Sport has the power to transform lives, communities, and environments — far beyond competition. Team Canada Olympians show us their legacies can create positive change in the way we live, the way we treat each other, and the way we think about ourselves. We are pleased to launch the fifth edition of the OLY Legacy Grant supporting our commitment to making sport safe, inclusive and barrier-free. This is your chance to create a lasting, positive change in your community.
The OLY Canada Legacy Grant supports Olympian-led community programs designed to foster ethical, safe PODIUM dreams, empower positive, healthy PLAY, and support a sustainable PLANET.
To learn more about the Team Canada Olympic Agenda, click here.
Deadline: October 31, 2023
HOW IT WORKS
For this edition, a minimum of nine grants up to $10,000 each will be awarded to Team Canada Olympians committed to leading a not-for-profit initiative in their community. Initiatives that best exemplify the Olympic Values will be given preference. The grants will be awarded across three categories: Podium, Play and Planet. A minimum of two grants will be awarded to initiatives that support safe sport, sustainability, BIPOC communities through sport.
(See Grant Categories for detailed category descriptions)
Who can apply
Legacy Olympians retired from competition or active Olympians planning their career transition are encouraged to apply.
Criteria
Each application is carefully evaluated based on its level of contribution to the COC’s purpose of transforming Canada through the power of sport by investing in OLY legacy work.
Application
Eligible applicants can submit a maximum of one (1) initiative for this edition of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant Program. Each eligible initiative must be submitted to the COC using the application form. No other form of application will be accepted. All sections of the Application form must be complete and applicants must agree to the OLY Canada Legacy Grant Program Terms and Conditions to be valid.
The receipt of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant is conditional on the selected applicant entering an OLY Canada Legacy Grant Recipient Agreement. All applications must be submitted to the COC using the APPLICATION FORM by no later than Tuesday, October 31, 2023, by 23:59 Eastern Time.
If you have received funding through this grant before, we encourage you to re-apply, as initiatives can benefit from the Legacy Grant up to two times.
Support is available for applicants, connect with OLY@olympic.ca to ask any questions you might have, or to schedule a meeting.
GRANT CATEGORIES
PODIUM
This category includes initiatives that help support safe, inclusive and barrier-free sport by strengthening the sport system, supporting the athlete journey and providing research and training. Examples of past projects that fall under this category include:
The Spirit of Trust Survivor-Led Programs (Guylaine Dumont, OLY): These virtual programs aim to ensure victims of maltreatment in sport in Canada have a safe place to go at any stage of their life-long healing journey.
The Coaching for Impact Initiative (Carmelina Moscato, OLY): Increasing numbers of female leaders within sport by providing women the opportunity to begin their coaching careers, overcome financial and cultural intimidations, and give back to their respective communities.
PLAY
This category includes initiatives that help make sport more accessible for youth and communities, encourage youth to stay in sport and ensure diversity at all levels of sport. Some examples of past projects that falls under this category:
Northern LYTES “Linking Youth to Elite Sport” (Emily Nishikawa, OLY): This program was developed as a way to inspire Yukon athletes to continue working hard in their sport and be inspired by Olympians attending their camps.
Farrell Foundation Boxing (Nickolos Farrell, OLY): A grass-roots program that operates out of East Hamilton, Ontario, this program helps local youth develop vital life skills through the teachings of basic boxing techniques. Youth gain increased self confidence, focus, respect and compassion for others.
S-Class Fencing (Eli Schenkel, OLY): A project aimed at increasing the accessibility of fencing by drastically decreasing the cost of entry, and turning any venue into a potential strip.
PLANET
This category includes initiatives that help make the planet a healthier place and support environmental sustainability. Some examples of past projects falling under this category:
Racing to Zero (Seyi Smith, OLY): This is a growing project/venture in the form of a sports environmental sustainability consulting firm. RTZ’s services include carbon emission measurement and analysis, hosting process improvement and providing sustainability education marketing and communications support to sport directors.
Decarbonizing Rowing: Electric Outboard Pilot Project (Brenda Taylor, OLY): The goal for this project is to educate and empower the BC rowing community to switch from gas to e-outboards.
IMPORTANT DATES
- September 28, 2023 – Program Launch
- October 31, 2023– Program Application closes
- November 2023: Review of eligible applications and selection of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant recipients
- December 2023: Announcement of successful OLY Canada Legacy Grant recipients
*subject to change
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
To apply for this edition of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant, Team Canada Legacy Olympians and active Olympians applicant(s) must:
- Currently reside in Canada;
- Be in compliance with and not be under sanction under the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, COC Code to Address Maltreatment in Sport and COC Code of Ethics;
- Have received their OLY nominal letters from the World Olympians Association;
- Meet all other eligibility criteria set out in the OLY Canada Legacy Grant Program Terms and Conditions.
ELIGIBLE INITIATIVES
To be eligible for this edition of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant, initiatives submitted by eligible applicants must:
- Fall under one of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant Categories;
- Be led and controlled primarily by the eligible applicant (or a group of eligible applicants);
- Be organized as a not-for-profit organization or otherwise directly supporting a community-based initiative despite being constituted through different incorporation/organization form;
- Be consistent with the values of the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, COC Code to Address Maltreatment in Sport and COC Code of Ethics;
- Be implemented primarily during the calendar year 2024; and
- Meet all criteria set out in the OLY Canada Legacy Grant Program Terms and Conditions.
All applications must be submitted to the COC using the APPLICATION FORM by no later than Tuesday, October 31, 2023, by 23:59 Eastern Time.
If you have any questions regarding this program, you can always contact the Athlete Marketing & Olympian Legacy Team at oly@olympic.ca. To learn more about past recipients of the OLY Legacy Grant, click here.
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