February 22, 2016, Charlottetown – Speed Skate PEI has unveiled Irving Oil as presenting sponsor for the Canada East Short Track Speed Skating Championships being held in Charlottetown next month.
The Speed Skating Canada championship event will bring the top 11 to 15 year-old short track speed skaters from Ontario, Quebec, the Atlantic Provinces and Nunavut to the Eastlink Centre on March 26 and 27, 2016.
Irving Oil has been named presenting sponsor of the 2016 Canada East Short Track Championships.
“Irving Oil has been a tremendous supporter of speed skating and community sport across the region for many years,” said Rob Binns, Speed Skate PEI President and Organizing Committee chair. Binns noted that this will be Irving’s second consecutive year as presenting sponsor for the Canada East event. “We’re very excited to welcome them aboard once again as presenting sponsor for this major competition.”
The event will feature 128 athletes in the highest level of speed skating competition held in P.E.I. since 1997, when the Canadian Age Class Short Track Championships were hosted in Charlottetown.
“Sports provide our young people with the opportunity to have fun while learning the life lessons of hard work, dedication and determination – the same principles that we embrace at Irving Oil,” said Andy Carson, Director of Public Affairs at Irving Oil. “And we’re proud to be the presenting sponsor at this year’s competition in Charlottetown.”
The competition will include many of Canada’s top athletes of the future. Past competitors from the event have gone on to become part of Speed Skating Canada’s national teams and represented Canada at junior and senior World Cups and World Championships.
“It is through the support of sponsors like Irving Oil and other major partners including the Province of Prince Edward Island, Speed Skating Canada and Charlottetown’s Tourism Accommodation Levy that we are able to host a national level competition like this on P.E.I.,” commented Binns. “Events such as these are an excellent boost for the sport, our athletes and for local businesses. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to an exciting event in March.”
Canada East Short Track Championships Background:
The Canada East and Canada West short track championships are intended to be the focal point for athlete preparation for speed skaters in the Training to Train stage of development. The events provide meaningful, high profile and developmentally appropriate end of season events that are a source of motivation and opportunity for recognition of the best developing skaters in Canada. These events serve as the primary introduction to national competitions where skaters represent their province or territory in competition.
Skaters compete in single year, gender specific divisions of 16 skaters each. Girls from ages 11 to 14 and boys from ages 12 to 15 are eligible to compete. Each participating branch (Province or Territory) is eligible to send a minimum of two skaters to compete in each division.
ABOUT IRVING OIL
Irving Oil is a privately owned regional energy and marketing company that provides Eastern Canada and New England with high-quality products and customer service. Founded in 1924 and based in Saint John, New Brunswick, Irving Oil maintains a strong tradition of committed community service and partnerships through programs in healthcare, environment, education and youth sports. For more information about Irving Oil and its community programs, please visit us at www.irvingoil.com or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/irvingoil.
For full event details or to learn more about Speed Skate PEI visit www.SpeedSkatePEI.ca/canada-east-2016/
