NEWS RELEASE
GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO
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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 11 local athletes from Newmarket in their quest for gold,” said Christine Elliott, MPP Newmarket-Aurora. “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.”
Newmarket recipients:
• Axon, Frederick Alexander - swim
• Daleman, Gabrielle - figure skating
• Daleman, Zachary - figure skating
• Dillon, Riley - water ski
• Draxl, Liam - Tennis
• Edward, Thomas - ice hockey, men's
• Fang, Jeffery - golf
• Klakov, Maksym - swim
• Laliberte, Jada - ringette
• Lee, Joanne - wheelchair basketball
• Stabler, Sydney - ringette
“At this juncture in our history, it is more important than ever to support our young athletes as they find new ways to accomplish their dreams in sport. Athletics Ontario’s Quest For Gold program invests in athletes that are training to represent themselves, their hometowns, their province and their country, as we look to the future of sport through their commitment to train,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP York-Simcoe, where eight recipients received funding. “Sport will continue to be an integral part of our society, and with the support of Quest for Gold, these athletes will represent the future of athletics and sport in Ontario and beyond.”
"The Quest for Gold program ensures that Ontario's amateur athletes and their coaches receive the support that they need to continue representing our province here at home and abroad. Not every sport is team-based, but behind every athlete there is a team of people who are there to support, encourage and celebrate their incredible efforts. The Government of Ontario continues to stand behind our young athletes, who through the guidance and support from their coaches, continue to set new milestones for future generations of competitors," said Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill.
Between the communities of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, Newmarket-Aurora and York-Simcoe, 48 local recipients of this year’s provincial funding of $189,670.
“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 Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “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.
Quick facts:
• 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.
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