Athlete Development Grants
Development Funding for Curling Athletes
Quest for Gold
The Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) provides financial support to Ontario’s amateur high performance athletes.
Specific objectives of the Quest for Gold program are:
- To help athletes continue their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition;
- To encourage athletes to stay in Ontario to live and train;
- To compensate athletes for earnings lost while training during their summer school break;
- To enable athletes to successfully pursue excellence in sport while fulfilling their educational goals;
- To increase athletes’ access to high performance coaching; and
- To enhance training and competitive opportunities available to athletes.
In 2022-2023, the Ontario Curling Council selected Quest for Gold recipients based on their performance at various Provincial Championships.
Canadian Athletes Now Fund
The Canadian Athletes Now Fund (CAN Fund) is a not-for-profit organization devoted solely to raising funds and awareness of our Canadian athletes. The funds create a vehicle that connects Canadians directly to our athlete¹s journey and their success.
CAN Fund is the only organization in Canada that with each donation, you find out the name of the athlete you have directly supported and receive a tax receipt. We provide our athletes with the opportunity to focus on success instead of focusing on unnecessary financial hurdles.
Donations go directly to Canadian athletes so they can afford proper nutrition, better equipment, coaching, travel to competitions and training camps, and basic living expenses. To learn more, visit the Canadian Athletes Now Fund website.
For The Love of Curling Scholarships
For the Love of Curling Scholarships are funded by contributions of ordinary Canadians and are granted by Curling Canada to curlers who will be, or are continuing to study, at a Canadian post-secondary institution. A total of ten scholarships are awarded each year. Each scholarship will provide $2,500 to help post-secondary athletes cover some of their education and curling costs.
Emphasis will be placed on athletes who have:
- competed at the provincial/territorial level or higher;
- who have maintained a high level of academic standing; and
- demonstrated a commitment to curling through their involvement in coaching, instructing and/or volunteer activities.
Athletes must be under the age of 23 and not have received the “For The Love Of Curling” Scholarship in any previous year. The application process runs from May 1 to June 30 each year, and Curling Canada announces the winners of the For the Love of Curling Scholarships in August.
Spirit of Sandra Junior Curling Scholarships
The Spirit of Sandra Junior Curling Scholarship is intended for young athletes who participate in curling in their graduating year from high school or while pursuing a post-secondary education with a minimum load of at least 3 courses in one semester. The Curling Scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school students entering a post-secondary institution and to students in their first or second year in a university or college – i.e. those athletes still eligible for U20 (Junior) play.
In recognition of Sandra Schmirler, the three-time Canadian and World Curling Champion and first gold medalist for curling in the Olympics, six junior curling scholarships of $5000.00 each are awarded each June in the “Spirit of Sandra” and in the name of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. Scholarship applications are due the preceding May.
