Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund High-Performance Athlete Grant

On November 22, 2002, the Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund (AYSLF) was created as an agreement between the Province of British Columbia, the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, and the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation. The AYSLF provides an excellent opportunity to support innovative programs aimed at assisting Aboriginal youth in the province of British Columbia to excel in winter sport. For further information about the AYSLF, including other funding opportunities, please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com. Description
The High-Performance Athlete Grant was created through AYSLF to assist amateur athletes of Aboriginal ancestry, including Aboriginal athletes with a disability, who require financial assistance in their pursuit of athletic excellence. The amount of individual grants awarded will vary depending on eligible applications received; each grant will be a minimum of $500. Candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria demonstrated in their application:
• Demonstrated need for financial assistance;
• Demonstrated commitment to athletic development;
• Sport participation and performance goals for 2010/2011;
• Sport achievement to date, and demonstrated potential towards future performance;
• Recognition as a positive community and healthy living role model; and
• Preference will be given to athletes participating in winter sport; however, athletes competing in non-winter sport disciplines are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Eligibility
Athlete must:
• Be a Canadian citizen of Aboriginal ancestry and a permanent resident of B.C.;
• Be a minimum age of 13 years and up to a maximum age of 30 years at the time of application;
• Be currently training and continue to train, in the sport indicated, in B.C. (Note: exceptions may be made providing the athlete is unable to receive the required or adequate level of training within B.C.);
• Be endorsed by their respective sport organization or association; and
• Participate in amateur sport and have achieved or demonstrated potential to achieve provincial level (or higher) performance results.

Terms & Conditions

• Applicants may be asked to provide additional supporting information at the discretion of the AYSLF Committee;
• If you are moving, or have a change of circumstances related to this application, it is your responsibility to notify the AYSLF Committee;
• Grant awards are to be used to defray costs related to training and competition;
• Athletes must be currently training and competing in sport indicated upon receipt of assistance;
• Athletes who receive funding under this program are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. Any athlete found to be in violation under this program (and as a result, penalized), must return the full amount of the grant award received under this program. Any athlete already penalized under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program will not be eligible to apply for funding through this program;
• If an athlete receiving assistance through this program is prevented from continuing with their competition or training for a period greater than 60 days resulting from illness, injury or other circumstances, the athlete shall disclose this to the AYSLF Committee. The athlete may be eligible to retain the funding upon agreement to adhere to the following provisions:
o Make every reasonable effort to rehabilitate to prior athletic status;
o Demonstrate long-term commitment to return to high-performance training and competition goals; and
o Provide in writing from their coach that they have the capacity to return to prior athletic status;
• Athletes who receive funding under this program and who choose to withdraw from sport participation, will be responsible for returning the full award, or a percentage thereof, as determined by the AYSLF Committee;
• Violations of the program guidelines, terms and conditions may result in forfeiture of eligibility and/or support; and
• Applicants may re-apply for subsequent years.

Please note:
• All athletes will be required to submit a follow-up letter stating their
successes/challenges within 30 days of the end of the 2010/2011 competitive season.
• Past award recipients must submit a report from the previous year prior to receiving new funding.
• FNST High-Performance Team athletes are no longer eligible for funding through the AYLF grants. Separate funding will be made available to these athletes. For more information, please email AYSLF[at]2010LegaciesNow.com

Download the complete application form.