Ottawa, ON, Feb. 10, 2022 – On behalf of the Brosda family, Equestrian Canada (EC) is honoured to facilitate support for the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund through the Horsepower Foundation – a fundraising program created by EC, in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Foundation, to inspire and support Canadians to embrace lifelong participation in equestrian activities. The 2022 Brosda Olympic Bursary is awarded to Camille Carier Bergeron of Laval, QC.
“The Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund means a lot to us as it was created to honour our exceptional daughter, who tragically passed away before she could realize the Olympic dream that meant so much to her,” said Élisabeth’s mother, Marie-France Maisonneuve, and step-father, Sébastien Normand. “Camille has proven excellence in her young equestrian career – both inside and outside of the ring. Her growth with the Canadian Dressage team is exceptional and with the support from EC and the Horsepower Foundation, we are pleased to award Camille with this bursary in her pursuit of reaching her goals towards the 2024 Olympics and beyond.
Carier Bergeron is awarded the Brosda Bursary for the first time, speaks to her dedication and ability to make a future mark for Canada on the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) stage riding Acoeur (Acordelli x Ricardo), a 14-year-old Baden Württemberg gelding and Sound of Silence 4 (San Amour I x Limes), a 14-year-old Westphalian gelding, both owned by her father Gilles Bergeron.
The 21-year-old is currently ranked first on the FEI U25 rankings and has been moving up from Talent ID to Development on the EC’s National Team Program (NTP) Dressage squad. Carier Bergeron and Acoeur, who is coached by Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, started the 2022 season with two victories in the Under 25 Intermediate II and Grand Prix tests, striking over 70% in both victories, in the opening week at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL.
Camille Carier Bergeron and Acoeur all smiles having finishing competition
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
In addition to Carier Bergeron’s ranking and success on the FEI U25 level, the Bursary High Performance Advisory Group selected her because of her World U25 Rankings, scores over 70% and overall, her potential for the 2024 Olympic Games.
“I feel extremely grateful and honoured to be awarded the bursary in memory of Élisabeth Brosda, I will put the bursary towards my training and competition costs towards qualifying for the 2022 World Championships,” said Carier Bergeron. “It’s extremely helpful in achieving my goals to compete for Canada at major games, I cannot thank EC and the Brosda family enough. I intend to represent the bursary with hopes to inspire other young Canadian riders to pursue their dreams and goals like Élisabeth once had.”
As the successful candidate for 2022, Carier Bergeron will be an ambassador for the Brosda Olympic Bursary, promoting the Olympics values of excellence, teamwork, leadership and fair play, and sharing her stories and experiences through public speaking engagements and on social media.
About the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund
The Brosda Olympic Bursary is offered in memory of the late Élisabeth Brosda of Gatineau, QC. A passionate young equestrian and an accomplished dressage athlete, Élisabeth was tragically killed in a head on car collision in September of 2016. Élisabeth’s goal was to reach the Grand Prix level and represent Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Brosda Olympic Bursary is designed to assist aspiring athletes reach their full potential and support the development efforts of athletes showing the skill and determination to represent Canada at the 2024 Olympic Games. The Bursary will provide up to $10,000 annually toward financial support for international competition, sport science, training, equipment and sport education.
As a lasting legacy in memory of Élisabeth Brosda, funds donated to the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund are directed specifically to the annual Brosda Olympic Bursary.
Donations to the Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund can be made online at www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/35625/, or by cheque. Please make cheques out to the Canadian Olympic Foundation and include Élisabeth Brosda Memorial Fund in the memo area of the cheque. Cheques can be mailed to: Canadian Olympic Foundation, 250 Yonge St. , Suite 3000, PO Box # 19, Toronto, ON Canada, M5B 2L7.