The Ontario government is helping athletes and their coaches train in Ontario and continue their quest for gold at national and international competitions.
Through the Quest for Gold program, the Ontario government is providing $6.36 million in direct financial assistance to 1,438 high-performance athletes to ensure they can pursue their dreams of excellence at home in Ontario. Quest for Gold athletes receive funding that helps offset costs of training and living expenses, which could include rent, costs to attend a training camp, equipment and tuition/education-related expenses.
“I am proud to announce that, this year, the Ontario government is supporting 10 local athletes from Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound in their quest for gold,” said Walker. “The Quest for Gold program provides much needed funding and support to our athletes, so that they can continue pursuing their dreams on an international stage. Best of fun and success!”
Local athletes are receiving a total of $46,878 through the program. Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound recipients of this year’s provincial funding include: Scott Breedon/freestyle skiing, Kevin Duchane/sledge hockey, Erin Mielzynski/alpine skiing, Jonathan Pickett/beach volleyball, Dylan Pust/triathlon, Owen Rahn/softball, Shea Tiley/ice hockey, Owen Torrie/softball, Karen Van Nest/archery and Matthew Weiler/softball.
“This has been a challenging and unprecedented time for Ontario’s amateur athletes and sport sector, but today marks an important step in their recovery,” said Minister Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod. “Helping out high-performance athletes return to the podium is part of our government’s commitment to supporting a double bottom line, that drives our economy and strengthens our cultural fabric.”
The Quest for Gold program allows amateur athletes to focus on becoming the best in their sport, and improving Ontario’s and Canada’s standing at international competitions.
§ Quest for Gold athletes receive funding that helps offset costs of training and living expenses. This could include rent, costs to attend a training camp, equipment and tuition/education-related expenses.
§ Past Olympic medallists Penny Oleksiak, Andre De Grasse, and Gabrielle Daleman have received Quest for Gold funding. Of the 43 Ontario athletes who medaled at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics, 34 were Quest for Gold athletes.
The government is also providing up to $12.3 million to Canadian Sports Institute Ontario over three years, and up to $3.21 million to the Coaches Association of Ontario over three years to support high-performance athletes and their coaches as they go for gold.
source: media release, MPP Bill Walker
