People of all ages and abilities in Powell River will have more opportunities to get involved in fun, community-based sport programs during the coming year through the joint federal-provincial BC Sport Participation Program (BCSPP).

“Sport has the power to connect people with their communities and build the foundation for a healthy lifestyle,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “These programs will help people make new friends, improve their fitness level and try a new sport, regardless of their background or level of ability.”

The BCSPP is a partnership between the governments of Canada and British Columbia. This year, Canada and B.C. are making matched investments totalling more than $1.2 million aimed at getting more people of all abilities active in their communities and involved in a variety of sports, such as tennis, wheelchair basketball, para ice hockey and snowboarding. The funding supports sport programs, activities and coach and leadership training in communities throughout B.C.  

“Our government has worked hard to make sure Canada puts athletes and children in sport first, from the playground to the podium,” said Kirsty Duncan, federal Minister of Science and Sport. “That means making sure sport is safe, inclusive and accessible, because everyone deserves to experience the benefits of sport. Our government is proud to partner with the Government of British Columbia to get more people involved in sport, particularly kids who face financial or social barriers.”

In Powell River, the programs include:

• providing the Powell River Curling Club with $2,100 for its Stick Curling - Seniors Staying Active program. The program provides low-cost introductory stick curling instruction aimed at bringing seniors back on to the curling sheet in a safe, welcoming environment; and
• providing the Powell River Gymnastics and Cheer Club with $800 to train its coaches to be Level 2 trampoline certified. The updated certification will ensure trampoline can be offered as part of local gymnastics programming.

The BCSPP has two application-based grant programs administered by viaSport – the Provincial Sport Development Program (PSDP) and Community Sport Development Program (CSDP). Communities, Indigenous groups and not-for-profit organizations can apply to receive grants that help them buy equipment, train leaders, officials and coaches, and teach participants sport skills.

Quotes:

Charlene Krepiakevich, CEO, viaSport —

“By reducing barriers to sport, more British Columbians experience the unique benefits that sport has to offer. This grant program increases opportunities for participation in programs that attract children, youth, Indigenous and under-represented populations to lead active and healthy lifestyles through their involvement in sport. viaSport is proud to recommend these organizations and recognizes their commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for British Columbians to experience sport in their communities.”

Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast —

“People in Powell River benefit from these opportunities to stay active and get involved in sport. These grants will go a long way towards making sports more accessible in our community.”

Don Mitchinson, president, Powell River Curling Club —

“Powell River is known for the rain in the winters, which can be isolating for seniors, especially those with mobility issues. Through this grant, our club can now offer programming to introduce the new sport of stick curling, providing opportunities for seniors to stay active both physically and socially in a safe, welcoming environment.”

Quick Facts:

• The BCSPP provides grants to provincial and multi-sport organizations to help youth learn about physical activity and provide sport opportunities for under-represented populations (women and girls, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, the 55-year-old-or-over population and lower-income families).
• The BCSPP program is broken down into four streams: the PSDP, the CSDP, programming specific to Indigenous children and youth, and programming specific to populations that are traditionally under-represented in sport. 
  • The PSDP provides grants up to $30,000 to support sport projects with regional or provincial reach.
  • The CSDP offers grants up to $3,000 to support local, community-based sport projects.
  • The Indigenous supplement is provided to the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (ISPARC) for culturally relevant sport programming for Indigenous children and youth, to support B.C. athletes training for the North American Indigenous Games and to strengthen capacity and leadership. ISPARC is recognized by the Province as the lead Indigenous organization for sport.
  • Targeted grants are also provided that support initiatives specifically focused on under-represented populations including people aged 55 or over, teenage girls, Indigenous youth in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and individuals with disabilities.

Learn More:

Read about Sport Canada’s work: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/culture/sport.html

Learn about viaSport and the grant intake period, guidelines and applications: https://www.viasport.ca/grants