovery costs so she could focus on getting back to her pre-accident form as quickly as possible and despite the odds keep her dream alive. On July 10th, Kasia flew to Tokyo to join her teammates but she had to race again to earn her seat back in the boat! Kasia won the seat race and is now a 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist!

All members of the women’s 8 are multiple CAN Fund Recipients

FOR EVERY CAN FUND DONOR

- Kelsey Mitchell, Cycling, 2020 Olympian, Multiple CAN Fund #150Woman Recipient

Books CAN Fund Recipients Love Erika Polidori, Softball - “Quiet” by Susan Cain Maxwell Lattimer, Rowing - “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Deft the Odds” by David Goggins

Summer reading

Miranda Ayim, Basketball - “The Art of the Good Life”

by Rolf Dobelli TJ Sanders, Volleyball - “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” by Carol Dweck Larissa Franklin, Softball - “The Obstacle is the Way”

by Ryan Holiday Karen Paquin, Rugby - “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts Erica Wiebe, Wrestling - “Tigana” by Guy Gavriel Kay Georgia Simmerling, Cycling - “The Alice Network”

by Kate Quinn

Next Journey Issue – August 24th, 2021 Celebrating our Para Athletes

In the fall of 2019 CAN Fund travelled on a coast to coast tour to meet with athletes, attend their training sessions, host athlete dinners and surprise athletes as CAN Fund recipients. The tour kicked off in Nova Scotia and ended in Victoria, BC and we funded 72 athletes. One of the many athletes we saw on our tour was Race Walker Evan Dunfee, 2-time Olympian and Multiple CAN Fund Recipient.

CELEBRATING THE

CAN Fund Opens The TSX: A CAN Fund tradition on the first day of the Games is opening the TSX. It’s always a special opportunity for us to celebrate the athletes journey and the impact our donors have made. The majority of athletes competing for Canada are CAN Fund recipients. CAN Fund Founder Jane Roos, CAN Fund COO Conrad Leinemann, CAN Fund Athlete Relations Manager Ali Martincek along with CAN Fund donors representing the many fundraising campaigns joined Tanya Rowntree, Global Head of Client Success, Capital Formation, TMX Group to open the market celebrating the impact of investing in Canadian talent. 850 athletes applied to CAN Fund this year including para athletes Morgan Bird (swimming) and Keely Shaw (cycling) who were surprised during the market opening by becoming 2021 CAN Fund recipients.

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CAN Fund #150Women BE EPIC Run: At 3 years old Emery’s sign, “If I can see it, I can be it” shares the WHY of the CAN Fund #150Women. The virtual BE EPIC Run took place coast to coast from July 25th-28th and donations ranged from $10 to $18,000. Participants walked, ran, biked and fundraised all to help our female athletes train and compete for Canada. Thank you to CAN Fund Alumni and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist rugby player, Megan Lukan, for creating the www.BEEPICRun.ca website.

The BE EPIC RUN supported 7 female athletes as the newest 2021 CAN Fund #150Women Recipients: Anne Ferguson – Sitting Volleyball Danielle Duplessis – Wheelchair Basketball Jane Channell – Skeleton Jessye Brockway – Para Rowing Katarina Roxon – Para Swimming Marissa Papaconstantinou – Para Athletics Melanie Hawtin – Wheelchair Basketball

“Thank you everyone at CAN Fund #150Women.

I have no words to describe how thankful I am for being one of the many recipients of the Fund. I have a basketball wheelchair that is 6 years old and I have not been able to get a new one because I do not have enough money. Typically wheelchair basketball athletes get a new chair every year. With this funding I am now able to have a new basketball chair.”

- Melanie Hawtin, Wheelchair Basketball, 2-time Paralympian, 2021 CAN Fund Recipient

“Holy wow!!! What a fabulous surprise you orchestrated for the parents, specifically Glenn and I. The letter you planned from Natalie was over the top, it was so nice to feel her presence and of course I bawled like a baby for hours!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Hugs, hugs and more hugs!”

- Mary Wideman, Mother of 2020 Olympic Bronze Medalist Softball Player Natalie Wideman, Multiple CAN Fund #150Women Recipient

CAN Fund Parent Gift Boxes: Athletes were given the opportunity to nominate their parents to receive a CAN Fund Parent Gift Box as a thank you for everything they have done to support them and their dream. With parents cheering their sons and daughters on in Tokyo from afar this special gift has made their Games experience very meaningful. Along with CAN Fund swag, each Parent Gift Box includes a thank you letter from their child. We invite you to support the CAN Fund Parent Gift Box fundraiser now for the parents of our Paralympians by donating at www.MyCANFund.ca and then emailing Ashley.CANFund@gmail.com to share you would like to designate your donation to the CAN Fund Parent Gift Boxes. Each Gift Box is a donation of $200.

Support our Canadian athletes by bidding on art!

The online auction is celebrating accomplishment and living your dreams. The sales of all the paintings are supporting the hundreds of Canadian winter athletes who have already applied to CAN Fund for financial support on their journey. Bidding begins August 8th - August 22nd. Follow @CANFund & @150Women for the Auction links. Shout out to artist Charles Pachter for being part of every Art of Accomplishment Exhibit since 2008.

Photographer Peter Andrew Lusztyk, 37x49

Maple Leaf Home Painting, autographed by Andre De Grasse, Athletics, 4-time Olympic Medalist

”I am in awe of Canadian athletes!

Wishing them all the best of luck in Tokyo.” - Charles Pachter

Support our winter athletes on their journey.

Every donation you find out the athlete you are supporting and receive a tax receipt.

www.MyCANFund.ca | @CANFund | @150Women