Thirteen Inspiring Para Athletes Honored with 2025 Petro-Canada FACE Grants

Recent announcements have unveiled that 13 inspiring Para athletes have been honored with the 2025 Petro-Canada FACE grants. This year, each selected athlete, along with their respective coach, will receive $10,000 to aid their pursuits in sports. The FACE Program, which has been running for 37 years, aims to support athletes and coaches in reaching their Olympic and Paralympic aspirations.

Funding and History of the FACE Program

Since being established in 1988, Petro-Canada has allocated over $14 million to support more than 3,500 athletes and coaches across Canada. The FACE grants are awarded to 55 athlete-coach pairs who aspire to represent Team Canada, yet are not eligible for government funding. Each selected pair will receive financial assistance to cover expenses related to training, equipment, education, and travel.

Featured Athlete: Daniel Comeau

One of the standout recipients is Daniel Comeau, a Para archery athlete and military veteran from Shannon, Quebec. Comeau recently collaborated with Paralympian Kyle Tremblay to secure a fourth-place finish in the compound men’s open doubles wheelchair event at the Para Archery World Championships held in South Korea. His performance has also earned him multiple medals in the Americas World Cup circuit over the past summer.

“I started Para archery just over two years ago,” said Comeau, who is coached by François Bélanger. “This is just the beginning for me. I know I can do much better.”

List of 2025 FACE Grant Recipients

• Madison Mullin – Para Nordic Skiing, Fergus, Ont. – Coach: Leslie Bode
• Mathieu Dorais – Para Athletics, Quebec City – Coach: Joey Lussier
• Sam Peters – Para Alpine Skiing, Kelowna, B.C. – Coach: Mark Newton
• Olivier Desloges – Para Triathlon, Drummondville, Que. – Coach: Edward Oulette
• Alyssa Smith – Para Swimming, Orangeville, Ont. – Coach: Richard Pady
• Addisyn Franceschini – Para Athletics, Thunder Bay, Ont. – Coach: Kyle McGillivray
• Katie Bajema – Wheelchair Basketball, Gibbons, Alta. – Coach: Darrell Nordell
• Logan Lariviere – Para Nordic Skiing, Lively, Ont. – Coach: Leslie Bode
• Frédérique Bérubé-Perron – Wheelchair Tennis, St-Bruno, Que. – Coach: Étienne Bergeron
• Daniel Comeau – Para Archery, Shannon, Que. – Coach: François Bélanger
• Antoine St-Germain – Para Swimming, Granby, Que. – Coach: Nadine Rolland
• Terry Fowler – Wheelchair Curling, Cochrane, Alta. – Coach: Dana Ferguson
• Simon Mazi-Keep – Wheelchair Basketball, Niagara Falls, Ont. – Coach: Jesse McNalley

These athletes represent the spirit of perseverance and ambition as they work towards their goals for the Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team. The support from Petro-Canada through the FACE grants is integral for their journey in the competitive sports landscape.