CASN-RSAC - Support Quotations

APPLICATION STATUS

An Initiative of

Supported By

Support Quotations

The sports community speaks out in support of CASN/RSAC:

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SPORT COMMUNITY: Quotes

Canadians live sport everyday but few get the chance to see their amateur sport heroes in action. CASN/RSAC will fill a gap that matters to Canadians because sport matters, as we know, in every one of our communities.

Ian Bird, Senior Leader, Sport Matters Group

Athletes’ stories of successes and challenges are playing out in communities right across Canada and to bring these stories to the public motivates and inspires the entire country. AthletesCAN encourages the CRTC to see the value of amateur sports networks and to provide Canadian amateur athletes with the exposure they so greatly deserve.

Claire Carver-Dias, President, AthletesCAN

From our perspective, this CRTC application initiated by the COC is a very positive signal, because it is the entity with the most TV visibility initiating the creation of the Réseau du sport amateur canadien and the Canadian Amateur Sports Network.

Raymond Côté, Président, Sports-Québec

The COC clearly understands the extent to which the drive for excellence is intimately related to the efforts invested at the grass roots. To develop elite athletes, we must generate interest in our youth to become involved in sport and competition.

Raymond Côté, Président, Sports-Québec

CASN-RSAC can play an important role in furthering the development of the Canadian amateur sport system. CASN-RSAC is a unique partnership between the sport system, athletes and business that is certain to create synergies and provide unprecedented coverage of sporting events at home and abroad.

Thomas Jones, C.E.O., Commonwealth Games Canada

The Canadian Amateur Sports Network will drive increased sport participation by providing exposure to the Olympic and Paralympic sports and it will drive sport excellence by creating role models of our world-class Canadian athletes and coaches. The Coaching Association of Canada is one hundred per cent in support of this initiative."

John Bales, Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada

We need to improve Canadian opportunities, elevate the status of Canadian organizations and events, and persuade promising young stars to resist the temptations of American recruiters. Our television media must be more responsive to the aspirations of those who actually live and work here. To what extent is a community and a country stunted when its young athletes draw their dominant meaning and forms of activities from other countries? How can sports foster socially responsible personal growth and community pride when our youth know more about college athletes in another country than about players on their own college teams?

Sandra Murray-MacDonell, Executive Director, Canadian Colleges Athletic Association.

The Canadian Amateur Sport Network has my full support. I hope that it becomes a reality soon.

Joel Finlay Vice-President Olympians Canada – BC Chapter

Olympians Canada represents all living Canadian Olympians. We are pleased to support this new network. It will not only be a showcase of Canadian talent from coast to coast, but help to inspire a new generation of athletes and all Canadians to strive for excellent. This much needed network will fill an important void in the Canadian television marketplace.

Charmaine Crooks, President, Olympians Canada

As an athlete who competed at events around the world in relative anonymity, I see the real potential of the CASN/RSAC to be its ability to showcase the global exploits of our very best athletes. This initiative will have a real impact on sport development in our country.

Curt Harnett, President, Ontario Chapter, Olympians Canada

We have a long tradition of outstanding female amateur athletes in Canada, whose achievements have often been overshadowed by the media attention given to professional sports. This network, dedicated to Canadian amateur sports, will be an excellent way to highlight the wide variety of sports where women participate. The increased exposure of women athletes and coaches will provide the strong female role models that are essential to encourage young girls to pursue and achieve their athletic dreams.

Karin Lofstrom, Executive Director, Canadian Association For The Advancement Of Women And Sport And Physical Activity

It is essential to raise the profile of amateur sport in Canada so that the general population can learn about Canada’s great athletes and follow their performances

Alex Baumman, Executive Director, Road to Excellence, Own the Podium 2010

I believe that it is a tremendous motivator for athletes to receive the recognition they deserve for the commitment and dedication they make to their sport. ”

Alex Baumman, Executive Director, Road to Excellence, Own the Podium 2010

Having a Canadian Amateur Sport Network will immensely increase both Corporate Canada and the Canadian public’s interest in supporting Canadian athletes as they train and compete for Canada on the world stage.

Roger Jackson, CEO, Own the Podium 2010

Canadians want to follow our athletes’ performances around the world. They want to learn more about them.”

Roger Jackson, CEO, Own the Podium 2010

ParticipACTION enthusiastically supports the launch of the Canadian Amateur Sports Network. The broadcasting of a broad range of amateur sports will certainly help build awareness and support for sport. As important, it will inspire Canadians to participate in sport -- and we applaud an initiative that will help us meet our mandate of getting Canadians moving more.

Kelly Murumets, President and CEO of ParticipACTION

This is an initiative that is long overdue and very much needed. Showcasing Canadian Amature athletes especially in larger markets like Toronto is a worthwhile endeavour…… as you are aware the professional sport scene is the only one reported on in any media within Toronto to any extend and it is imperative that our great armature athletes get the recognition they deserve.

Jim Bradley, CEO, Sport Alliance of Ontario

CASN will provide amateur sport with many tangible benefits that complement our goals and initiatives for greater awareness for amateur sport leading to greater participation and accessibility and an increased focus on participation from special populations.

Jeff Hnatiuk, President & CEO, Sport Manitoba

Sport Manitoba supports any effort that places and enhances a focus on amateur sport, the virtues of sport participation, the accomplishments of our athletes and the successes of our communities in hosting major sporting events.

Paul Robson, Chair, Sport Manitoba

The Royal Canadian Legion, in support of Canada and Canadian youth, fully endorses the application for an amateur sports television network under the CASN initiative. In keeping with our objectives we believe that an increased exposure of all amateur sports in Canada will not only enhance their survivability but in doing so strengthen both the culture of fitness in Canada and the country’s competitiveness within the world community.

John Alger, Dominion Sports Chairman, The Royal Canadian Legion

Sport Nova Scotia is pleased to support such an endeavour that would provide Canadians the opportunity to watch more amateur sport and encourage participation in sport.

Jamie Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, Sport Nova Scotia

The CASN is an initiative that is long over due in this country!

Dan Genge, Executive Director and CEO, Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors

SPORT FEDERATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS: Quotes

This (CASN/RSAC’s) initiative is probably one of the most significant moves forward for the promotion of amateur sport in this country in the past decade. There will most certainly be growth benefits both fiscally and through participation, for the sport of rugby across Canada.

Graham Brown, C.E.O., Rugby Canada

The National Inline Hockey Association of Canada fully supports the application for two dedicated amateur sports channels in Canada. As an organization dedicated to developing the sport of inline through grassroots initiatives, we encourage all Canadians to support our young athletes. These two channels represents an opportunity for many athletes from all sport in Canada to reach their goals. In addition to allowing athletes to compete on a stage that is usually unattainable to the majority of athletes, NIHA-Canada recognizes the exposure youth sports will get through these channels which ultimately will lead to increased participation at all levels in sport and a healthier population.

Kevin Sharp, President, National Inline Hockey Association of Canada

With the state of amateur sport in Canada in an almost perpetual condition of uncertainty, it is imperative that we have a devoted and consistent outlet available to supply national coverage of our elite athletes. These networks (CASN/RSAC) will undoubtedly provide this outlet affording Canadians from coast-to-coast the opportunity to cheer on our athletes.

Suzzanne Nicholson, Executive Director, Field Hockey Canada

This (CASN/RSAC’s) initiative is of vital importance. It will enable the stories of Canadian athletes to be told to the Canadian public on a sustained basis.

Tom McIllfaterick, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Snowboard Federation

Ringette Canada is happy to endorse the application put forward by CASN. We are extremely excited at the chance that CASN will give us to present our sport to more Canadians, and to share our sport on television with the ringette community of over 50,000 players, coaches, officials and supporters. CASN will help us share our passion and our game across our community and with all Canadians.

David Patterson, Executive Director, Ringette Canada

This is a great initiative to help amateur sport secure more television coverage and more direct financial support.

Joanne Mortimore, C.E.O. Athletics Canada

Providing amateur sport with increased broadcasting opportunities will also lead to increased corporate support for our community.

Joanne Mortimore, C.E.O. Athletics Canada

CASN will allow more athletes the opportunity to be seen in Canada competing in the sport they love.

Jim Baba, Director General, Baseball Canada

This is an extremely positive move. The more ways we can bring amateur sport to the Canadian public the better.

Dr. Earl Church, Executive Director, Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association

This is a great initiative and long overdue. Bowls Canada is proud to support increased coverage of all Canadian amateur sport.

Kevin Penny, Executive Director, Bowls Canada

The Canadian Amateur Sports Network would serve as a critical tool for amateur sport development. Not only will it serve to entertain viewers, but it will enhance exposure and marketability for the 50 other sports beyond the major four professional sports, who are all trying to encourage Canadians to be active, develop their sport skills, and aspire to achieve their own level of personal excellence. Water skiing and wakeboarding have some unbelievable athletes, and many exciting and powerful stories that we otherwise have limited ability to share with Canadians. We firmly believe that once we get the chance to be seen and heard via the Canadian Amateur Sports Network, Canadians will want more, will begin to appreciate and cherish the breadth of Canada's sporting culture, and be inspired to increased physical activity and better health.

Dan Wolfenden, Executive Director, Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada

Softball Canada strongly supports the application by the Canadian Olympic Committee for the CASN/RSAC. We believe there is a market for this programming just waiting to be cultivated and this initiative will be very positive for our athletes and Canadian viewers.

Hugh Mitchener, Chief Executive Officer, Softball Canada

Canada needs a network where Canadian athletes and Canadian teams can be seen competing outside the realm of professional sport which dominates North American coverage provided by the current specialty sport networks and the national broadcasters. Amateur athletes compete in anonymity every year between the Olympic Games which is the only time Canadians get to see them perform in many sports. Wrestling Canada Lutte fully supports the application of the CASN/RSAC to provide the type of coverage Canadian sport deserves.

Greg Mathieu, Executive Director, Canada Wrestling

Rowing Canada Aviron sees great benefit in the increased opportunity to profile our national team rowers and our national level regattas to an audience who have always been very supportive of our programming in Canada – it would be nice for the Canadian public to become more familiar with our athletes between Olympic Games rather than just around the Games themselves – the Canadian Amateur Sport Network would allow that type of interaction to develop.

Ian Moss, Executive Director, Rowing Canada

Karaté Quebec is proud to support the RSAC in its daring initiative which will finally make it possible our athletes to have a visibility deserved for a long time.

Mohamed Jelassi, General coordinator, Karaté Quebec

In Europe, the sport of biathlon is one of the most popular winter sports with some of the highest viewer-ship ratings and some of the largest crowds of fans who travel to watch the World Cup in person. In Canada the sport is just emerging and to be able to have the opportunity for more of the Canadian public to watch the sport on television would be an extremely valuable opportunity for the growth of the sport and for our Canadian athletes. This would enable the opportunity for Canadians to learn, follow and engage in what has evolved to be one of the most exciting events to follow. To start to create a culture of Nordic sports in this county, would raise not only the profile of the sport, but also the results that can be achieved by our athletes over the years to come.

Joanne Thomson, Executive Director, Biathlon Canada

We see this initiative as being an important means of having Canada's athletes more visible in the community and encouraging young Canadians to pursue their dreams.

Tannis Carlson, Chair, Nordic Combined Ski Canada

This type of network has been sorely needed for a long time. Our athletes are world class and deserve to have their events captured and appreciated by people across the country."

Lisa Schott, President, Synchro Canada

There is not a lack of public interest in Canadian Amateur sport, only a lack of media coverage. CASN-RSAC will fill the void and give the Canadian public what they want and Canadian athletes the coverage they deserve.

Kyle Hunter, Executive Director, Badminton Canada

Table Tennis Canada endorses the application for of the Canadian Amateur sports network without hesitation. This network will fulfill an important role in bringing Olympic sports to the Canadian public in a way that the existing networks have failed to do. The Network has the potential to create a sports culture in Canada that expands to sports that are played world-wide in huge numbers, sports that are all but absent from the main stream Canadian networks. In doing so, the Network will play an important role in validating the excellence of Canadian athletes engaged in Olympic sports."

Tony Kiesenhofer, Director General, Table Tennis Canada

It (CASN/RSAC) really is a great idea, not just for basketball players, but for all amateur athletes. There are so many outstanding athletes in this country who deserve not just financial support, but recognition for all their hard work.

Wayne Parrish, Executive Director and CEO, Basketball Canada

CASN will help promote the excitement and passion in amateur sports

Sunny Tang, President, Wushu Canada

This CASN initiative is invaluable to the sporting community and Triathlon Canada gives it its full support. The network is the ideal way to get out of the vicious cycle we’re in and at the same time, it will showcase Canadian talent from coast to coast, giving Canadians what they really want and have never before been able to get.

Alan Trivett, Executive Director, Triathlon Canada

CASN will be instrumental in promoting amateur sport to all of our communities. This initiative will facilitate the creation of an environment to inspire all Canadian youth to dream big for Canada.

Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach, Swimming Canada

The Canadian Amateur DanceSport Association strongly supports the application by CASN. An amateur sports network would give many different sports an opportunity to educate the Canadian public about their sport, showcase our upcoming athletes, increase participation in amateur sports, and provide much needed corporate sponsorship of different amateur sports.

Sandra Brittain, President, Canadian Amateur DanceSport Association

CASN has the ability to reach out to Canadians to promote sports and educate the general public about the attractiveness and benefits of participation. It can also attract newcomers to the sports, develop a stronger base and increase the level of competitiveness of Canadian teams and athletes at all levels.

Robert Moore, High Performance Coordinator, Quebec Olympic Wrestling Federation

The Canadian Amateur Sports Network (CASN) will help emerging sports such as the Lifesaving Society’s provincial, national and
international lifesaving competitions reach a larger audience of Canadians.

Timothy Feher, CEO, The Lifesaving Society

The Canadian Tenpin Federation supports the application by CASN/RSAC for an English language license and a French language license to
broadcast amateur sports exclusively. The availability of television broadcasting for our sport would enhance the awareness and
marketing of both our youth and adult national championships.

Stan May, Executive Director, Canadian Tenpin Federation Inc.

I fully endorse this project; it is time for our athletes to stop working in the shadows and finally know the celebrity which they deserve! Our society complains about its youth being inactive and the impending threat of health problems which await them… Well let’s give them role models to follow and feats they will dream of matching themselves some day!

Jean Faucher, President, Fédération Québécoise de Taekwondo

ATHLETES: Quotes

CASN/RSAC television will allow Canadians across the country to share in unparalleled sporting moments that might never be seen. The appetite for watching amateur sports will only grow with the increased exposure generated by this channel – which will in turn lead to stronger sports organizations and Canadians having more chances to get more active and become healthier.

Benoit Hout, Paralympic multi-gold medalist and multi-world record holder

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