Ontario Weightlifting Association
Quest for Gold
Quest for Gold – Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) is funded by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS), and operated through the Sport, Recreation & Community Programs Division. The overarching goal of the Quest for Gold – OAAP is directly related to the High Performance Sport goal of the Canadian Sport Policy – that Canadians are systematically achieving world-class results at the highest levels of international competition – by improving the performance and number of Ontario athletes performing at the national and international level, thereby contributing to the improved performance of Canada at international competitions.
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Specific objectives of the program are:
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To help athletes continue their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition;
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To encourage athletes to stay in Ontario to live and train;
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To compensate athletes for earnings lost while training;
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To enable athletes to successfully pursue excellence in sport while fulfilling their educational goals;
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To increase athlete access to improved high performance coaching; and
- To enhance training and competitive opportunities available to athletes.
The intent of the OAAP is to provide funding to individual athletes in the sport’s Train to Train and Train to Win categories based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport, allowing them to continue to pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition. Only those athletes that meet the required minimum performance standard detailed in this Selection Criteria will be considered for this program. Ideally an athlete will first receive a Quest for Gold “Ontario Card” for 1 to 3 years, which will allow them to train towards the goal of a national team position in subsequent years. Once an Ontario athlete reaches the national level and becomes a recipient of Sport Canada’s carding program, they become eligible for the Quest for Gold “Canada Card”. Athletes who are not planning to train towards this level of competition should not apply for this program.
*April 11 - Draft Selection Criteria updated - dates and deadlines adjusted to align with MTCS funding dates for 2023/2024.
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March 24, 2024
2023-2024 Quest for Gold Program
The OWA has received $15,598.00 for Quest for Gold Ontario Card funding which will be 100% directed to high performance athletes.
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DRAFT list of athletes selected to receive funding based on the 2023-2024 Ontario Athlete Assistance Program Selection Criteria (ranking is based on SDC competitions from Dec 31, 2022 to Dec 31, 2023):
Full Card: Senior Athletes
Amanda Braddock (Primary)
Monica Knowlton (Alternate)
Boady Santavy (Primary)*
Noah Santavy (First Alternate)*
Spencer Moorman (Second Alternate)*
*Boady Santavy is a recipient of the Canada Card; thus, Ontario Card will be awarded to the listed alternate athletes.
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Half Card: Junior Athletes
Ambroise Stevens-Paquette (Primary)
Naza Grant (Primary)
Natalie Cerna (Alternate)
Marlowe Robinson (Alternate)
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Griffin Lamarche (Primary)
Asher Edgson (Primary)
Athletes who have not been nominated for an Ontario Card by the OWA Selection Committee or who have been nominated for a ‘Half Card’ versus a ‘Full Card’, where applicable will be allowed to appeal this decision by contacting the OWA by April 27, 2024.
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March 4, 2024
2023-2024 Quest for Gold Program
A draft selection criteria for the 2023/2024 Quest for Gold fiscal year has been uploaded above.
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A preliminary list of athletes selected to receive funding based on this criteria to be released soon.
June 27, 2023
2022-2023 Quest for Gold Program
We received $15,598.00 for Quest for Gold Ontario Card funding which will be 100% directed to high performance athletes.
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DRAFT list of athletes selected to receive funding based on the 2022-2023 Ontario Athlete Assistance Program Selection Criteria (ranking is based on SDC competitions from Dec 31, 2021 to Dec 31, 2022):
Full Card: Senior Athletes
Maya Laylor (Primary)*
Shania Bedward (Alternate)*
Megan Trupp (Alternate)
Noah Santavy (Primary)
Xaview Lusignan (Alternate)
Ranking
*Maya Laylor and Shania Bedward are recipients of the Canada Card; thus, Ontario Card will be awarded to the listed alternate athletes.
Half Card: Junior Athletes
Naomie Lusignan (Primary)
Alana Santavy (Primary)
Natalie Cerna (Alternate)
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Xavier Lusignan (Primary)
Feras Sharaf Eldin (Primary)
Matthew Moscuzza (Alternate)
Ranking
Athletes who have not been nominated for an Ontario Card by the OWA Selection Committee or who have been nominated for a ‘Half Card’ versus a ‘Full Card’, where applicable will be allowed to appeal this decision by contacting the OWA by July 14, 2023.
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July 19,2022
2021-2022 Quest for Gold Program
We received $15,598.00 for Quest for Gold Ontario Card funding which will be 100% directed to high performance athletes.
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DRAFT list of athletes selected to receive funding based on the 2021-2022 Ontario Athlete Assistance Program Selection Criteria (ranking is based on SDC competitions from May 28, 2021 to March 31, 2022):
Full Card: Senior Athletes
Maya Laylor (Primary)*
Shania Bedward (Alternate)
Boady Santavy (Primary)*
Noah Santavy (Alternate)
Ranking
*Maya Laylor and Boady Santavy are recipients of the Canada Card; thus, Ontario Card will be awarded to the listed alternate athletes.
Half Card: Junior Athletes
Naomie Lusignan
Alana Santavy
Feras Sharaf Eldin
Xavier Lusignan
Ranking
Athletes who have not been nominated for an Ontario Card by the OWA Selection Committee or who have been nominated for a ‘Half Card’ versus a ‘Full Card’, where applicable will be allowed to appeal this decision by contacting the OWA by Tuesday July 26, 2022.
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April 29, 2021
2020-2021 Quest for Gold Program
The Hon. Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, announced several funding decisions last month to support grassroots activities, sport and recreation organizations and high-performance athletes. Unfortunately, the Ministry will only fund the Canada Card program from 2020-2021. To see the full news release, click here.
The Canada Card will provide additional funding over and above the full value of the carding designation an athlete is receiving from Sport Canada. Our national-level athletes Amanda Braddock and Boady Santavy are currently carded by Sport Canada and will be receiving a 35% top-up in addition to their Sport Canada funding.
An announcement will be made if the Ontario Card program will return next year.​
April 8, 2020
2019-2020 Quest for Gold Program
Ontario Weightlifting Association is pleased to announce the final list of athletes who have been nominated for Ontario Cards under the 2019-2020 Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP). The athletes nominated were selected using the sport specific selection criteria developed by Ontario Weightlifting Association and applied by (the) Selection Committee.
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Full Card:
Maya Laylor
Noah Santavy
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Half Card:
Feras Sharaf Eldin
Erica Folo
Xavier Lusignan
Megan Trupp