A local speed skating club has claimed the $10,000 grand prize in a contest sponsored by Intact Insurance.
The award is presented by Speed Skating Canada, which holds a yearly event that recognizes significant contributions and achievements of local speed skating clubs across Canada. Intact Insurance is the official sponsor of Speed Skating Canada, and the insurer has donated a total of $380,000 to speed skating clubs since 2010.
The winner of this year’s Intact Insurance Club Excellence Award is the Iqaluit Speed Skating Club. The $10,000 cash prize it received will be used to fund its purchase of new crash mats, which will help promote skater safety and prevent concussions.
Four other clubs were recognized as finalists for the Club Excellence Award: Calgary Speed Skating Association, CPV West Island Cyclones, Peninsula Speed Skating Club, and Yellowknife Speed Skating Club. Each of these finalists will receive $2,500, which will also be used to fund their own initiatives, such as paying for ice rental fees, covering for coaching expenses, and launching a speed skating learning program.
“Intact Insurance’s ongoing support of Speed Skating Canada has helped elite athletes achieve their gold medal dreams, while also bolstering local speed skating clubs as they develop the next generation of Olympians and grow the sport’s popularity in communities across Canada,” said Speed Skating Canada CEO Susan Auch in a statement. “The funding provided through the Club Excellence Award will go a long way toward helping these five clubs deliver important programs to their members.”
“Intact Insurance is proud to be a sponsor of Speed Skating Canada and see the direct impact it has on the clubs. Congratulations to the Iqaluit Speed Skating Club,” commented Intact Insurance vice president of marketing, customer experience, and data marketing Humberto Valencia.
