The Sport Branch invited yours truly, and ten other athletes, coaches and administrators, to a meeting in Moncton on January 20, 1996, where the criteria for the High Performance Athlete Assistance Program (HPAAP) was reviewed. The review process was led by Stephen Harris, Sport Consultant and soccer player/coach, and by Betty Dermer-Norris, Sport Branch HPAAP coordinator. A total of $77,500 was distributed to athletes across the province in 1994/95. 36 athletes received $500 each, 24 received $1000-1500, 10 received $1500-2000, and 7 between $2000 and $2500. There was agreement that the province should not limit the program to those sports which the federal government has decided to fund. Orienteering will therefore be eligible for HPAAP funds in the future providing that we have young people who continue to do well in regional and national competition.
The present policy of strict deadlines for applications and progress reports will not be changed. An attempt will be made to better publicise the recipients of HPAAP funding. Therefore, our elite will be required to submit photographs that can be forwarded to the press along with their applications for funding. One recent passport type photo and preferably one orienteering action shot is requested. Those orienteers obtaining high performance funding are asked to send the photographs to Stig.