TORONTO, Ontario, March 21, 2022 –
On March 8, 2022, the Ministry of Heritage, Sports, Tourism and Culture Industries announced the investment $30 million to stabilize Ontario’s sport and recreation sector; the investment is to help offset increased costs as a result of COVID-19 and support the sector’s future recovery in communities across the province. Of the $30 million, $20 million of this funding has been distributed to the provincial sport organizations to distribute to their member clubs.
Ontario Artistic Swimming, as the provincial sport organization for artistic swimming in Ontario, is thrilled to announce a funding opportunity for our Member Clubs to recover and rebuild stronger with a focus on areas vital to long-term sustainability. This new funding provides a once in a life-time opportunity for our member clubs to be positioned to provide programs, services and new opportunities for youth and adults across Ontario communities, enabling an optimal return to the sport our participants love. Eligibility for the funding as established by the Ministry, requires that clubs are members in good standing of OAS for the 2021-2022 season and funding must be applied to:
● Increased operating costs directly related to the pandemic (e.g. the costs of purchasing personal protective equipment
● Reduction of members and membership revenue during the pandemic
● Increased facility costs required to comply with the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020 and its regulations
● Operating deficits to maintain programming for fewer participants.
All twenty-one (21) of our 2021-2022 season’s registered member clubs, have been pre-cleared and are eligible to apply, with applications due no later than April 30th, 2022 through the OAS submission process to be released later this week.
This funding program will allow OAS to provide between $5,000 and $20,000 or more per club, requiring submission of an application that defines categories and expenses that are eligible to meet the requirements of funding support. OAS will host two Town Hall information sessions for club administrators who will be responsible for the completion of the application, as follows:
1) Monday, April 4, 2022 at 12:00PM – 1:00PM
2) Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 7:00PM – 8:00PM
Call coordinates for these sessions will be distributed through OAS Communications email.
Questions related to the above, can be directed to Mary Dwyer.