Statement by the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), on the Bestowing of Diamond Jubilee Medals to Canadian Athletes

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - It gives me great pleasure to congratulate outstanding athletes who are receiving The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

At the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games, these athletes demonstrated they can compete with the best and win for Canada. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments and I know our athletes will represent Canada well in Sochi, Russia, at the Winter Games in 2014.

Commemorations like the Diamond Jubilee contribute to our collective identity and help define who we are as Canadians. So it is fitting that, in Her Majesty's honour, we recognize the achievements of these exceptional athletes who have worked hard to serve their communities and country.

On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I invite Canadians to join me in honouring the following athletes, who received their Diamond Jubilee medals at a ceremony in Montréal:

The recipients also included the following builders who have contributed to the success of sport in Canada:

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage