2023 Volume: Edition 1

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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:



  • Calgary, Alberta, hosted by the Centre for Newcomers - Feb. 24-25


  • St. John's, Newfoundland, hosted by Memorial University - March 10-11


  • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, hosted by PHE Saskatchewan - March 29


  • 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


  • St. Catharines, Ontario, hosted by Ridley College - March 30 - April 1


  • Richmond, hosted by the Richmond Oval - April 4


  • Prince George, hosted by Engage Sport North - April 14-15


  • 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.

International Physical Literacy Conference coming to New York City in 2023


It’s coming up fast!


Hosted in partnership with New York Road Runners and Physical Literacy for Life, the International Physical Literacy Conference 2023 is taking place in New York City on May 2-5. Join experts from around the world to learn about best practices in program design, implementation and evaluation for developing physical literacy.


The program at a glance is now available on our website here, and registration is open now. 


NOTE: All content will be delivered in English. 


>>Register now

Sport for Life seeks workshop learning facilitators


Sport for Life is excited to announce that we are growing our team of learning facilitators for our Sport for Life workshops. We are looking for individuals with a dedication to physical literacy and quality sport in their communities, who have experience facilitating in a group, to join our team.


Learning facilitators lead workshops, support coordination when applicable, and promote deliveries to prospective workshop hosts. Sport for Life learning facilitators have a key role in assisting with the development of a new generation of community leaders through clear learning objectives.


Please see the job description and application here. If you have any questions please reach out to Thalia Moore, Senior Manager of Knowledge Scaling at thalia@sportforlife.ca. 


>>Learn more



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