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2026 Ontario Winter Games Legacy Fund Application

Building Winter Sport Tourism Capacity in Huntsville

Administered by the Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA) on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Sport and Games Ontario

About This Fund

The 2026 Ontario 55+ Winter Games Legacy Fund was established from the surplus generated by the successful hosting of the Games in Huntsville (February 3–5, 2026). Under the Provincial Agreement, these funds must be used to increase opportunities for athlete development and to promote and enhance amateur sport at the community level. Eligible projects are not limited to athletes over the age of 55.

The Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA), as Recipient under the Provincial Agreement, is administering the Legacy Fund through a competitive application process. The fund’s goal is to build the capacity of local sport organizations to develop, host, and sustain winter sport programming and events that attract visitors; to support athlete development; and to strengthen Huntsville’s identity as a premier winter sport tourism destination.

What we fund

Projects that build lasting winter or year-round sport capacity in the Huntsville area, including:

• Events or projects that take place primarily in the Town of Huntsville • Equipment purchases that enable new or expanded programming

• Coaching certification, training clinics, and athlete development programs

• Tournament, bonspiel, or competition hosting costs (marketing, officiating, hospitality)

• Trail or facility enhancements directly tied to sport programming

• Event infrastructure that supports repeatable winter sport events

What we don't fund

• General operating costs or salaries for existing staff

• Capital projects that primarily benefit a municipality

• Retroactive expenses (costs incurred before approval)

• Costs not directly tied to sport development or participation

• Projects with no winter or shoulder-season (November–April) component or benefit • Project costs incurred either prior to the date funding is awarded or after May 31, 2027

How much funding is available?

The total Legacy Fund is approximately $95,000. Individual applications may request up to $20,000. HMATA will not fund a project in its entirety — applicants are expected to contribute at least 20% of total project costs (this may include monetary or in-kind contributions).

Funding amounts awarded will be at the discretion of the Legacy Fund Review Committee. There is no guarantee that successful applicants will receive the entire amount requested.

If there are not enough suitable and qualified applications to exhaust the Legacy Fund within the 2026 application intake period, remaining funds will be held in reserve for future intake periods in alignment with the Provincial Agreement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Registered not-for-profit sport organizations, community sport clubs, and sport-focused groups based in or primarily serving Huntsville and surrounding area.

Intake period

The intake period is July 1 – August 18, 2026. Applications will not be reviewed until after the intake period has closed. Applications that meet the Legacy Fund’s criteria will be assessed by the Legacy Fund Review Committee.

Evaluation Criteria

The Legacy Fund Review Committee will evaluate applications based on the following criteria:

Sport development impact (30%) - Does the project increase opportunities for athlete development or promote amateur sport participation? Winter/shoulder-season relevance (25%) - Does the project occur during or directly support programming in the November–April period? Tourism potential (20%) - Will the project attract out-of-town participants, spectators, or overnight visitors to Huntsville? Capacity building (15%) - Does the project create lasting benefit (equipment, skills, infrastructure, partnerships) beyond a single event? Feasibility and budget (10%) - Is the project realistic, well planned, and cost effective? Does the budget demonstrate value for money?

Disclaimer

HMATA cannot guarantee funding to all applicants, nor is it required to award the total amount requested by successful applicants. There is no appeal process for decisions on grant amounts awarded nor for unsuccessful applicants.

As part of the funding agreement, successful applicants must use the awarded funds only for approved expenses and must complete their project no later than May 31, 2027. Awardees who fail to comply will be required to return awarded funds to HMATA.

Ready to apply?

Note: The application can not be saved - please ensure you are prepared to complete all fields before proceeding. You can download a PDF copy of the questions here.

If you have questions about eligibility before beginning your application, please email us at info@huntsvillemat.com.

Click Next if you're ready to apply.