Relevant information for athletes thinking about retiring soon:
1. GAME PLAN/PLAN DE MATCH
As an athlete on the national team, you have access to the services of Game Plan. Not only is it a
retirement program, but also a help in transition.
 You have access to consultation services with our Orientation Councillor and Career Choices. She
will guide you in your choice of classes, university and program. She can also support you in your
retirement decision making, help you find other fields of interest, complete a professional resume et
help you practice a job interview. Her name is Sophie Brassard, you can contact her at 514-2523171 ext. 3798.
 Game Plan also has a 24/7 phone line for mental health support with Morneau Shepell: 1-844-2402990. You can call anytime and talk with a psychology expert. You can even ask to meet with
someone; they will book you an appointment in a clinic. You have up to 8 free sessions.
 We also offer workshops in finance management, career management, skills development and
others. For more information, contact Geneviève Saumur – Advisor, Athlete Services 514-2551000 ext. 223.
2. SPORT MEDICINE SERVICES
The INS Québec offers a 12 month bronze level CAIP insurance to all retiring Excellence athletes. To apply,
you must contact Geneviève Saumur. This insurance will cover $50 worth of physiotherapy, massage
therapy, and other services to sooth your old athlete injuries.
3. PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
We offer up to five hours of psychology consult in a private clinic that is a partner to the INS Québec. We
encourage the athletes to use the services of Morneau Shepnell as our budget does not cover the costs of
all athletes.
4. SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
The INS Québec offers a free 3 month subscription for the athletes to the linguistic program Rosetta Stone.
You will be able to learn a new language or improve your English or French. In order to learn more about
this offer or to register your name, contact Geneviève Saumur.
5. RELÈVE ACTIVE
Established by Montréal Relève and the Institut national du sport du Québec, this program helps athletes
find their first internship experience on the job market which corresponds to their interests and field of
studies. Within a 35-40 hour period the athletes will explore the realities of being employed and the
opportunities offered in that field. The structure of the internship can also be adapted to the athlete’s
schedule. The next cohort of 10 participants will begin sometime in the next few months.
6. NETWORKING ACTIVITY FOR RETIRED ATHLETES
Twice a year, the INS Québec organizes a networking activity for active and retired athletes. To this activity,
offered by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, we invite all Équipe Québec bursary recipients
who have retired in the past six months to receive a prize honouring their career. A nice opportunity to
receive the last praises of their peers.
7. FINANCIAL SUPPORT AT RETIREMENT
CANADA
Here is what carded athletes have access to anywhere in Canada (same thing, in any province):
 Athletes carded senior receive $1500/month or $18 000/year tax-free as part of Sport Canada
Athlete Assistance Program
 Athletes carded Development receive $900/month or $10 800/year tax-free as part of Sport
Canada Athlete Assistance Program
How to announce your retirement?
You must write a letter to your federation stating your retirement on a specific date. This letter must
mention that you are interested in receiving the transition aid and the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance
Program aid. You will have to provide your last notice of assessment if you are employed, a budget
outline of the last 12 months (including your carding) and a budget outline of the next 12 months
(without carding). The more you appear in need, the higher the aid will be. You can put the following
people mentioned below in carbon copy in the email you will send to your National Sport Federation.

If the athlete retires during their carding cycle, Sport Canada could give two months of carding after
the announcement as transition aid. Since the decision comes from the sport program officer, the
national federation has no influence on the verdict. To receive two extra months, you must
announce your retirement the 16th day of the last month Sport Canada paid you. Example: Sport
Canada sent the carding cheque with an amount covering up to the end of august. If you announce
your retirement August 16th, you could receive two extra months of aid. One payment until the end
of October. If you announce your retirement July 16th, you will only receive a cheque covering up
to the end of September, since you will have already been paid for August. However, if the athlete
waits to the end of the carding cycle to announce retirement, the athlete will not be eligible to
receive the two extra months of transition. The athlete will have used of his carding funding. If the
athlete receives his two extra months of carding, these will be deposited directly in his account.

No matter when the athlete retires, he will be eligible for the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance
Program aid, ONLY if the athlete was carded Senior for 3 years. This amount can go up to
$5000! But, the athlete must send in their request, without which they will receive nothing! The
federation can make recommendations about the amount to the program officer. The athlete will
receive a cheque within the coming weeks.

In your retirement announcement, it is important to mention if will be returning to school. Sport
Canada will then be able to identify if tuition fees will be covered thanks to the AAP.

It is important to note that this aid is offered only once in the athlete’s life. If you receive the
subsidies and then go back to active training, you will not be eligible to aid for you 2nd retirement.
Also, an athlete who has been cut from funding will have the same subsidies as a retiring
athlete!
The person in charge of the transition and retirement amounts as well as amounts in tuition fees at Sport
Canada is Danielle Laramée: [email protected] or 1-819-956-8197
QUÉBEC
Here is what the athletes recognized as Excellence are allowed, and this, only in Quebec:
 An athlete who is member of Équipe Québec and recognized as Excellence by the Ministry of
Education and Higher Education receives $500/month or $6000/year tax-free.
 The athlete also receives, every year, a tax return of $4000 if they a part of an individual sport or
$2000 if they are in a team sport. The athlete will either receive a cheque or a direct deposit of the
amount left after the year’s taxes. Example: an athlete must pay $375 to the provincial government for
the year 2015, the tax return will be $3625 instead of $4000 (4000 – 375 = 3625).
 When an athlete retires, he/she must fill out the form here and must identify the date on which he/she
stopped competing. Following this step, the Équipe Québec program will offer $1000 every year the
athlete was recognized Excellence, to a maximum of $4000. When the retirement decision has been
taken, the athlete must fill out the form as soon as possible, as it could take up to three months to
receive the cheque from Équipe Québec. They wait until they receive many requests before printing the
cheques.
 It is important to note that this aid is offered only once in the athlete’s life. If you receive the subsidies
and then go back to active training, you will not be eligible to aid for you 2nd retirement.
The person responsible for the Équipe Québec programme for active and retired athletes is Marie-Josée
Lavoie from the ministry: [email protected] or 418-646-6137 # 3656.