To our Sport for Life champions,
The new year has just begun, but we made our resolutions a long time ago.
It has been clear since the outset of the pandemic that the Canadian quality sport and physical literacy ecosystem would be deeply impacted. Our participants, our students and every sector we work with have been forced to innovate and collaborate in order to survive. That’s why, even before health restrictions were lifted, we were busy envisioning new ways to keep the population healthy, engaged and active.
In this eNewsletter, you can read about the exciting work being done by Sudbury schools, early learning facilities and recreation centres to make physical literacy a priority following a steep decrease in school-aged children’s physical activity. We’re also featuring some of the latest research in the realm of multisport, highlighting a unique basketball program in Kenya, celebrating the achievements of Black participants in honour of Black History Month, and sharing some of the latest opportunities from our Knowledge Scaling department. Look out for information about our multiple upcoming Summits and the 2023 International Physical Literacy Conference as well!
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Diving club makes its debut in Prince George
Prince George has gone without a diving club for over a decade, so perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise that when Engage Sport North decided to launch the Prince George Pikes dive club at the beginning of 2023, the two quality sport programs they were offering quickly reached capacity – not to mention that they accumulated lengthy waitlists.
According to coach Sarah Saunders, the community has been waiting for something like this.
>>Read more
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Hope Basketball Tour empowers Kenyan youth through holistic quality sport mentorship
“The goal is to create our own heroes. Local heroes.”
These are the words of Peter Kiganya, the CEO and founder of the Hope Basketball Tour – a multi-faceted program involving Kenyan youth looking to make their dreams come true one dribble at a time. Since 2013, he’s been hosting basketball camps all over Kenya while empowering youth to pursue their dreams and seize opportunities, whether they’re related to sport or not.
It’s an idea that’s caught on, resulting in quality sport basketball programs being held in Tanzania, Uganda, and the United States.
>>Read more
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Facing the challenges of multisport implementation through research
Why are young Canadian athletes less interested in trying multiple sports than they were a decade ago? What has changed, and can we change it back?
These are the questions driving Alyssa Cox, head basketball coach of the University for Winnipeg Wesmen and academic researcher in the field of multisport. Recently, Cox participated in a Sport for Life webinar called “Multisport: Is Playing Multiple Sports Moving Against the Tide?” alongside quality sport specialists Christian Hrab and Richard Sylvester, and shared her findings with a group of sport professionals from all over the country.
>>Read more
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Active Sudbury champions physical literacy for children while schools, recreation centres and early learning facilities declare it a priority following the pandemic
School children have become alarmingly less active since the beginning of the pandemic, and now organizations in Sudbury are coming together to fight that trend by declaring physical literacy a priority for the area’s school boards, sport and recreation centres, and early childhood education facilities.
“As we look ahead to increase physical activity and to decrease sedentary behaviours in the population, the need for improving physical literacy is greater than ever before. It is crucial that we embrace physical literacy as a catalyst for children and youth to be active and healthy,” reads a December 2022 letter from Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
>>Read more
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Sport for Life celebrates the achievements of Black participants and reflects on Canada’s storied past during Black History Month
There’s so much to learn about, to celebrate, and to grow from.
Every year, Black History Month is an opportunity to elevate the accomplishments of Black participants in sport and physical activity, and to learn about their impact on Canadian culture. From Barbara Howard becoming the first Black female to represent Canada at an international competition in 1938 to Donovan Bailey winning the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, these larger-than-life characters are an inspiring part of Canada’s legacy.
More recently, sprinter Andre de Grasse has earned six Olympic medals, while Damian Warner took home the 2020 Olympic gold medal for the decathlon. Meanwhile, Team Canada’s soccer team, which has a strong contingent of Black players, qualified for the World Cup after a 36-year drought.
>>Read more
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The 2023 Sport for Life Summit kicks off in Ottawa
It all starts in Ottawa.
For this year’s Sport for Life Summit, communities from coast to coast to coast will be holding multi-day events on the theme of Thriving through Changing Times. From February 8-9, the first one will be held in Ottawa, in partnership with the RA Centre.
To register for the Ottawa Summit, click here.
Further communities hosting Summit are:
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Calgary, Alberta, hosted by the Centre for Newcomers - Feb. 24-25
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St. John's, Newfoundland, hosted by Memorial University - March 10-11
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, hosted by PHE Saskatchewan - March 29
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Montreal, Quebec, hosted by Reseau Accès Participation, Sport'Aide, Réseau des unités régionales de Loisir et de Sport and Champions for Life - March 29-30
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St. Catharines, Ontario, hosted by Ridley College - March 30 - April 1
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Richmond, hosted by the Richmond Oval - April 4
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Prince George, hosted by Engage Sport North - April 14-15
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Campbell River, hosted by PacificSport Vancouver Island - April 28-29
For more information and to register for a Summit near you, visit the Sport for Life Summit web page.
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Si vous voulez consulter nos infolettres en français, cliquez ici.
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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
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