Deadline: 31-May-2026
The Gordon and Greyson Zubyck Memorial Fund (One Foot Forward) is a community sport funding initiative supporting youth physical activity programs in Canada. It provides financial assistance to community sport organizations that develop age-appropriate, inclusive, and structured sport programs for young children, aligned with national athlete development standards.
Program Overview
The fund supports grassroots sport organizations working to improve access to physical activity and structured sport programming for children. It emphasizes long-term athlete development and encourages alignment with the Canadian Sport for Life framework and guidelines from National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs). The initiative focuses on building safe, developmentally appropriate sport environments for young participants.
Core Focus Areas
- Youth sport and physical activity program development
- Alignment with Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model
- Age-appropriate sport programming for children
- Increasing accessibility to sport participation
- Development of coaching and mentoring capacity
- Inclusive grassroots sport opportunities
- Strengthening community sport organizations
- Promoting active lifestyles in early childhood
Athlete Development Stages Supported
The fund prioritizes programs aligned with the first three stages of the Canadian Sport for Life model:
- Active Start (ages 0–6)
- Focus on basic movement skills and fun physical activity
- FUNdamentals
- Boys: ages 6–9
- Girls: ages 6–8
- Focus on skill development and enjoyment in sport
- Learn to Train
- Boys: ages 9–12
- Girls: ages 8–11
- Focus on foundational sport skills and structured learning
Program Objectives
The Gordon and Greyson Zubyck Memorial Fund aims to:
- Increase participation in youth sport programs
- Support compliance with Long Term Athlete Development guidelines
- Improve access to structured physical activity for children
- Encourage safe and developmentally appropriate sport environments
- Strengthen coaching and mentorship capacity in local communities
- Promote inclusive participation regardless of background or ability
Funding Details
- Maximum funding per project: up to CAD $5,000
- Supports grassroots and community-level sport initiatives
- Focus on program development and accessibility improvements
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include:
- Community sport organizations
- Local sport clubs and associations
- Groups delivering youth physical activity programs
Applicants must:
- Operate within or serve communities in Canada
- Align programs with LTAD principles or work toward compliance
- Focus on children within Active Start, FUNdamentals, or Learn to Train stages
- Demonstrate community benefit and accessibility improvements
Priority Areas
- Aligning programs with LTAD and NSO/PSO standards
- Expanding access to youth sport opportunities
- Developing coaching and mentorship programs
- Supporting inclusive participation in physical activity
- Improving quality and structure of early-stage sport programs
Expected Outcomes
- Increased youth participation in structured sport activities
- Improved quality of grassroots sport programming
- Better alignment with national athlete development standards
- Enhanced coaching and mentorship capacity
- Greater inclusion in physical activity opportunities
- Stronger long-term engagement of children in sport
Why This Fund Matters
The Gordon and Greyson Zubyck Memorial Fund strengthens grassroots sport development in Canada by ensuring young children have access to safe, structured, and developmentally appropriate physical activity. It supports long-term athletic development while promoting inclusion, health, and community engagement through sport.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Proposing programs outside the eligible age ranges
- Lack of alignment with LTAD or Canadian Sport for Life framework
- Weak focus on accessibility and inclusion
- Submitting generic sport activities without development structure
- Poor explanation of coaching or mentorship development
- Overestimating project scope beyond small grant scale
Tips for Strong Applications
- Clearly align with Active Start, FUNdamentals, or Learn to Train stages
- Show how the program improves accessibility and inclusion
- Highlight coach or mentor development components
- Focus on measurable youth participation outcomes
- Keep project scope realistic within CAD $5,000 funding limit
- Demonstrate alignment with NSO/PSO guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the Gordon and Greyson Zubyck Memorial Fund?
- It is a grant program supporting youth sport and physical activity in Canada
- It focuses on early-stage athlete development programs
- Who can apply?
- Community sport organizations and local sport groups
- Programs serving children in early development stages
- What is the funding amount?
- Up to CAD $5,000 per project
- What age groups are supported?
- Children aged 0–12 depending on development stage
- What is the main focus of the fund?
- Improving access to structured, inclusive, and age-appropriate sport programs
- What development framework is used?
- Canadian Sport for Life and Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model
Conclusion
The Gordon and Greyson Zubyck Memorial Fund is a targeted community sport grant in Canada that supports early childhood physical activity and structured sport development. By strengthening grassroots programs and aligning them with national development standards, it promotes healthier, more inclusive, and long-term participation in sport.
For more information, visit The Temiskaming Foundation.