Team Canada Olympic Day Grant Year 2 recipients celebrated

1,728 students across 16 schools positively impacted by grant program since inception

TORONTO (June 20, 2024) – With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games just 36 days away, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced the recipients of the 2024 edition of the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant. Since its inception last year, the grant has provided $80,000 to programs in 16 schools across nine provinces and one territory, supporting a total of 1,728 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. 

The Team Canada Olympic Day Grant aims to bolster school-based programs dedicated to empowering students to play and stay in sport. The 2024 recipients of the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant and their programs are:

• École secondaire de Rivière-du-Loup (Rivière-du-Loup, Que.) – Specialized workshops on stress management, goal-setting and emotional wellbeing to empower the mental health of student athletes.

• Grey Mountain Primary School (Whitehorse, Yuk.) – Outdoor learning through kick sleds and bicycles while fostering inclusivity and Indigenous knowledge.

• Horton High School (Wolfville, N.S.) – A specialized squash program for Africentric students throughout the school year to build strength, discipline, sportsmanship and resilience.

• Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh (Nanaimo, B.C.) – Integrated physical activity and emotional wellness programs on Snuneymuxw First Nations territory to support a holistic approach to wellness.

• Saint Mary’s Academy (Edmundston, N.B.) – A futsal program to promote unity and engagement with sports among Indigenous communities and newcomers to Canada.

• St. Dunstan Catholic School (Toronto, Ont.) – House leagues for soccer and volleyball as well as community-led sports days and summer camp opportunities to empower students from diverse backgrounds facing safety and financial challenges.

• Ugpi’ganjig Education Department (Eel River Bar First Nation, N.B.) – Weekly after-school boxing sessions to promote Olympic values, health, well-being and skill development.

• Waweyekisik (Waterhen Lake IR, Sask.) – A pioneering girls’ rugby program for First Nation communities in Saskatchewan to foster inclusivity and skill development with the hope of eventually participating in regional and international competitions.

• Wellington School (Winnipeg, Man.) – Workshops in a different Olympic sport each week, culminating in an ‘Olympic Sports Day’ to take place in the Spring.

• Woodland Primary (Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L.) – Free joint fitness sessions for elementary students and seniors to unite generations through fitness.

Information on the 2023 recipients can be found here.

The programs funded so far have focused on increasing participation in sport and physical activity, creating opportunities for inclusivity, and building mental fitness and emotional wellness through sport. The programs have impacted diverse groups and underserved communities who often experience increased barriers to participation:

• 50% Students who are new to Canada
• 43% Students with low income or financial need
• 43% Indigenous students
• 29% Students identifying as girls
• 21% Students living with disabilities
• 14% Racialized students
• 14% Students identifying as 2SLGBTQI+

This grant is a key-driver of the Team Canada Impact Agenda, the COC’s organization-wide commitment to making sport safe, inclusive and barrier-free so more young people can play and stay in sport. As part of the COC’s long-standing Olympic Education program, the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant allows more young people to experience the transformational power of sport. 

The grant is inspired by Olympic Day, celebrated each year on June 23 to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Games. Olympic Day aims to promote the values of Olympism, encourage participation in sports, and foster a sense of unity and friendship among people worldwide. 

The next iteration of the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant will open for applications in October 2024. For more information on our Olympic Education programs and the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant, please visit https://preprod.olympic.ca/education/.

QUOTES

“We often talk about the transformative power of sport – it brings communities together, teaches us leadership and fair play, and fuels our health and well-being. But we also know that access to sport is a challenge, as is funding for programs like these. That’s why investments like the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant are important, and we’re so proud to see that these programs are truly enabling students to explore new sports, continue their athletic pursuits, and acquire the skills and enthusiasm for lifelong participation.”

– David Shoemaker, COC’s Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General 

“The depth of programs supported and number of students reached by the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant in its first two years demonstrates the tangible effects of our commitment, through the Team Canada Impact Agenda, to making sport more accessible for all people in Canada. A huge thank you to these schools, the sport and community leaders running the programs and those across the country working hard to provide safe and positive sporting experiences for children and youth.”

– Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation

“The benefits from the Team Canada Olympic Day Grant go far beyond financial support for our new Futsal program and getting our kids moving. Those are short term. Having an Olympian visit our school and speak to our entire school population epitomized what it means to be brave enough to follow your dreams. Every single student will remember the day of Marie-Eve Nault’s visit. That inspiration alone is priceless. We are so grateful.” 

– Saint Mary’s Academy, Edmundston, N.B.

“The Olympic Day grant meant so much to our little school. It allowed us to purchase bikes and kick sleds that will enable our students to go explore the Yukon wilderness that surrounds them in all the seasons. Our school’s focus is on outdoor learning and students being able to feel a connection to land and place. The Olympic Day grant helped us to expand the toolkit we have to serve our students – increased physical literacy and exposure to the outdoors – a magic combination!”

– Grey Mountain Primary School, Whitehorse, Yuk.

“The grant allows athletes to deepen their mental skills. It’s a privilege for us. Invisible preparation is essential in their development. A huge thank you, especially for having had the chance to welcome an Olympic athlete from our area, it was WOW. It’s an exceptional moment for our student-athletes and a great source of motivation for them.” 

– École secondaire Rivière-Du-Loup, Que.

ABOUT OLYMPIC DAY
Established in 1948, Olympic Day is a cornerstone of the Olympic Movement and is celebrated by approximately 110 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and abilities around the world.

This global initiative is celebrated on June 23rd each year to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Games. The day is marked by various sporting events, activities, and educational programs organized by Olympic committees, sports organizations, and communities to engage individuals of all ages and abilities.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Koteki Inaba
Program Manager, Public Relations
C: 438-337-6010
E: kinaba@olympic.ca

Samantha Sokol
Specialist, Communications
C: 647-385-7107
E: ssokol@olympic.ca