Canada Topflight Academy receives support to fund local athletes

Cumberland City Councillor and amateur sports champion Stephen Blais is donating $1,000 to the Canada Topflight Academy, an elite basketball academy pilot program, to help fund tuition and travel expenses for students.

“I am proud to contribute to important organizations such as Canada Topflight Academy that help athletes reach their full potential in academics and athletics,” says Councillor Stephen Blais. “Ottawa is full of talented athletes and this unique basketball academy will help our student athletes garner exposure from universities across the world.”

Canada Topflight Academy (CTA), a brand new, elite-level athletic development program, will provide the support and tools to ensure students develop academically, emotionally and athletically. The CTA is Ottawa’s only prep school basketball program and has partnered with Notre Dame High School to provide this opportunity of a lifetime. CTA will compete in Canada and the US as part of the National Prepatory Association, which includes some of the top programs from across Canada.

“We are grateful for the generous support we have received from Councillor Stephen Blais”, says Tony House, Executive Director of Ottawa Topflight Academy. “Donations help offset the costs of tuition for our athletes and travel expenses.”

This donation follows several thousand dollars Councillor Blais has raised for amateur sports in Orléans, including: helping St. Matthew High School replace aging equipment; a Cumberland Panthers’ all-star team travel to Nova Scotia; the Orléans Bengals replacement of outdated football helmets; Cairine Wilson Varsity Girls Soccer Team travel to England; cost offset of uniforms for U15 Girls Cumberland Cobras; fess offset for less affluent student-athletes at Franco Cité; and fees for at-risk youth to play for the South Ottawa Mustangs.

“I am really impressed with Canada Topflight Academy’s ambition, and look forward to seeing them succeed,” adds Blais. “Community support helps foster elite athleticism and grows the game of basketball in Canada and Ottawa.”

The funds were raised by private donors through the annual Action Orléans Golf Classic and donated on behalf of Action Orléans – a not-for-profit club that has been helping sports and other groups throughout Ottawa.