KSC January Newsletter

JANUARY 2021 NEWS

FROM THE KAMLOOPS SPORTS COUNCIL

Dear Tournament Capital Volunteers,

Happy New Year! We hope that this holiday season brought you lots of treats and visits with your loved ones from a distance. We are feeling optimistic that 2021 will take us all in a new direction, and fingers crossed that it easier path this year. Looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring our wonderful sporting community.

The Kamloops Sports Council is still not quite open for the first few days of January, but back to its full force on Monday, January 4th. Chat with you then!

Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame and Kamloops

Sports Council Athletic Awards Postponed

The Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame has made the call to postpone this years’ Class of 2021 induction until 2022. The awards that have occurred annually for 30 years now took place this summer in August in a new format from its usual large spring banquet. In response to new COVID-19 protocols, the Hall of Fame adapted to a hybrid, virtual and small in person event to celebrate the achievements of these community members. Although the hybrid event was a success and a more intimate style of celebration, the Hall of Fame committee recognizes that a larger gathering is more ideal to celebrate the accomplishments of these members of our sporting community. Due to this, the next inductions will occur in May of 2022.

Nominations for future Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame inductees are still being received by our selection committee. For more information on nominating someone you know, click here.

The Kamloops Sports Council has also decided not to award its yearly honors for the 2020 athletic season. “With almost all sporting activities curtailed this year because of the pandemic it would have been difficult to choose recipients for 2020,” says Kamloops Sports Council President Henry Pejril. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t consider athletes who have excelled in 2020 when it comes to our nominations for the 2021 athletic season" he added.

For the first time ever, nominees for 2020 will be considered when the Sports Council calls for nominations in December 2021.

Skating is Good Medicine

The Kamloops Outdoor Skating Association (KOSA) wants to help improve outdoor skating in Kamloops this winter, so it’s organizing a fundraiser for neighbourhood volunteer associations that manage community skating rinks. Due to Covid-19, KOSA believes that having community rinks in good shape will help residents enjoy an affordable, outdoor activity all winter. KOSA’s goal is to raise $10,000 through a Go Fund Me campaign.

KOSA offered its help to community associations around the city who run rinks, and those in Westsyde and Heffley Creek accepted. The goal is to raise $5000 for each.

Outdoor skating is one of Canada‘s favourite winter pastimes. For many people, regular outdoor winter exercise is one of the best ways to keep their bodies, minds and spirits in good shape. This year, with the prospect of COVID-19 health and safety directives being in effect all winter--which includes exercising outdoors--having community rinks in good shape will give all Kamloopsians another healthy open-air option.

DONATE HERE

Scotties Curling is coming to Canada’s Tournament Capital!

2021 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship, Presented by Best Western & 2021 BC Men’s Curling Championship from Jan. 26-31, 2021

Find more info Here.

PacificSport Interior BC is providing two funding grants to help during the pandemic. Local Sport Organizations in the Interior BC region.

The Local Sport Funding Support is for 10 organizations who will receive $2,500 each and PacificSport Interior BC will adjudicate all applications. Groups will submit a Letter of Intent and there is no restrictions on the funding is best suited for, as the organization will provide details in their submissions.

The second funding envelope is for PacificSport Interior BC registered athletes who can apply for support they may need, whether that be for training, equipment or other areas that the athlete deem necessary for their performance pathway.

The application process will be for those eligible to submit a Letter of Intent to PacificSport Interior BC by 4:00 pm on January 15th, 2021 by email to [email protected]

More information can be found on the website Here.

Even if it feels like the world has come to a standstill, that doesn't mean you should.

We've always believed in the power of movement and a healthy lifestyle. Now that many of us find ourselves isolated at home, cut off from each other and more sedentary than usual, movement has become more important than ever.

Learn More Here

We believe that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports. KidSport™ provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport.

KidSport Kamloops is a local chapter of KidSport Canada. Funds raised locally are spent locally and are distributed as grants to cover registration and/or equipment fees associated with participation in a season of sport.

For more information please email us at [email protected] or call 250.828.3822.

Kamloops Sports Council

Getting to Know Our Local Sport Organizations

Sportball Kamloops

Who are you?

Sportball Kamloops

Can you tell us a little about your organization?

Sportball provides sports programs for children 1.5-12 years old. We focus on delivering a non-competitive and developmentally appropriate program. Our multi-sport class introduces children to the basics and fundamentals of 8 different sports!

How long has your organization been active and operating?

While we have been around for over 20 years, originating in Toronto, we have been operating in Kamloops for 3 years.

Where do your participants meet, train, and play?

We have programs all over Kamloops, programs are indoors during fall/winter and outdoors in the Spring/summer.

Describe Sportball participants in one word.

Happy

What is one of your proudest accomplishments or achievements

that you would like to highlight for Kamloops Sportball?

Sportball participants always have fun in our class and come away with new skills. Whether it's our parent participation class where mom/dad experiences their child hit a developmental milestone or our older drop off class where the coach sees a growth in children's confidence, we take pride in helping children learn and develop in programs.

What has Sportball been working on lately?

While our multi-sport program has been very popular, we are starting to have more sport specific classes. For example, our soccer/t-ball classes last summer was a hit!

What is an inspiring moment that you have

witnessed from one of your participants?

We witness inspiring moments each class we teach. A 1.5-2 yrs old learning how to jump and getting both feet of the ground or a 5-7 year old hitting an overhead tennis smash.

What are some of Sportballs’ future goals?

Our goal is to make Sportball as accessible for all families in Kamloops. Adding different times and locations to accommodate for different families.

Where would you like to see positive

change in Kamloops sport and why?

Being partnered with the City of Kamloops, we would love to see more spaces that can accommodate indoor sports programs

What do you think makes Kamloops a great sporting community?

Our fields are fantastic and TCC gym really shows how much our community care about sports. Programs are available for willing participants of all ages.

Tell us something that not everyone

would know about your organization?

We are a franchise that originated in Toronto over 20 years ago. Our methodology was created in partnership with the University of Toronto, Canada Sport for Life and Canadian Physical Education Association.

How do people connect with Sportball to learn more and get involved?

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Happy New Year! Sincerely,

The Kamloops Sports Council Team

250.828.3822