In July of this year the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport, announced the creation of the 2010 and Beyond Panel (Click Here for a copy of the Panel’s mandate letter). The Panel is comprised of:

The purpose of the Panel is to chart a course for high performance sport in Canada that builds on our current success and sets a bold vision for the future. In so doing, the Panel will look at the successful elements of Own the Podium and other related high performance initiatives and make recommendations that will build on the positive momentum that is felt in Canadian sport today.

The Panel has been asked to take into consideration the following elements in developing its recommendations:

As part of its work, the panel will welcome written submissions of no longer than five (5) pages that respond to a set of questions that are outlined in the 2010 and Beyond Consultation Paper (Click Here for a copy of the Consultation Paper). Given the role that your organization plays in the high performance sport sector in Canada, we would strongly encourage you to make a submission to assist the Panel in its deliberations and in developing its recommendations.

We would strongly urge that, where possible, stakeholders develop joint submissions that capture the thoughts and experiences of a broader segment or sub-sector of high performance sport. This will help the panel to fulfill its mandate within the aggressive timelines that have been set out for our work.

Written submissions can be sent to Victor Lachance who is leading the secretariat that is supporting the 2010 and Beyond Panel by email.

All written submissions much be received by the Panel no later than September 17, 2009. All submissions will be posted publicly after that date.

On the basis of the written submissions, stakeholders may be invited to participate in one of three in-person roundtables with the Panel taking place in September and early October in Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary. Because of the anticipated number of submissions and interested stakeholders, priority for participation in the roundtables will be given to those who are part of group or collective submissions, and to organizations the Panel wishes to question further.

Finally, a number of you have already begun to reach out to and make contact with individual Panel members. This early interest and enthusiasm in the Panel’s work is encouraging, and the Panel would therefore appreciate if you direct all of your thoughts, views and concerns to the Panel as a whole in the form of a written submission, and not to individual members.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Victor Lachance at: 613-835-9992, cell 613-255-3372 or by email

Sincerely,

David Zussman, Chair, on behalf of the 2010 and Beyond Panel