On March 17, the Government of Ontario made the announcement that it will be investing in the sport and recreation sector by supporting four initiatives. One of these was a $6.36 million investment in the Quest For Gold Canada program, which provides financial assistance to high-performance athletes’ ability to train. The support; however, was unfortunately not allocated in the carding program that Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs), like the OVA, manages and this year there will be no Quest For Gold funding for the OVA to distribute to Ontario athletes aspiring to the National Team. No application process will be needed.

Each year, the OVA works with the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries to provide recognized athletes with support from the Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (Quest For Gold). Financial assistance is distributed to two carding programs: The Ontario Card and the Canada Card.

The Ontario Card is traditionally provided to athletes based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport and are selected by the PSO through an approved criteria. The OVA normally manages this carding program.

This year, support is to be delivered to approximately 550 Ontario athletes who have reached the national competition level through the Quest for Gold Canada Card program. This means all Ontario athletes who are currently members of the National Team and who already receive funding through the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance program will be receiving Quest For Gold funding.

It’s unfortunate that this stream of financial assistance will not be available to aspiring national level athletes as there are many deserving. The OVA will keep its members informed on any updates to the Quest For Gold program as they become available. We would like to thank all of the athletes who have been in contact with us regarding the program for their patience. We want to wish the athletes the best in their athletic development pursuits in 2021. If you have thoughts or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Stay connected with the OVA

If you have not subscribed to our bi-weekly e-Newsletter, subscribe to the Volleyball For Life update. Stay connected with the OVA by also following us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.