Sara is more than a phenomenal athlete – she’s a thinker and an idealist. This young Olympic contender dedicates herself completely to everything she does, from her pursuit of a post-secondary education in Biology/Ecology, to her steadfast efforts to live her life “green” in every possible way. From the first moment the team at Canopy met Sara they loved her warmth, intelligence, depth and determination. Even with all the hours she devotes to perfecting her kayak game this young woman is anything but single-minded. She has a gift for seeing the world the way it could be, and she has committed herself to making that vision a reality in a variety of ways.



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Lloyd Jones, Chairman of Canopy says, “Canopy Corporation believes that our country's amateur athletes deserve adequate support if they are to be more competitive and, as in the development business, an investment in the future is always a good investment.” Canopy has sponsored Sara because they believe that young athletes who show potential are the future, and often the difference between success and failure comes from their dedication, focus, training and having the best equipment and resources at their disposal. Jones says, “They can’t do all of that without our support.”


As one of Sara’s major sponsors, Canopy has made a performance-based commitment to provide her with up to $50,000 annually over five years. As Jamie Brauer, President of Canopy says, “We believe it’s our national responsibility to support the early development of young Canadian athletes like Sara.” Brauer adds,“We immediately empathized with Sara’s financial situation as a developing athlete: “I aspired to compete in the Olympics (in archery) and I know the difficulty athletes face to compete at the highest level. That’s one of the reasons we want to help.”

Investing in the future

Sara on Canopy

Sara is not just grateful for her sponsorship by Canopy, she is also proud of her association with this environmentally-conscious developer. “The fit couldn’t be better,” says Sara. “Canopy’s sense of corporate responsibility has impressed me. What they are doing at the Village of Young Cove is indicative of what so many land developers should do as they preserve the natural landscapes and wildlife surrounding the building of homes. It demonstrates stewardship of the environment and the preservation of the nature and history at Young Cove.” As her athletic career has progressed, Sara has been dismayed to discover that support from federal and provincial governments is typically allocated to developing athletes “almost as if it is an annual prize based on one or two competitions rather than an investment in individuals who, through long-term training and competition, prove to be Canada's top prospects 3 to 4 years in the future." For this reason, Canopy’s contribution to Sara’s continued success “makes a huge difference in very practical ways,” according to the athlete. “It is with Canopy's support, for instance, that I’ve been able to participate in developing an innovative racing kayak to accommodate the crazy travel demands of my sport. I can take my ‘flying kayak' on the airlines as checked-in baggage, which saves me hundreds of dollars every time I fly.”