Ontario Speed Skating Receives Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund Grant

In February, Canadian Tire Corporation announced an additional $12 million commitment to Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund to help sport and recreation organizations build back sport and play in Canada.

Jumpstart conducted a State of Sport study via Ipsos which revealed the pandemic has not only impacted current access to sport and play but has real long-term effects as well. Ontario Speed Skating and the communities we serve have experienced the impact of the pandemic first-hand.

We recently received confirmation that we are amongst over 500 sport and recreation organizations nationally to be provided with grant support through the latest round of Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund. In 2021, Jumpstart has already disbursed over $9 million in funding to more than 800 organizations across Canada through Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund. We are beyond grateful to receive this news and know the positive impact it will have on sport and recreation organizations, and ultimately, on kids across the country.

With Jumpstart’s support, we’ll be able to improve our organization’s delivery of inclusive and participant-centric programs through training and education to build a speed skating community that prioritizes equity, diversity and inclusion. First, we will establish an understanding and acknowledgement among our staff and members of the systemic barriers that exist for participants and potential participants in speed skating. This understanding will allow us to shift our focus towards implementing policies and programs that are built on a core foundation of inclusivity for all participants at all levels.

We will be announcing our diversity and inclusion education plans to the clubs this summer.

Thank you to Jumpstart for supporting our organization through the Sport Relief Fund!