The Government of Canada is committed to creating a more inclusive sport environment for all Canadians. Sport plays an important role in building stronger, healthier communities across the country and should include space for all to participate.

The Honourable Anthony Rota Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming highlighted $10,000 in financial support granted to two organizations to help eliminate barriers that hinder participation in sport, particularly in Black, Indigenous and racialized communities, or 2SLGBTQQIA+ groups, people with low incomes, newcomers and persons with disabilities.

Rota says, “Everyone in Nipissing-Timiskaming should have access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. Through this funding we are building stronger and healthier communities in our riding, and right across the country. The transformative power of sport plays an important role in achieving this goal. It builds self-esteem and leadership skills and allows people to grow and thrive—physically, emotionally, and socially.”

This assistance will allow The West Ferris Ringette Association and Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada to make important community partnerships.  

Melanie Davis is the Executive Director and CEO, PHE Canada says, “The Community Sport for All initiative has helped hundreds of schools across Canada connect with community groups to increase the physical activity of equity deserving young people. The young people at St. Alexander School in North Bay will have the opportunity connect with several community organizations to experience a variety of new physical activity opportunities – experiences that they wouldn’t have had access to without the support of the CSAI funding.”

Kelli Van Buskirk is with the West Ferris Ringette Association, and she says, “We’ll be using the money to reach out to OutLoud, the Indigenous Friendship Centre, and the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre to offer clients and members of their choosing free registration. We have a free equipment loan program but we don’t loan items such as skates and helmets so a portion of the money is earmarked to offset the costs of equipment that we don’t loan out.”

This funding is part of announcements made recently by the Government of Canada to support community organized sports. Nineteen national organizations have received investments totalling more than $30 million as part of the Community Sport for All Initiative.

Recipients are responsible for redistributing the funds to community groups. The funding is being distributed to groups working on the ground.