Quest for Gold

To our members,
 
The AOS entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Health Promotion (MHP) to participate in the administration of the 2009-2010 Ontario Card-Quest for Gold. The AOS wants to inform you on the process and due diligence that the AOS Board of Directors has done to ensure that the Terms and Conditions set forth by the MHP have been met.

Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program 2009-2010 (OAAP) is funded by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Health Promotion (MHP), and operated through the Sport and Recreation Branch.  The overarching goal of the Quest for Gold – OAAP is directly related to the Enhanced Excellence goals of both ACTIVE2010 and the Canadian Sport Policy – to improve the performance and number of Ontario athletes performing at the national and international level; thereby contributing to the improved performance of Canada at international competitions. Specific objectives of the program are:

  1. To help athletes continue their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition;
  2. To encourage athletes to stay in Ontario to live and train;
  3. To compensate athletes for earnings lost while training;
  4. To enable athletes to successfully pursue excellence in sport while fulfilling their educational goals;
  5. To increase athlete access to improved high performance coaching; and
  6. To enhance training and competitive opportunities available to athletes

The program will provide direct financial assistance to Ontario junior-aged athletes through an "Ontario Card" designation.  "Junior-aged athlete" is defined as those athletes who fall within the eligible age range for the Canada Games - 11 to 22 years of age.  (Consideration will be given to older junior-aged athletes if a PSO/MSO's NSO-approved Long Term Athlete Development model (LTAD) identifies older athletes in the "Train to Train" and "Train to Compete" categories). The intent of the OAAP is to provide funding to individual athletes based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport, allowing them to pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition.
 
The Board and the appointed 'Selection Committee' have worked together over the past many months, attending a Quest for Gold workshop and having our Ministry rep, Scott Cooper attend an AOS Board meeting to deliver the program overview, give input and answer questions.  It has been a lengthy, but important process, so that the AOS can deliver a selection criteria that is fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination or conflict of interest.
 
The Board and the Ministry have approved the 'Selection Criteria' and it is now posted on our website.  Athletes wishing to be nominated must submit a written request to be "Nominated" for an Ontario Card together with their proposed 12-month plan/schedule and letter of recommendation to the AOS "Quest for Gold Nominating Committee" prior to December 9, 2009.
 
If you have any questions please call Christy Deere at the AOS office (705) 446-1488 or email  aosadmin@ontariosnowboarders.ca.

 2009-2010 Quest for Gold Athlete Selection Criteria