(Ottawa, Ontario) The True Sport Foundation is now accepting applications for the True Sport Community Fund. Grants in the amount of $5,000 or $25,000 are available in support of sport programs that create access, and promote inclusion for children and youth from Aboriginal, low income, and new Canadian families.
“Through the True Sport Community Fund, we are helping communities to provide tools and programs that will give Canadian children and youth an opportunity to participate in True Sport – sport based on the values of fairness, inclusion, excellence, and fun,” says Victor Lachance, executive director of the True Sport Foundation.
The fund is the result of a partnership between The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the True Sport Foundation. Funds are awarded to programs that address common barriers to participation, create sport opportunities that have a broader appeal to Aboriginal or new Canadian children and youth, provide volunteer coach and official training, and improve or create new playing surfaces.
Although open to all provinces and territories, the True Sport Community Fund focuses on Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador.
“Since 2007, $600,000 in dedicated funds have been made available to community-based sport and recreation organizations,” says Lachance. “All grant recipients have been selected because they represent the values of True Sport and demonstrate opportunities to increase access and inclusion to sport in their community.” To date, the grants awarded have directly impacted over 24,950 children and youth and 3,614 volunteers.
An additional $295,000 will be distributed in the next phase of funding this fall. The next application deadline is October 31st. Information and eligibility criteria as well as the online application form are available at www.truesportfoundation.ca.
This spring, twenty-seven groups and organizations from across Canada were selected as True Sport Community Fund recipients, including:
$25,000 Recipients:
Ehrlo Sport Venture (Pilot Butte, SK) – The Ehrlo Outdoor Hockey League will provide equipment, ice time and city-wide tournaments free of charge for youth in local inner city neighbourhoods.
P.E.I. Association for Newcomers to Canada (Charlottetown, PEI) – The Immigrant Student Liaison Program places youth in different local sport opportunities. Plans to purchase uniforms and manage a larger scale equipment-sharing effort.
Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (Winnipeg, MB) – The LifeSports initiative aims to increase participation among aboriginal youth in sport and recreation by breaking down barriers that hinder participation.
Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg (Winnipeg, MB) – The Community Club Basketball League is a program for new Canadians that provides the opportunity to make new friends in a context where the common language is basketball. Funding will allow the group to expand the program and offer a full-service summer basketball camp.
Baker Lake Youth Association (Baker Lake, NU) - Provide funds to purchase equipment, create opportunities for recreational and non-competitive play, purchase a library of coaches resources and organize high quality coaching clinics.
$5,000 Recipients:
Cosmos Sports Club (Winnipeg, MB) – This social and cultural group offers a year-round youth Cricket program.
Tri County Rangers Baseball (Wellington, NS) – Funding to start a girls baseball league and start an introduction to baseball program for four and five-year olds.
Paqtnkek First Nation (Antigonish, NS) – Establishment of an equipment-sharing program for a new local sports park that will offer hands-on sport instruction.
Kugaaruk Nanug Sports (Kugaaruk, NU) – Provision of equipment for an after-school sport program aligning curricular goals with community values.
KidSport Parkland Region (Dauphin, MB) – Subsidizing registration fees to help children access sport and recreation opportunities in the community.
Peter Pitseolak School (Cape Dorset, NU) – Equipment provided for the school’s Friday night/ Saturday morning activity program, which focuses on life skills and cooperative games.
Minahik Waskahigan Ski Club (Pinehouse Lake, SK) – The club has partnered with a local school to jointly purchase equipment to loan to community members.
Selkirk School Division (Selkirk, MB) – The Selkirk School Division sport program provides opportunities for students to participate in six different sports during half-day sessions in partnership with each sport’s provincial sport association.
Shellbrook Junior Soccer Association (Shellbrook, SK) – Providing start- up costs for a junior soccer league including the purchase of new equipment and for much-needed field upgrades.
Kildonan Youth Activity Centre (Winnipeg, MB) – The Kildonan Youth Activity Centre will expand its sport program by purchasing much-needed equipment.
Fort Smith Speed Skating Club (Fort Smith, NT) – Aims to increase the number of Aboriginal children and youth involved in their programs by increasing the number of speed skates available in their rental program.
The Manitoba Speed Skating Association (Winnipeg, MB) - Provide funds to start up an equipment-sharing program and speed skating clinics and demonstrations in partnership with First Nation Reserves in rural Manitoba.
Manitou Minor Ball (Manitou, MB) - Recently partnered with local community residents to refurbish two local baseball diamonds. Funds will allow for the training of coaches and player clinics at the new facility.
Teslin Curling Club (Whitehorse, YK) - Community volunteers will receive coach and official certification allowing for more youth participation and quality instruction.
Native Council of P.E.I. (Charlottown, PE) – Support for the hosting and staging of an Indian Summer Games weekend retreat for youth aged 13-18 on Panmure Island, the traditional Pow Wow grounds of the Native Council.
Citizenship Council of Manitoba Inc. (Winnipeg, MB) – Purchase of equipment, healthy snacks and field trips as part of the Sports Club, which brings together children of different backgrounds to learn Canadian customs and the importance of physical activity.
Riverton-Bifrost Parks and Recreation (Riverton, MB) – Will replace recently lost or damaged equipment and provide for the establishment of a sustainability reserve fund.
Elwick Community School (Winnipeg, MB) – The SportsConnection program increases opportunities for youth to play organized sport outside of school. Funds will support registration fees, qualified instruction and equipment costs.
YMCA Community Basketball League (Saskatoon, SK) – The YMCA Community Basketball League offers opportunities for youth in grades 1-8 to play organized league basketball at no cost.
The Village of Teslin (Teslin, YK) – Start-up costs for an equipment-sharing program for karate, hockey and soccer.
Waypoints Therapeutic Recreation Program (St. John’s NL) – Waypoints is a multi-service agency that offers a variety of innovative programs to help guide at-risk youth towards a life of overall health and fulfillment. Funding provided to purchase equipment to expand its existing sport programs.
About True Sport
True Sport is a national movement committed to the belief that sport makes a powerful and positive contribution to the development of people and communities. True Sport emphasizes the key role that sport can play in the development of a strong and connected Canada. For more information please visit www.truesportpur.ca.
About the True Sport Foundation
The True Sport Foundation is a leading registered charity committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society, to our athletes, and to the physical and moral development of Canada’s youth. The True Sport Foundation brings together leading organizations to promote, celebrate, and recognize sporting excellence.
For further information, please contact
General inquiries:
Christina Parsons, National Projects Manager
True Sport Foundation
(613) 521-3340 ext. 3232
(613) 521-3134
Media inquiries:
Rosemary Pitfield, Director of Communications
(613) 521-3340 ext. 3236
(613) 355-0889
rpitfield@truesport.ca
