To our Sport for Life champions,
There are amazing conversations happening all around us.
As the 2022 Sport for Life Canadian Summit approaches, we’re feeling inspired with all the exciting and revolutionary work being done in this country. Whether we’re talking about a sport organization refining their athlete pathway or a community committing itself to championing physical literacy, we’re seeing real and lasting systemic change.
This month we celebrate Black History Month, and reflect on the contribution of Black Canadians to the sport and physical activity landscape. In this eNewsletter you can read our story about a Volleyball BC initiative to get newcomer women and girls involved in the sport, a conversation with Canadian rugby star Pamphinette Buisa, and an exciting funding announcement about our Physical Literacy for Communities project.
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At Sport for Life, we’re committed to creating a quality sport and physical literacy ecosystem that is racism- and discrimination-free. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for Black Canadian participants, and implementing a Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity framework will help ensure everyone gets an opportunity to both participate and excel.
Here are some resources, in no particular order, that can support learning and unlearning more about the role of physical literacy in the lives of Black Canadians and the importance of eradicating systemic racism as we work our way towards a more inclusive sport system and society.
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When she was younger, people were always telling Pamphinette Buisa that she was too aggressive.
She had tried out various sports like volleyball and basketball in elementary school, and she just didn’t seem to fit in. That’s when she discovered rugby, a sport where she was actually encouraged to hit people. She had been self-conscious about being tall, lanky and awkward, but on the rugby playing field she was celebrated for her strength and speed.
It was a cathartic discovery for the young athlete.
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We continue to prepare many exciting elements for the 2022 Sport for Life Canadian Summit, which takes place May 11-12 in multiple communities across Canada.
We will share new developments as they happen. For now, we’re pleased to name a few of the communities in which we’ll be hosting the event (more to come soon):
Iqaluit, Nvt.
Lanaudière, Que.
Ottawa, Ont.
Edmonton, Alta.
Victoria, B.C.
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The Canadian government announced this month an investment of $3.79 million into Sport for Life’s Physical Literacy for Communities (PL4C) project, which will reach up to 150,000 children and youth aged two to 18 in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nunavut, and Atlantic Canada.
In addition to the federal funding, the investment will be further augmented by another $2 million dollars from foundations, sponsors, partners and communities. This three-year project will support schools and communities in addressing specific local barriers to healthy active living, as well as build community capacity through training in developing physical literacy.
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Volleyball BC is embarking on a multi-faceted initiative to boost the number of Canadian newcomers playing the sport, and has already seen success through their pilot projects and summer camps. This is part of a larger strategic plan launched by the provincial sport organization in early 2021 to promote diversity and inclusion in governance, programs and activities, and to offer opportunities to youth and adults who otherwise might never get a chance to play.
“This is about giving an opportunity to people who haven’t played our sport. Volleyball is a sport you can play indoors, in the grass, at the beach … it’s very recreational. You don’t even really need a net but if you haven’t been given the chance to develop those skill sets, it is a specialized sport and it can be hard to get started. So we give our participants the basic skill sets so they can be confident and participate fully,” said Kiruthika Rathanaswami, Adult Programs Manager for Volleyball BC.
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By 2030, immigration will account for all of Canada's net population growth. Cities across Canada are being transformed by immigration, and these demographic trends will undoubtedly impact the Canadian sport and physical activity system.
This resource outlines the barriers that newcomers may face in their participation of sport and physical activity, and then provides examples of solutions and opportunities that exist, as well as promising practices of work being done across Canada..
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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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