Press kit. 22nd edition of Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) Police Officers Bike Tour

Transcription

1 Press kit 22nd edition of Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) Police Officers Bike Tour

2 Table of content About - SPVM Police Officers Bike Tour p. 3 Highlights - 35th Défi sportif AlterGo Summary - School section 35th Défi sportif AlterGo p. 6 p. 9 Biographies p. 10

3 About the 22nd edition of SPVM Police Officers' Bike Tour From August 20 25th, nearly 20 police officers, cyclists and volunteers will take part in the 22nd edition of the SPVM Police Officers Bike Tour. They will travel about 1,100 km across Quebec to raise funds for Défi sportif AlterGo s young athletes with functional limitations. The pack will stop successively in Venise-en-Québec, Lennoxville, Thetford Mines, Charny, Shawinigan, and Longueuil. This is the fifth consecutive year that participating police officers have committed to redistributing the profits from this fundraising activity to the youth section of Défi sportif AlterGo. 3

4 The money raised will help facilitate the transportation of many young athletes with functional limitations in order to guarantee their participation in Défi sportif AlterGo. In 2018, more than 6,000 took part in the event. In 1996, the SPVM Police Officers Bike Tour was established by then police sergeants Martin Aspirot and Claude Cuillerier. Eager to contribute and support the development of youth, year after year, these police officers have committed to donating the proceeds of the Bike Tour to organizations that serve the causes of young people with special needs. Since its creation, the initiative has benefited several causes, including Défi sportif AlterGo. The founders, Mr. Claude Cuillerier and Mr. Martin Aspirot at an award ceremony during the SPVM police officers Bike Tour, in This was the Montreal-Gaspé stop. 4

5 SPVM Police Offciers Bike Tour in pictures Montréal-Val d Or: the founders and some police officers in Val-d Or Montréal-Gaspé: the cyclists in front of the sponsors' truck Montréal-Gaspé: Police officers at the arrival in Gaspé Montréal-Gaspé: Martin Aspirot, Pierre Bruneau and a volunteer in Gaspé Montréal-Gaspé: Isabelle Schanck, Mario Lambert and Martin Aspirot 2000, Montréal-Gaspé: Martin Aspirot, Pierre Bruneau with a young athlete s parents Gaspé: Police officers and Mr. Pierre Bruneau during a check remittance ceremony Montréal-Bonaventure: Michèle Lavallée (volunteer), Martin Aspirot, Mario Lambert and Raz Mandjee (volunteer) th edition of SPVM Police Officers' Bike Tour Police officers at the kick-off of the 19th SPVM Police Officers' Bike Tour Police officers during the 20th edition of SPVM Police Officers' Bike Tour A couple of police officers arriving at the last stop of the 21st edition of SPVM Police Offciers' Bike Tour 5

6 Highlights 35th Défi sportif AlterGo 35 Years of Passion, Stories, Emotions, and Victories From April 23 29, 2018, nearly 7,000 up-and-coming and elite athletes with disabilities from Quebec and more than 25 countries participated in the 35th edition of Défi sportif AlterGo in Montreal and on the South Shore. Unique in the world, the Défi sportif AlterGo is the largest annual multisport event in Canada. The program of the 35th edition featured 15 sports, including athletics, basketball, boccia, rhythmic gymnastics, para hockey, wheelchair fencing, swimming, paracycling, para-athletics, and rugby. Over 1,300 volunteers and 100 partners contribute to the success of the Défi sportif AlterGo. Thanks to their ongoing involvement and dedication, the event has been happening for 35 years. 6

7 Free Access to Various Activities The animation area located on the 2nd floor of Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard offered initiation activities with elite athletes in several adapted sports and many other surprises. Top-level Competitions The first edition of the Chantal Petitclerc Classic: For its 35th edition, Défi sportif AlterGo hosted the very first edition of the Chantal Petitclerc Classic. Athletes from all across Canada participated in this para-athletic competition which featured track events at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard on April 28, Boccia World Open: About 100 athletes from 18 countries gathered at Maurice-Richard Arena from April 25 29, 2018 in Montreal. This competition allowed them to accumulate points for the 2018 World Championships. 7

8 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup: This competition hosted over 80 athletes from 15 countries at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard from April 27 29, 2018 and allowed athletes to accumulate points for the world ranking. C1 Para-cycling event sanctioned by the International Cycling Union: Nearly 40 athletes from 4 countries gathered at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on April 28 and 29, The competition allowed athletes to accumulate points for the world ranking. Para hockey: Canada s National Development Team selection camp was held over a 10-day period. The selected athletes played against the USA National Development Team from April 23 29, 2018 during a 3-day tournament at Howie-Morenz Arena. 8

9 Summary - School section 35th Défi sportif AlterGo 6,000 athletes from the school section. April 23 rd to 29 th, 2018 All types of disabilities 5 days of competition Multi-sport Athletics baseball basketball boccia CrossFit rythmic gymnastics hockey swimming soccer volleyball 2 competition sites in Montreal. 11 regions of Quebec. An activity area shining a spotlight on athletes, adapted sport and healthy lifestyle. Be Your Best Supported by Québec en Forme, the Be Your Best project is an initiative by Défi sportif AlterGo whose aim is to raise awareness amongst young Quebecers with functional limitations and their entourage about adopting daily healthy living habits. SPVM Police Of f icers Bike Tour Press kit, August

10 Biographies Maxime Gagnon Director of Défi sportif AlterGo Maxime Gagnon has been working at Défi sportif AlterGo for over 20 years. Since 2011, he has served as Director of Défi sportif AlterGo and Deputy Director General of AlterGo. Mr. Gagnon is an avid sports enthusiast and has always been active in events related to this field. He attended the Freestyle World Cup in the early 90 s after serving three years with the Quebec Ski Federation. Maxime Gagnon strove to promote Défi sportif AlterGo on the world stage. As a result, it attracted various adapted sports championships. For several years, he has been involved in the development of para-hockey in Quebec. Today, he is the coach of the Quebec team, general manager of Hockey Luge Montréal and president of Quebec Hockey Federation s provincial sledge hockey committee. In 2016, the Canadian Paralympic Committee awarded him the Paralympic Development Coach Award. SPVM Police Of f icers Bike Tour Press kit, August

11 Jean-Marie Lapointe Spokesperson of Défi sportif AlterGo Spokesperson of Défi sportif AlterGo for 17 years, Jean-Marie Lapointe has succeeded in motivating hundreds of young athletes with functional limitations. He leverages his communication skills to promote the potential of people with functional limitations. Talented artist and great communicator, he carries the message high and wide and knows how to touch people's hearts, which is essential to changing people s mentalities. In addition to representing Défi sportif AlterGo, Jean-Marie Lapointe gives a helping hand to young people struggling with eating disorders. He also assists young people at the end of their lives as well as their families. With passion, Mr. Lapointe introduces the public to the reality of homeless people through his series Face à la Rue, whose second season is now broadcast on Moi & Cie TV station. Involved on a year-round basis, he is a strong advocate for all social inclusion off all kinds. SPVM Police Of f icers Bike Tour Press kit, August

12 For more information on Défi sportif AlterGo evenement.defisportif.com defisportif.com Source and interview requests Anne Nadia Edimo Communications Officer Media Relations T , ext. 237 C anne-nadia@altergo.ca