Loto&8209;Quebec is particularly pleased to present the 15 recipients who were all nominated by their sporting federation. The objectiveof Loto&8209;Quebecs bursary program which is now in its fourth year is to support handicapped athletes in their quest for excellenceon provincial national and international scenes. Loto&8209;Quebec is pleased to present these 15 fine athletes. Their successin sports is an excellent example of personal achievement and a source of inspiration to all Mr. Bibeau said.
The bursary program is managed by the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence in cooperation with various sports federationsand associations that govern sports for handicapped athletes (see table of bursary recipients below).
Among the 15 recipients in the 2011 program 9 were ranked Excellence by their respective sports federations earning them a $3000 bursary 4 were ranked Elite and also received a cheque for $3000 and two were in the Hopeful category and received $1500.
Among awarded athletes some are newcomers and others have performed on the international level including three para&8209;cyclistsGenevieve Ouellet bronze medallist at the road race and tandem time trial events at the 2010 World Para&8209;Cycling Championship; Daniel Chalifour fourth in tandem time trial competition at the 2010 World Para&8209;Cycling Championship; and Marie&8209;Claude Molnar silver medallist in the womens 3&8209;km pursuit in the 2011 Para&8209;Cycling Track World Championships. Twin brothers Jonathan and Philippe Vermette finished eighth at the 2009 U&8209;23 World Wheelchair Basketball Championship; Simon Gagnon&8209;Brassard won the silver medal in road race cycling at the 2009 Deaflympic Games; and Simon Tremblay a blind athlete finished ninth at the 2010 World Goalball Championship.
Claude Chagnon President of the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence is pleased with Loto&8209;Quebecs decision to renewthe partnership These athletes are true models of perseverance for their peers and the entire Quebec community. Loto&8209;Quebecsinvestment will enable the Foundation to meet its objectives that is to say increase the number of bursaries awarded to handicappedathletes.
Here are the 15 recipients of Loto&8209;Quebecs 2011 bursary program
AQSPC Association quebecoise de sports pour paralytiques cerebraux
ASSQ Association sportive des sourds du Quebec
AQSFR Association quebecoise des sports en fauteuil roulant
FQSC Federation quebecoise des sports cyclistes
ASAQ Association sportive des aveugles du Quebec
| Name | Discipline (federation) | Amount | Category | City of origin |
| Josee Lamothe | Boccia (AQSPC) | $1500 | Hopeful | TroisRivieres |
| Andreanne OuelletGagnon | Volleyball (ASSQ) | $1500 | Hopeful | Quebec City |
| Philippe Bedard | Wheelchair tennis (AQSFR) | $3000 | Elite | Verdun |
| Alexandre Carrier | Paracycling (FQSC) | $3000 | Elite | Matane |
| Charles Leclerc | Wheelchair rugby (AQSFR) | $3000 | Elite | Montreal |
| Genevieve Savard | Volleyball (ASSQ) | $3000 | Elite | Montreal |
| François Bourbonniere | Boccia (AQSPC) | $3000 | Excellence | Montreal |
| Daniel Chalifour | Paracycling (FQSC) | $3000 | Excellence | LacdesÉcorces |
| Simon GagnonBrassard | Cycling (FQSC) | $3000 | Excellence | Chicoutimi |
| Maude Jacques | Wheelchair basketball (AQSFR) | $3000 | Excellence | SteCatherine |
| MarieClaude Molnar | Paracycling (FQSC) | $3000 | Excellence | SainteAdele |
| Genevieve Ouellet | Paracycling (FQSC) | $3000 | Excellence | Amos |
| Simon Tremblay | Goalball (ASAQ) | $3000 | Excellence | Quebec City |
| Jonathan Vermette | Wheelchair basketball (AQSFR) | $3000 | Excellence | Sherbrooke |
| Philippe Vermette | Wheelchair basketball (AQSFR) | $3000 | Excellence | Sherbrooke |
About Loto&8209;Quebec
As part of its wish to increase support to organizations that work with handicapped athletes Loto&8209;Quebec concluded a majoragreement with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence. Every year for the past four years Loto&8209;Quebecs bursary programhas honoured exceptional handicapped athletes. This program was created in cooperation with Defi sportif and Olympiques speciauxQuebec two important stakeholders in sport for athletes with a disability.
About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence
The mission of the Foundation is to financially support and encourage student&8209;athletes in their pursuit of excellence andto promote athletes as role models in Quebec society. Over the past five years the Foundation has awarded more than 3 million dollarsin bursaries to studentathletes and endeavours to increase its yearly amount in bursaries to $1 million as part of its planfor 20102015.