Objectives

The CSIA Ontario Snow School/Clubs Professional Development and Innovation Grant Program (herein referred to as the “Grant Program”) was developed with the following objectives:

  • Financial Support for Professional Development: Provide financial grants to Snow Schools and Clubs with CSIA-certified Ski Instructors to facilitate their ongoing professional development in ski performance and instruction.
  • Innovation & Resource Sharing: Foster a culture of innovation by offering grants for the development of teaching assets and resources that can be shared among Snow Schools and Clubs across Ontario.
  • Collaborative Initiatives: Encouraging collaboration between Snow Schools and Clubs will be a core focus. Grant recipients will be encouraged to share successful strategies, resources, and best practices within the unified ski instructing community.

The grant program is exclusively available in Ontario to eligible Snow Schools/Clubs. It will be offered on an annual, recurring basis until the CSIA Ontario Board decides otherwise.

Grant Streams

  • For the 2023-24 year, the grant program will be divided into two (2) streams:
    • General stream
      • This stream is open to all Snow Schools/Clubs that meet the eligibility criteria.
    • Northern stream
      • This stream is open to all Snow Schools/Clubs that are located north of the 46th parallel and meet the general eligibility criteria.

Snow Schools/Clubs located north of the 46th parallel may apply to either or both streams.

Snow School/Club can submit up to a maximum of three (3) projects per year for funding. However, only one (1) project will be funded per eligible Snow School/Club per stream per year.

If the evaluation panel approves multiple projects from a Snow School/Club due to the quality of their proposed projects, the Snow School/Club may select which of the approved projects they wish to pursue.

Evaluation

  • The evaluation process is two-tier:
    • An CSIA Ontario administrator will review the submitted applications for completeness and to verify applicant and project eligibility.
      • Non-eligible applicants or applicants with ineligible projects will be notified immediately of the status of the project’s ineligibility.
  • Grants from eligible Snow Schools/Clubs will be evaluated, using a defined rubric, by a panel of three (3) individuals, consisting of:
    • Two (2) CSIA Ontario Members
    • One (1) Industry/Education representative
    • The three (3) panel members will be appointed by the CSIA ON Board

Approvals

Funding results will be announced directly to the Snow School/Club following the application deadline and upon the finalization of the application evaluation process, followed by a contract offer.

Unsuccessful Snow Schools/Clubs will be notified that their application was not approved for funding. They are welcome to receive feedback on their application from a panel member if requested.

Deadlines

  • Mar 31, 2024 – Application Deadline
  • Apr 15, 2024 – Applicants informed of the decision of the selection committee
  • Mar 31 2025 – Deadline by which successful applicants must complete the program

Funding

General stream

  • $20,000 has been allocated for this stream
  • The maximum CSIA ON contribution amount for funding under this stream is $5,000 per project.
  • The grant program will fund up to 75% of the budget of an approved project.
    • Funding to be allocated upon project completion and provision of receipts to CSIA Ontario (documentation will be used to confirm alignment with the proposed project budget.)

Northern stream

  • $6,000 has been allocated for this stream.
  • The maximum contribution amount for funding under this stream is $1,500 per project.
  • The grant program will fund up to 75% of the budget of an approved project.
    • Funding to be allocated upon project completion and provision of receipts to CSIA Ontario (documentation will be used to confirm alignment with the proposed project budget.)

Grant funds will be allocated to as many projects as possible until funding is exhausted. If funds are not exhausted, they will be retained and used for grant funding the subsequent year.

Grant recipients will need to enter into a contract with CSIA Ontario to receive funding.

Funding will be dispensed via eTransfer upon review of project receipts.

Eligibility Criteria

Snow School/Club

  • The Snow School/Club must be located in Ontario
  • The Snow School/Club must require their on-staff Ski Instructors to be CSIA-certified
  • Northern Stream: Snow Schools/Clubs which operate North of the 46 Parallel can apply for this stream, given they meet the other Snow School/Club eligibility requirements.

Required Documentation for Eligibility

  • A copy of corporate registration from Ontario Business Registry
  • Numbers of CSIA member Ski Instructors that will directly benefit from the grant

Project Eligibility

Proposed projects must clearly demonstrate that they will benefit on-staff CSIA-certified Ski Instructors. Special consideration will be given to projects that generate shareable assets.

Project eligibility will remain somewhat broad to allow for a variety of projects to come forward for consideration.

Examples of eligible projects:

  • Subsidizing a Level Certification for a Ski Instructor if it enables the respective Snow School/Club to launch a local training academy/mentorship-type program
  • Developing or translating teaching/training aids (e.g., instruction videos, signage)
  • Acquiring materials that facilitate teaching/training
  • On-snow lesson area enhancements
  • Developing teaching/training aids that serve an equity-seeking group (disabled, cultural diversity, LGBTQ2T+, women, financially disadvantaged, disabled)
  • Marketing or promotional materials unrelated to the proposed grant project

The following projects or items are not eligible for funding under the grant program:

  • Retail items or swag (e.g., snow school jackets)
  • Regular payroll (i.e., pay for instructors teaching regularly scheduled lessons)
  • Bonuses
  • Marketing or promotional materials unrelated to the proposed grant project

Online Application Form -2024 application deadline was March 31, 2024