Minister offers best wishes to Island Olympic and Paralympic athletes and officials

Hon. Cory Deagle, Minister of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture issued the following statement:

“Competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a feat that only the most elite athletes achieve. 

I’d like to extend huge congratulations and wish the very best of luck to Hannah Taylor, Alysha Corrigan and Amy Kneebone Burk for representing PEI and Canada by competing at the upcoming Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Paris. 

I’d also like to recognize Nicole McInnis, who is the manager of the women’s soccer team, and Ryan Taylor, who is the mechanic of the cycling team. These roles are very important and I hope you enjoy your Olympic experience.

These Islanders are a source of pride for our province and we are inspired by their talent, determination and outstanding achievements, which have led them to rank among the top athletes in the world. 

The athletes competing are also a shining example of excellence in female sport. They have dedicated years of their lives to reach the height of their respective sports.

To help celebrate the games and learn more about the Island participants, regional sport and recreation councils, with support from the provincial government, will host mini-Olympics events at their summer camps over the coming weeks.  Additionally, celebration events are taking place at our local libraries. I encourage all to attend. 

This is a time of great celebration for our province. We are extremely proud of these Islanders for their accomplishments and look forward to seeing them represent PEI on the grandest stage in sport. 

We will all be watching and cheering you on!”

Media contact:
April Gallant
Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture
aldgallant@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder:

• Summerside’s Hannah Taylor qualified to compete at the Olympics when she finished in the top two of the women’s 57 kg wrestling event at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in Acapulco, Mexico in March. This will be Taylor’s first time competing at the Olympics.
• Charlottetown’s Alysha Corrigan will compete in the Olympics as a member of Team Canada’s women rugby sevens team. The team qualified for Paris last August at the 2023 Rugby Americas North Sevens regional qualification event, where they went undefeated. This will be Corrigan’s first time competing at the Olympics.
• Nicole  McInnis of Hazelbrook will serve as manager for Team Canada’s women’s soccer team. She previously played for the Holland College Hurricanes and Acadia Axewomen as goalkeeper.
• Charlottetown’s Amy (Kneebone) Burk and her teammates won the gold medal in women’s goalball at the Parapan American Games in Santiago to earn a berth for the 2024 Paralympic games. This will be Burk’s fifth time competing at the Paralympics.
• Charlottetown’s Ryan Taylor currently lives in Spain, where he works as a bicycle mechanic. He has worked with pro teams during the Tour de France. This will be his first Olympic experience.
• Celebrate Team Canada with CBC and Charlottetown Library Learning Centre with fun-filled activities for everyone and watch the opening ceremony: July 26 from 1-6 pm. 
• Mini-Olympics events hosted by regional sport and recreation councils from 9am to 12pm:  
  • July 26 at Kensington Intermediate Senior High School
  • July 26 in Alberton at the Prince County Exhibition Grounds horse track
  • July 26 at the St. Peter’s Bay Campground
  • August 9 at the Murray River Library.

PEI WATCH SCHEDULE
When to watch Rugby 7s: 

• July 28 – Canada vs Fiji at 12:30PM, Canada vs New Zealand at 4:30PM
• July 29 – Canada vs China at 11:00AM

When to watch Women's Freestyle Wrestling - 57kg: 

• August 8 beginning at approximately 6:30AM
• August 9 beginning at approximately 6:00AM

When to watch Women's Goalball: 

• Women’s goalball group play begins on August 29th and ends with the gold medal match on September 5.