Nine Peel District School Board schools, including four here, will welcome more than 40 of the athletes as part of KidsCAN Day. As well as meeting the athletes, students will watch sports demonstrations.
"Our goal is to inspire students to set goals that they may not believe are within their reach," said Chuck Waterman, PDSB superintendent of curriculum and instruction support services. "We want them to dream big and make positive, healthy lifestyle choices."
Aboriginal, Commonwealth Games, Olympic, Pan American and Paralympic athletes representing a variety of sports will visit the schools between 1 and 2 p.m.
Synchronized swimmer Claire Carver Dias, modern pentathlon Rachal Gardner, adaptive snowboarder Tyler Mosher and figure skater Vaughn Chipeur will visit Camilla Road Sr. Public School.
Edenwood Middle School will welcome Vivian Berkeley (blind lawn bowls), John Hastings (canoe, kayak), John David Burnes (archery), Adam Trupish (boxing) and Shawn Marsolais (goalball, a sport for blind athletes).
Erin Centre Middle School hosts Erin Carter (cycling), Brent Langbakk (orienteering), Sally Thomas (Paralympic powerlifting), Ben Remocker (sailing) and Erika-Leigh Stirton (rhythmic gymnastics).
Alec Denys (Paralympic archery), Kyle Miller (lacrosse), Sandra Sassine (fencing) and Glyn Loftin (shooting) will visit Tomken Road Middle School.
Each of the schools will host 300 to 450 Grade 6, 7 and 8 students from neighbouring schools, said Mary Ann Fratia, instructional coordinator of the arts, health and physical education. "Students will hear from athletes who will encourage perseverance and determination — attributes we can all be inspired by."
KidsCAN School Day is a recent addition to the 16th annual AthletesCAN Forum Friday to Sunday, the largest and most inclusive gathering of Canada's national team athlete representatives outside of competition. This year's event is at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel in Mississauga.
In addition to the school visits, 600-700 students will converge on the Hershey SportZone as part of KidsCAN School Day for fun and games with the athletes.
jslack@mississauga.net
