OCA Youth Coordinator’s Report – 2003-2004 year.

Another productive year for the Youth of Ontario.

This year, the OCA helped with sponsoring youth to attend the Canadian Junior. This was facilitated by holding an Ontario Junior Bursary tournament. This year it was held at McMaster University and was organized by Jordan Palmer. The event was TD’ed by Jordan and the Youth Coordinator (me).

From this tournament, both Zhe Quan and Jordan Palmer went to the Canadian Junior.

The eventual winner of this tournament was Zhe Quan. Zhe holds the title of Canadian Junior Champion as a result.

The OCA was also able to help sponsor Ontario youth to attend the World Youth Chess Championships in Greece – Oct./Nov. 2003. Several of Ontario’s youth were consequently members of Canada’s team at the Championships. Taking the best results from each team entered at the WYCC, Canada scored a respectable 15^th position out of 84 Countries in attendance.

Ontario’s Youth Coordinator (me again) acted as a chief arbiter for the Boys under 14 section at the World Youth CC.

The year is now drawing to an end and has culminated in the most successful Ontario Youth Chess Championships ever. Many more regions of Ontario took part in this year’s event which was held on May 8/9^th 2004. A new record number of registrants competed in this event. The past record was 127 held last year at the same location (Kitchener City Hall) (The previous record was 126 in 2000). The new record for Players competing in this event is 143. The event was praised by parents and players alike and is sponsoring 22 players to the Canadian Youth Chess Championships with full entry fees paid. Many of these players have also won some extra sponsorship to help with Travel and Accommodation. The total prize fund worked out to be $5,190.00. The OCA helped with this event by sponsoring the prize fund with $600. This year the event was recognized by the Premier of Ontario with a letter to the players.

Several contacts have been made with school boards and various levels of government which should help in future sponsorships and support of programs. This is an ongoing – long-term project to gain access to the boards of education and to get official recognition from government. I believe that this is the most effective course to take to improve chess with our youth and indeed as a whole in Ontario and in Canada.

I wish to thank the OCA and all others that have supported my activities through this year.

Thank You,

Patrick McDonald,

OCA Youth Coordinator

patrick@psmcd.net