$50,000 in Education Bursaries Awarded to 35 Game Plan Athletes in 2026

AEB 2026 All Recipients

TORONTO, ON (October 14, 2026) — From medicine and law to business, engineering, design, and education, Canadian athletes are pursuing a wide range of interests and ambitions alongside their athletic careers.

In 2026, 35 athletes received a combined $50,000 through the Athlete Education Bursary to support their educational journeys alongside their athletic careers.

Each athlete's path looks a little different. Some are continuing a program, exploring a new interest, or preparing for what’s next. Together, their journeys reflect the many ways athletes are investing in themselves, developing new skills, and creating opportunities for their futures.

And they're far from alone. With over 300 applications received across both intakes this year, many more Canadian athletes are prioritizing their education and personal development alongside their sport careers.

“Knowing that as a Canadian athlete I am supported, not just in my pursuit of excellence in sport, but also in my academic endeavours, it provides valuable reassurance as I prepare for life beyond competition. Canadian athletes are consistently elite performers on the field of play, opportunities like this empower us to continue growing and making an impact well beyond sport.”
— Claire Gallagher, Rugby
AEB Recipients 2026 Intake 2

Following the first intake earlier this year, which supported 21 athletes, an additional 14 athletes have been selected to receive funding through the second and final intake of 2026.

Congratulations to the latest Athlete Education Bursary recipients:

  • Andrew Billard — CanoeKayak - Sprint

  • Indiana Carlyle-Byford — Karate

  • Nasif Chowdhury — Wheelchair Basketball

  • Sean Davis — Field Hockey

  • Claire Gallagher — Rugby

  • Elias Hancock — Rugby

  • Tyson Langelaar — Speed Skating

  • Alissa Levytskyy — Gymnastics - Rhythmic

  • Jacob Li — Modern Pentathlon

  • Martin Licht — Beach Volleyball

  • Nicole Poulakis — Field Hockey

  • Cedar Pidgeon — Sport Climbing

  • Nolan Rosenegger — Modern Pentathlon

  • Katya Semeniuk — Cross Country Skiing

READ: Inaugural Athlete Education Bursary grants 21 athletes support on their education journeys 

The Athlete Education Bursary helps offset eligible education expenses incurred during the 2026 calendar year, with individual awards up to $2,000. The bursary complements existing education supports, including the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP).

"This support takes away some of the financial stress of balancing university and cross country skiing and allows me to keep chasing my goals in both."
– Katya Semeniuk, Cross Country Skiing

This bursary is made possible through the generosity of a donor from the Canadian Olympic Foundation (COF), whose support helps create meaningful education opportunities for Game Plan athletes.

The Athlete Education Bursary will return in 2027, with more opportunities for eligible athletes to receive support toward their educational goals. Stay connected with Game Plan for future application details.

About Game Plan:  Game Plan is Canada’s holistic athlete-support network. Its nationwide team of world-class experts and specialized advisors empower national athletes with practical ways to live healthy, balanced, and personally successful lives at every stage of their journey. Game Plan’s growth-centred programs, structured services, and everyday resources are custom designed to support the total well-being of every individual athlete.

Established in 2015, Game Plan is a globally leading initiative which functions in collaboration with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Sport Canada and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN).