Canada preparing for Paralympic Schools Week

Twenty-five schools have been selected to receive Paralympic athlete speakers, at no cost to the school.

Schools and communities across Canada will welcome some of the country's top para-athletes as guest speakers – many of them multiple Paralympic medallists – as part of Paralympic Schools Week 2014, presented in partnership with Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy Business.

Paralympic Schools Week takes place during the 12 days between the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, from 24 February – 7 March. Twenty-five schools have been selected to receive Paralympic athlete speakers, at no cost to the school.

For more information on Paralympic Schools Week 2014, including an exciting new fundraising initiative – spearheaded by a $20,000 donation in matching funds by Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy Business – please visit www.paralympic.ca/schoolsweek.

Media are invited to attend the athlete presentations, to take photos and to conduct interviews with students, staff and visiting athletes. Please RSVP by contacting the school directly.

Participating schools - Paralympic Schools Week 2014

Coast Meridian Elementary School (Surrey, British Colombia)

4 March 12:45 - 13:45

Athletes: Sarah Hunter (wheelchair tennis)

Contact: Tammy Corness (604 574 6036)

Free2BMe - The Steadward Centre (Edmonton, Alberta)

6 March 18:30 - 20:00

Athletes: Viviane Forest (goalball, para-alpine skiing), Carrie Anton (goalball)

Contact: Amanda Ebert (780 492 7091)

Mitford School (Cochrane, Alberta)

24 February 11:00 - 12:00

Athlete: Jaye Milley (para-cycling)

Contact: Shannon Sekulich(403 932 4457)

W. S. Hawrylak School (Regina, Saskatchewan)

3 March 09:15 - 10:15

Athlete: Amy Alsop (goalball)

Contact: Celeste Schnell (306 791 8445)

R.H.G. Bonnycastle School (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

24 February 14:30 - 15:30

Athlete: Jared Funk (wheelchair rugby)

Contact: Kim Gusdal (204 261 9400)

General Vanier School (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

25 February 09:00 - 10:00

Athlete: Jared Funk (wheelchair rugby)

Contact: Bernice Kozody-Scott (204 255 1400)

Preston High School (Cambridge, Ontario)

27 February 09:20 - 10:20

Athletes: Paul Rosen (sledge hockey) and Shayne Smith (sledge hockey)

Contact: Lauren Crosby (519 653 2367)

Stanley Park Sr. Public School (Kitchener, Ontario)

6 March 13:10 - 14:10

Athlete: Tyler Miller (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Kate Finnie (519 578 3750)

Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School (Ottawa, Ontario)

26 February 2014 10:30 - 11:30

Athlete: Patrice Dagenais (wheelchair rugby)

Contact: Mark Curtis (613 723 5136)

Roberta Bondar Public School (Ottawa, Ontario)

26 February 14:15 - 13:15

Athlete: Patrice Dagenais (wheelchair rugby)

Contact: Elizabeth McQuillan (613 736 7334)

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (Toronto, Ontario)

28 February 08:45 - 09:45

Athlete: Stephanie Dixon (para-swimming)

Contact: Paul Monaghan (516 393 5226)

Bloorview School Authority (Toronto, Ontario)

25 February 10:00 - 11:00

Athletes: Paul Rosen (sledge hockey) and Shayne Smith (sledge hockey)

Contact: Heather Margach (416 424 3831)

Sloane St. Public School (Toronto, Ontario)

28 February 13:00 - 14:00

Athlete: Stephanie Dixon (para-swimming)

Contact: Beth Ritchie (416 397 2920)

Innalik School (Inukjuak, Quebec)

24-26 February 2014

Athlete: Brian Hill (para-swimming)

Contact: Kate Crough (819 254 8211)

Centre Action (LaSalle, Quebec)

25 February 13:00 - 14:00

Athlete: David Eng (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Andrew Lindsay (514 258 8007)

École Victor-Doré (Montréal, Quebec)

27 February 09:00 - 10:00

Athlete : Benoît Huot (para-swimming)

Contact : Laura Gatto (514 596 4300)

École René St-Pierre (Montréal, Quebec)

27 February 13:00 - 14 :00

Athlete: Benoît Huot (para-swimming)

Contact: Marie-Eve Savoie (450 773 8408)

Liverpool St. School (Fredericton, New Brunswick)

26 February 09:00 - 10:00

Athlete: Dave Durepos (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Maxime Gauvin (516 453 5434)

Harvey High School (Harvey Station, New Brunswick)

26 February 13:00 - 14:00

Athlete: Dave Durepos (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Katie Black (506 366 2200)

Summerhill Elementary School (Oromocto, New Brunswick)

24 February 09:30 - 10:30

Athlete: Dave Durepos (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Cindy Keizer (506 357 4098)

Astral Drive Elementary School (Dartmouth, N.S.)

5 March 13:00 - 14:00

Athletes: Jamey Jewels (wheelchair basketball) and Adam Lancia (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Susan Steele (902 462 8500)

Aspotogan Consolidated (Hubbards, Nova Scotia)

5 March 08:15 - 09:15

Athletes: Jamey Jewels (wheelchair basketball) and Adam Lancia (wheelchair basketball)

Contact: Paula Baker (902 857 2600)

Leary's Brook Jr. High School (St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador)

4 March 09:30 - 10:30

Athlete: Katarina Roxon (para-swimming)

Contact: Colleen Hogan (709 726 9889)

Additional schools currently being confirmed

Glenbow School (Cochrane, AB)

Date TBC

Athlete: Jaye Milley (para-cycling)

Contact: Elizabeth Worley (403 932 4922)

École Jeanne LeBer (Montréal, QC)

Date TBC

Athlete : Benoît Huot (para-swimming)

Contact: Geneviève Tapin (514 596 5788)