People of all ages and abilities across B.C.’s interior 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.”

Regionally, the Columbia Valley Youth Soccer Association is getting $2,500. With interest in soccer in the community greatly expanding, this funding will assist the Soccer Youth Skill Development Program in the purchase of the equipment (additional balls, bags, pinnies, gloves, benches and tents) required to meet this growing demand.

Sharing funds with other provincial chapters, Fernie, Invermere, Panorama and Kimberley chapters of BC Adaptive Snowsports’ Snowbility – The Inclusion Project $30,000; BC Freestyle Ski Association’s Girlstylerz $30,000; and BC Snowboard Association Little Riders In School Program $30,000.

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.”

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.

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.  It 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.

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