SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Minor sports in Atlantic Canada received a big boost on Wednesday.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities announced an $8-million sport relief fund to help sport and recreation organizations continue programming in 2020 and beyond.
“Sport, as a whole, has taken a big hit (due to the coronavirus pandemic), but I don't know if people are really aware of how much community sport has declined,” said Beckie Scott, a three-time Canadian Olympian in cross-country skiing. “This is an effort to really infuse and inject some much-needed support back into community-based sports for kids.”
Scott is the CEO of Spirt North, a Jumpstart grantee, and is promoting the relief effort. She’s also a panellist that will evaluate the applications and ensure the funding goes as wide as possible.
Funding
Organizations can apply for funding between Sept. 12 and Oct. 4 by visiting www.jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.
“Because it's available across the country coast-to-coast, everyone has an equal opportunity to apply and to access this funding for sport and recreation organizations,” Scott said in a phone interview with the SaltWire Network. “It's going to be based on need and where the funds can be the most effective and productive.
“That’s going to be obviously highlighted in applications and certainly in areas such as Atlantic Canada. ... I hope Atlantic Canada gets a boost from this program and kids there are able to return to sport and play.”
Bring back activities
This program provides an opportunity for community sport organizations to bring back activities for kids that may have had to shut their doors or collapse programs because of lost funding.
“We know that those have to be done safely and cautiously with COVID-19 in mind, but we also really want to see kids back being physically active and engaging in sports again,” said Scott, who explained the impact sports has on young people. “Community-based sport, in particular, is an incredible platform and opportunity for young people to access health and well-being, mental health, physical health, community engagement. Then you have all the life skills that come along with participation, like leadership, confidence, co-operation, resilience and a whole spectrum of life skills, values and benefits just from participating in sports.
"I think, particularly, in this current situation we are in with COVID-19, we have to keep somehow those opportunities available and accessible to kids.”
All skill levels
Scott says these opportunities extend to all levels of skill, not just the elite. As someone who grew up in a remote community – Vermilion in northeastern Alberta – and followed opportunities to the Olympics and beyond, Scott welcomes the chance to give back to amateur sport in Canada.
“I see the value and not just in high performance or excellence in sports, but just the value even in participation and what it can do for kids and the important role it has in society,” said Scott.
Scott is no stranger to Atlantic Canada and competed in national championships in eastern Canada several times. She mentioned her first junior nationals took place in Cape Breton, N.S., and the last nationals she competed in were in New Brunswick.
“I loved (competing in Atlantic Canada),” she said.
Scott says watching young kids compete in sporting and recreation activities reminds her of when she was younger.
“I do a little bit of coaching for my own children’s teams and I just love it,” said Scott. “I just love that opportunity to see kids at that stage in their lives for the joy of it, experience teamwork, collaboration, confidence and new skills.”
