Financial Assistance

High Performance Grant

The High Performance Grant is awarded to athletes placing first through fifth in Novice, Junior and Senior events at the Canadian National Skating Championships. The grant is contingent on the skater continuing to train and compete for the upcoming season, and it is meant to assist with training expenses.

Current athletes receiving funding from the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program and pairs/dance teams whose partnerships have ended are ineligible to receive the High Performance Grant. If awarded in different disciplines, the skater will receive both, or for the discipline which they are not receiving any Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program funding.

Athletes will be contacted by the High Performance Department, and the grant will be issued directly to athletes in the August/September following the Canadian National Skating Championships.

International Competition Grant

Senior and Junior (Singles, Pair and Ice Dance)
The Skate Canada High Performance Development Committee nominates skaters to international assignments. To support these entries, Skate Canada will provide a grant for each ISU Challenger Series, ISU Senior International, ISU Junior Grand Prix (excluding JGP Final), ISU Senior Grand Prix (excluding GP Final), ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, ISU Four Continents Championships and ISU World Figure Skating Championships events. Grants will be awarded for ISU Junior International competitions taking place between July 1 and December 31 of each year. The grant will assist athletes with travel costs to these competitions and will be sent directly to the skater. The grant is based on the below tiered system and corresponds with the skater’s/team results.

Podium finish – $2,000
Top two warm-up groups (Singles – 4th-12th; Pairs – 4th-8th; Ice Dance – 4th-10th) $1,000
Qualify for the free program – $500

Senior Grand Prix and International
Podium finish – $2,000
Top half of field $1,000
Bottom half of field $500

Junior Grand Prix 
Podium finish – $1,500
Top group – (Singles – 4th-6th / Pair – 4th / Ice Dance – 4th-5th) – $1,000
Remaining placements – $500

Junior Internationals
Podium finish – $1,000
Remaining placements – $500

NB: Senior/Junior pairs and ice dance will split the monetary grant amount

International Synchronized Skating Grant

Skate Canada assigns Canadian synchronized skating teams to international events. A grant of $5,250 per assignment (excluding ISU World and World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships), will be provided (maximum of two). The grant will be sent directly to the teams at the end of the skating season.

Stewart G. Esdaile Trust Fund Grant

This Trust grant was established in memory of Stewart G. Esdaile, who was a prominent member of the Ottawa/Gatineau figure skating community.

Each year, this grant is allocated to skaters who competed in the Canadian National Skating Championships in novice and junior, and who represent and are members of one of the following Ottawa-Gatineau Figure Skating clubs (or their successors): Almonte, Arnprior, Asticou, Carleton Place, Gatineau Valley SC, Patinage Gatineau, Gloucester, Hull, March-Kanata, Metcalfe, Minto, Nepean, Rideau and Rockland.

The total amount awarded annually shall be determined by attributing an amount representing the approximate rate of return on Skate Canada’s portfolio of assets (considering market conditions).  The amount available for disbursement in any year shall not be less than $2,000.  The amount available will be equally divided among all skaters who meet the above qualifications, to a maximum amount of $2,000 per single skater and $3,000 per pairs or ice dance team. In the event no individual achieves the qualifications, no payment will be issued. This grant will be sent directly to the recipients on or about August 1 of each calendar year.

Paul Giesinger Trust Fund Grant

This grant is a result of the generous donation of the estate of Paul Giesinger. The award of $1000 is to be granted annually to the novice women’s and men’s champion at the Canadian National Skating championships. This grant will be sent directly to the recipients on or approximately August 1 of each year.