COC, CPC, CAC and Petro-Canada Announce the FACE Program Recipients of 2026
TORONTO (October 14, 2026) — Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and Petro-Canada™, a Suncor business, announced Petro-Canada’s Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE™) Program Class of 2026.
The FACE Program, now in its 38th year, provides financial support to both athletes and coaches as they pursue their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. Since 1988, Petro-Canada has provided over $15M in financial support to more than 3,500 Canadian athletes and coaches.
“Petro-Canada’s unwavering commitment to Canadian athletes and coaches continues to make a real difference on the path to the podium. We’re proud of this enduring partnership and grateful for the role it plays in helping Team Canada hopefuls reach their full potential,” said David Shoemaker, CEO and Secretary General, Canadian Olympic Committee.
“The FACE Program has been a significant part of the sport pathway in Canada for several years, with so many Paralympic medallists having received a FACE grant early in their careers,” said Karen O’Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “Thank you to Petro-Canada for their longstanding leadership and commitment to sport in Canada and supporting Canadian athletes and coaches – it has made a true impact. This type of support is so invaluable to an athlete to remove barriers and provide resources as they progress in their sport journeys. We congratulate each member of the FACE Class of 2026.”
“Coaches play a vital role in helping athletes reach their potential. Through Petro-Canada’s FACE Program, coaches gain access to resources that strengthen their leadership, deepen their expertise and enhance the impact they have on athletes every day. This investment in coach development helps build a stronger sport system and supports the next generation of Canadian Paralympic and Olympic hopefuls,” said Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO, Coaching Association of Canada .
This year, the FACE grant is awarded to 55 athlete-coach pairs striving to represent Team Canada, but who do not yet qualify for government funding. These Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls will receive $10,000 per pair to fund training, equipment, education and travel costs.
“At Petro-Canada, we’re proud to support the athletes and coaches who represent the future of sport in Canada,” said Patrick Ritchie, Vice President, Petro-Canada. “Through the FACE Program, we help remove some of the financial barriers they both face so they can stay focused on training, development and pursuing their Olympic and Paralympic dreams. Congratulations to the FACE Class of 2026 – we’re honoured to be part of your journey and excited to see all that you will achieve.”
The complete FACE Class of 2026 recipient list can be found here.
About Petro-Canada
Petro-Canada, a Suncor business, operates more than 1,700 retail stations and 300 Petro-Pass wholesale locations nationwide. Petro-Canada is proud to be a National Partner of the Canadian Olympic Committee and Official Partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, supporting Canadian athletes, coaches and their families since 1988. For more information, visit petro-canada.ca.
About the Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee believes sport has the power to transform Canada. Team Canada 2035 is our commitment to safe, inclusive, barrier free sport so more young people can play and stay in sport. We will achieve that through a relentless focus on Podium, Play and Planet, so the next generation of Canadian athletes can achieve their Olympic dreams. Learn more at olympic.ca.
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization in partnership with 28 member sport organizations, dedicated to the power and impact of Paralympic sport. Holding a vision of an inclusive world realized through Paralympic sport, its mission is to deliver the best-prepared teams for Games excellence while enabling Canadians to experience the power of Para sport. Championing the stories and successes of high-performance athletes with disabilities, CPC models and promotes disability inclusion and accessibility, inspiring Canadians to embrace inclusivity and actively engage in sports. For more insights, visit Paralympic.ca.
About the Coaching Association of Canada
The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) unites partners and sport leaders in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. For more information, please visit http://www.coach.ca.
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Media Contacts:
Justine Leblanc
Program Manager, Public Relations, COC
C: 438-304-7900
E: jleblanc@olympic.ca
Nicole Watts
Senior Manager, Communications & PR, CPC
C: 613-462-2700
E: nwatts@paralympic.ca
Yolande Usher
Director, Marketing & Communications, CAC
C: 613-235-5000 ext. 2392
E: communications@coach.ca
Suncor
E: media@suncor.com