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To our Sport for Life champions,
This month, we are shaking things up!
With more than a year of the Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) Physical Literacy for Communities (PL4C) project under our belt, we thought it was time to celebrate some of the successes, impactful initiatives and amazing efforts of each partner table involved in the project. Read on to learn about the work being done in each region to promote physical literacy. What is PHAC PL4C? Great question! For more details about the initiative, check out the project website.
You can also find out more about our current posting with our Board of Directors.
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When Engage Sport North first teamed up with Northern Lights College to take charge of their recreation and athletics department, their physical activity leaders had no idea that their quality sport programming would attract a disproportionate number of New to Canada Participants.
But then students from places such as India, the Philippines, Kenya and Brazil began showing up for practice and competition. To support these participants, the organization began to tailor their offerings to their interests, hosting table tennis tournaments, soccer matches and even creating a rodeo team which is currently competing on the collegiate circuit.
Pretty soon they had a program consisting almost exclusively of New to Canada Participants, who make up a large per cent of the college’s population.
>>Read more
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Move for Life champions hockey mental health support initiative
White Rock hockey players will receive innovative mental health support following a community tragedy, thanks to the financial support of Peace Arch Hospital Foundation’s Move for Life project.
According to Semiahmoo Ravens U18 head coach Josh Daley, this support is coming at a critical time.
“The game and culture of hockey hasn’t changed too much over the years, but the mental and emotional weight that youth players must carry today has,” said Daley.
“Increased online activity, and post-pandemic stressors add to youth’s risk of experiencing bullying, racism, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.”
>>Read more
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The PL4C national initiative, which received support from the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2021 to expand the project to new communities, has been successfully implemented in Northern British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Nunavut and the Atlantic provinces.
At the heart of this dynamic, Quebec is making notable advancements in Lanaudière, Bromont, and Kuujjuarapik. We had the opportunity to speak with Yannik Morin, PL4C associate mentor in Bromont, for an update on the project’s progress within the community.
>>Read more
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Thanks to mentors from the PL4C project, teachers, recreation instructors and physical activity leaders are being trained in physical literacy observation in Atlantic communities using PLAY Tools. Participants are being empowered to share what they’ve learned with other instructors using a train-the-trainer model, improving the leadership and culture around physical literacy awareness in Atlantic Canada.
Observation training kicked off over two days on February 13-14 in Miramichi and Kent County, New Brunswick, one of three PL4C communities in Atlantic Canada.
>>Read more
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Lacrossing Barriers breathes new life into Indigenous sport with accessible programming
Instead of focusing on why you can’t do something, why not focus on how you can?
For Scott Godfrey, the founder of the innovative program Lacrossing Barriers, there’s absolutely no reason why people with intellectual or physical disabilities shouldn’t be given a chance to play competitive lacrosse with their friends – whether they’re on the autism spectrum, use a wheelchair, or have an amputated limb. His approach is to adapt the sport so every participant can be included.
“What we do is create programs that are reverse-engineered. We put everything in the shopping cart that you need to play lacrosse, and we follow the roadmap. Then, like a pothole in the road, which is a detour or distraction, if you have a physical, emotional, neurological or social challenge then we’ll work with that,” he told Sport for Life, after presenting at the 2023 Sport for Life Summit in Calgary, hosted by Calgary PL4C table partner the Centre for Newcomers.
>>Read more
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Empowering Kinngait's youth through physical literacy: Meet Joanne Weedmark
Meet Joanne Weedmark, the dedicated Director of Recreation who has brought a remarkable positive change to her home community, Kinngait, Nunavut. Joanne's unwavering commitment to promoting physical literacy has increased the opportunities for social activities and engagement. She introduced hockey games, art classes, and various activities, ensuring the kids stay physically active while fostering a strong sense of belonging. Her exceptional efforts and impact were recognized when she was awarded the prestigious "Emerging Leader of the Year" title by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, all at the young age of 24.
As a community partner for Sport for Life's Physical Literacy in Indigenous Communities initiative, Joanne continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of Indigenous youth. Through the empowering tool of physical literacy, Joanne is paving the way for a brighter and more active future for the entire community, fostering holistic well-being and a stronger sense of purpose.
Hear Joanne’s story on CBC’s podcast Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild.
>>Listen now
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Fourteen West Vancouver elementary schools have participated in a two-year longitudinal research project on physical literacy, using Sport for Life's PLAY Tools. This work will provide the baseline for follow-up studies.
The research – published in June and authored by Yiling Tang, Beatrix Algurén, Chelsea Pelletier, Patti-Jean Naylor and Guy Faulkner – followed up on a recent review and meta-analysis that found "a fifth of young people across 23 countries do not meet any of the recommendations and only 10.3% of children meet the recommended 24-hour movement guidelines for all three behaviours worldwide."
>>Read more
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Sport for Life and Physical Literacy for Life seek Board of Director members
Sport for Life, and its charitable arm, Physical Literacy for Life, are looking for passionate people to join our Board of Directors.
If you have a passion for the sport and physical activity sector, we encourage you to consider this opportunity to get involved with our growing organization and contribute to positive system change and societal impact through organizational stewardship.
Board of Director members serve in a volunteer capacity. However, we pride ourselves on providing our Board of Director members with a rich and meaningful experience, including professional development opportunities.
>>Learn more and apply now
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Si vous voulez consulter nos infolettres en français, cliquez ici. | |
Production of the stories in this newsletter has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. | |
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
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