Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary

Since its inception in 2005, the Oval Athlete Bursary Fund has supported over 150 athletes with over $300,000 supporting their quest for excellence.

Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary

These past few years have been a challenging time for our community and the world. Together we have faced many setbacks that have accompanied the pandemic, a war in Ukraine as well as multiple international and economic setbacks and challenges. Our determination to support our athletes is now more vital than ever.


The Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary Fund

The Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary Fund alleviates some of the financial strains on Canadian high-performance athletes and their families. Equipment, training, competition, and travel all come at a price, and this is just a handful of expenditures that bursaries have covered for past recipients, allowing them to focus on and remain in the sport of speed skating. With our world-class reputation, many speed skaters move to Calgary specifically to be part of the Olympic Oval’s Elite Athlete Pathway program. The skills they develop as high-performance athletes contribute, in turn, to our city’s larger sport community, talent pool, and economy.

How are Bursaries Decided?

Bursaries are awarded each season to skaters in need who demonstrate dedication and commitment to their sport. And now is a great time to help. The University of Calgary is moving forward with its Giving Day 2023 initiative. All contributions will be issued a tax receipt. Please note that the matching dollars run out quickly once the Giving program is open to donations. If you can donate, we would ask that you do so as soon as possible from April 1st onwards.

We understand that these are uncertain times, and many are facing financial hardship. If you are in a position to support others or you know of anyone interested in doubling their impact to the Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary Fund, please click via the link below or share within your network.

2022/2023 Oval Athlete Bursary Recipients

The following Elite Oval Athlete Pathway skaters are the recipients of the 2022/2023 Olympic Oval Bursary; Carolina Hiller, Josh Hathaway, Marc-Andre Doyon, Alison Desmarais, Annabelle Green, Ben Ward, Matthew Medlicott, Anna Bourgeois and Andrea Scarpelli.

Carolina Hiller

Carolina Hiller

Oval Bursary Recipient
Long Track Athlete

Joshua Hathaway

Josh Hathaway

Oval Bursary Recipient
Long Track Athlete

Marc-Andre Doyon

MA. Doyon

Oval Bursary Recipient
Long Track Athlete

Alison Desmarais

A. Desmarais

Oval Bursary Recipient
Long Track Athlete

Annabelle Green

Annabelle Green

Nick's Bursary Athlete
Short Track Athlete

Ben Ward

Ben Ward

Oval Bursary Recipient
Short Track Athlete

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M. Medlicott

Oval Bursary Recipient
Long Track Athlete

Anna Bourgeois

Anna Bourgeois

Oval Bursary Recipient
Short Track Athlete

Andrea Scarpelli

Andrea Scarpelli

Oval Bursary Recipient
Short Track Athlete

Olympic Oval Athlete Bursary

It really means a lot to me especially this year with COVID-19, the restrictions that have been happening in Alberta, and the fact that my hours at work have been reduced. This bursary is really going to make it possible for me to go out and get some much needed sharpening equipment so that I can make sure my skates are as fast as possible for when we get back to racing.

Anders Johnson

Athlete Bursary Recipient