The Yukon High Performance Athlete Assistance Program (YHPAAP) provides grants to help offset training and competition expenses incurred by selected Yukon athletes.
They must are able to demonstrate that they are competing at a “high performance level” as defined by this program.
The program is intended to assist athletes as they continue to show improvement in their sport from year to year which is demonstrated by their performance and results.
Funding assistance levels
The High Performance Jury reserves the right to move an athlete between the levels of funding.
Bronze assistance level: up to $2,500 for a maximum of 2 consecutive years
The athlete must:
- have demonstrated significant results at a provincial or equivalent level;
- be a top-level athlete with demonstrable provincial team calibre or potential to make a provincial team; and
- have demonstrated the skill and potential to graduate to the silver or gold levels.
Silver assistance level: up to $4,000 for a maximum of 3 consecutive years
The athlete must have demonstrated:
- significant results at Western Canadian or equivalent level; and
- the skill and potential to graduate to the gold level.
Gold assistance level: up to $7,000
The athlete must:
- have demonstrated significant performance at the national or international level; and
- be identified as a potential national team athlete.
Additional funding
An additional:
- $500 will be available for those who have participated in a Junior World Championship; and
- $1,000 will be available, upon application, to those athletes that represent Yukon and Canada as a member of Team Canada at the Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games or World Championships.
What can an athlete use the funding for?
The funding can help offset training and competition expenses.
We may consider basic cost-of-living expenses if an athlete had to move outside of the Yukon to train or compete.
How do we award funding?
Funding depends on the:
- amount of funds available; and
- number of applications received.
You must reapply every year.
Can you appeal the funding decision?
No, funding decisions are final.
You must:
- be a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident of Canada, or a person whose family is in Canada on a work visa for at least 12 months prior to the submission deadline;
- be a resident of the Yukon 6 months before the submission deadline;
- have a valid Yukon health care card;
- have Yukon resident status and your principal residence as the Yukon if you're attending an educational institution outside of the Yukon;
- apply on an individual basis; individual players from team sports are welcome to apply;
- be a member in good standing of a recognized Yukon sport governing body (YSGB), if one exists;
- adhere to all major games, YSGB and national sport organizations competition codes of conduct;
- have been eligible to compete as a Yukon athlete in the previous competitive season;
- be eligible to compete for and represent Yukon in all inter-provincial competitions and national competitions if program allows;
- be on a formal 12-month training and competition program agreed to and monitored by the YSGB, coaches and athlete;
- have shown potential for:
- a national ranking;
- achieved national ranking; or
- placement in recognized territorial, provincial, national or international competitions.
- be willing and voluntarily submit to prescribed testing for banned or illegal substances when requested by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, SARB, YSGB, NSO, or competition organizers; and
- be willing, upon reasonable request, to share your knowledge and experience with other developing athletes by participating in at least 1 opportunity of giving back.
Special or unique circumstances are considered.
If you're considering a path to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, you must be aware of the requirements to declare such funding.
Factors that may impact eligibility
Your eligibility may be impacted by any of the following:
- Failure to actively train on a 12-month basis
- Failure to compete inter-provincially or nationally as a Yukon athlete, if program allows
- In the event of injury requiring lengthy rehabilitation, SARB, in consultation with the YSGB and the Jury, will determine whether funding will be affected. At all times, the athlete must make every effort to rehabilitate and return to active participation as soon as medically possible and when appropriate. Medical reports may be requested by the YSGB and SARB.
- Use of non-medically prescribed, banned, or illegal substances and other similar prohibited performance enhancing substances or techniques
- Failure to fulfil commitments to a “giving back” opportunity
- Failure to achieve goals and objectives established in the previous year’s training program without sufficient reason
- Failure to comply with major games, YSGB, National Sport Organization (NSO), competition code of conduct
- Failure to document any previous YHPAAP assistance such as outstanding post-season reports, incomplete or late applications
Application deadline
The annual deadline is April 15.
We only accept applications through the online application form.
What to include in your application
Include the following in your application form:
- Affiliation, classification and national team status
- Past season results
- 3-year history
- 3-year plan
- Budget for the upcoming year
- Description of a "giving back" activity
Supporting documents
Be prepared to provide the following required supporting documentation:
- Athlete’s cover letter (mandatory) A cover letter must be included, which presents your personal perspective on how you see yourself as a high performance athlete in your sport and your goals for the future
- Athlete’s 12-month training plan (mandatory)
The 12-month training plan must indicate the following:
- Nature of training
- Number of sessions and hours per week
- Planned competitions for the complete 12-month period
It's the responsibility of the YSGB to approve and monitor training and competition programs of those athletes training outside of the Yukon.
If the training program for the upcoming year has not yet been established, the athlete must provide a copy of the training program for the prior year and be prepared to update it once the new program has been established.
Applications that do not include a 12-month training and competition program will not be considered.
- Letter of endorsement from head coach (mandatory)
- Letter of endorsement from YSGB (mandatory, if YSGB exists)
- Letter of endorsement from NSO (mandatory for gold level)
Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline will not be considered. The High Performance Jury relies almost entirely on the information provided in your application.
For this reason, it's important that:
- you provide all of the required and beneficial information;
- the information is accurate; and
- the information is presented in a manner that will convince the jury of the merit of the application.
Completeness, accuracy, neatness and timeliness are critical.
When we notify applicants
We'll let you know results approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the funding deadline. We typically hold adjudication meetings at the end of May.
Who provides funding?
The Government of Yukon Sport and Recreation Branch (SARB) and the Yukon Lottery Commission provide funding for this and other programs.
The Yukon Recreation Advisory Committee (YRAC) allocates these funds to the various programs.
Who reviews the applications?
A High Performance Jury then reviews the applications and makes recommendations for distribution.
- YSGB may be required to prioritize applications upon SARB request.
- Priority is given to sports that are involved in Canada Games and Olympic programs.
- The jury will only consider results from competitions where five or more athletes have participated.
- Athletes and YSGB will be advised of funding decisions by letter.
- All grant money is advanced to the appropriate YSGB, which in turn disperses the money to the athlete.
Athletes receiving high performance funding must complete the post-season report.
If you have questions about the Yukon High Performance Athlete Assistance Program, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-5606, toll free in Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5606.