Discussion: Help Continue Orienteering Quebec’s Rejuvenation

Those with a long involvement in North American orienteering will know that the Canadian province of Quebec is where it was all happening many years ago. The first Canadian championships and many in the years after happened in Quebec. Canada’s first North American Championships happened in Quebec. Under the leadership of men like the late Colin Kirk and now 90+ year old John Charlow Quebec hosted events that attracted international fields. The 1976 Quebec 5-Day still holds the record for the most individual entries in a single North American orienteering event.
But then came some bleak years, many bleak years, as the Orienteering Quebec barely held on to life. Maps fell into disuse and events were few and far between. Government funding for a provincial orienteering office was cancelled. The volunteers were getting old.
Then came a new generation of orienteering enthusiasts and new interest in more parts of the province. Now we see that in 2023 the Canadian Orienteering Championships and in 2024 the North Americans will be hosted by Orienteering Quebec clubs. That’s a big undertaking for one association that was near dormant a few years ago.
Now the Government of Quebec has a new model of funding to help amateur sport in Quebec and it is coming at just the right time for OQ. The authorities told the sports governing bodies: you raise dollars and we’ll match you five to one.
That’s right. $100 donation leverages $600 in funding. The program was a success for Orienteering Quebec last year and they are involved again this year.
Here is the write up from Jennifer O’Connell of Orienteering Quebec.
It is that time of year, to unite as a community and support the sport of orienteering by making a donation to the Quebec Federation of Orienteering!
We all know how practicing orienteering increases our capacity to make good decisions while finding our way in unfamiliar environments. Orienteering gives the participants a skillset that is not only applicable to the sport, but to life in general.
This fundraising campaign is an opportunity to support the development of orienteering in schools, as a family leisure activity and at a competitive level.
Any donation of $25 or more will allow the federation to benefit from matching funds from the Placements Sports & Loisirs’ program. For example, a donation of $100 will be worth $600 to the federation. This program allows up to 12 000$ of donations to be matched by the program.
Receipts will be issued for all donations of 25$ or more.
And here is the best part. You don’t have to be a resident of Quebec to help orienteering in that province. Residents of any Canadian province or territory can donate directly to I WISH TO CONTRIBUTE - ONLINE DONATION LINK
Residents of any other country can still support this amazing program by contacting me or your favorite Canadian and arrange to have the donation translated to Canadian dollars and forwarded to the OQ campaign. Due to differences in dollar values a $50 US donation garners not $300 but $400 Cdn in ‘total impact’ for Orienteering Quebec. My e-mail address is available in my profile. My current mailing address is in the United States.
Then come to 2023 COC and 2024 NAOC and see how your contribution is helping grow our sport in Quebec.

Speaking of QC and Cdn Champs in 9 months from
now

is there a web site for the race? OC web site says it’s still a work in progress. Would be nice to have details to book lodging, plan holidays etc.

re: NAOC2024. is the race in Ontario or QC? has that been decided?

There was a post on the COC facebook page saying that that the dates are August 5 - 13, with races North of Montreal and in the Ottawa region:
https://www.facebook.com/canadianorienteeringchamp...

There is also a draft website under https://coc2023.ca/

And yes, make a donation so OQ can hire someone with communication, design and marketing skills, something which pays back big time!

Here again the donation link:
https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/sportsquebec...

Already seeing the picture with Etienne Jacques from 2017 is worth clicking on it.
:)

CANADIAN O-FEST 2024: https://cocnaoc2024.ca/index.php/en-ca/

For some of us oldsters, it will be a difficult choice in 2024 between the Canadian events and the World Masters in Finland.

Thank you, Gordon, and all who decide to contribute! Last year's donations allowed for a few wonderful things, including notably an Orienteering camp for 92 Ukrainian women, youth, and children. We also supported new and old clubs, schools, summer camps Orienteering programs. Please feel free to share your ideas, on how to use the money you've donated, to make Orienteering in Quebec big and kind.
And have a look at Etienne's 2022 picture! The guy is just flying!