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To our Sport for Life champions,
If you can imagine it, then you can make it possible.
Since we recently wrapped up our conference season with a country-wide tour of Summits and the International Physical Literacy Conference (IPLC) in New York, we’re feeling inspired by all the innovative and collaborative ways that organizations are coming together to advance quality sport and physical literacy. More and more people worldwide are envisioning a better future, one that includes engaging as many people as possible.
In this eNewsletter, you can read a story about Lacrossing Barriers – a program that brings the Indigenous sport of lacrosse to people with autism and participants in wheelchairs. Meanwhile, our Physical Literacy for Communities initiative continues to bear fruit with exciting new developments in the Shuswap. We’ve got a follow-up story about IPLC, information about our upcoming Education Series, an opportunity to come together for an upcoming education webinar, and information about a sport award for Indigenous athletes. Finally, we encourage you all to visit our newly debuted web page about equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.
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Lacrossing Barriers breathes new life into Indigenous sport with accessible programming
Instead of focusing on why you can’t do something, why not focus on how you can?
For Scott Godfrey, the founder of the innovative program Lacrossing Barriers, there’s absolutely no reason why people with intellectual or physical disabilities shouldn’t be given a chance to play competitive lacrosse with their friends – whether they’re on the autism spectrum, use a wheelchair, or have an amputated limb. His approach is to adapt the sport so every participant can be included.
“What we do is create programs that are reverse-engineered. We put everything in the shopping cart that you need to play lacrosse, and we follow the roadmap. Then, like a pothole in the road, which is a detour or distraction, if you have a physical, emotional, neurological or social challenge then we’ll work with that,” he told Sport for Life, after presenting at the 2023 Summit in Calgary.
>>Read more
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International Physical Literacy Conference has global impact with 26 countries represented in New York
The International Physical Literacy Conference (IPLC) held in New York was a smashing success in May, attracting delegates from 26 countries.
With seven keynote talks providing the foundation for a busy schedule of workshops, presentations and social events, IPLC 2023 gave delegates a fantastic opportunity to make connections, learn about cutting-edge research, and envision a promising future for physical literacy development worldwide.
After three years of disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference returned with a theme of “Building a New Normal”, with a goal of addressing the physical inactivity crisis and creating a more collaborative and inclusive society. Ultimately, 280 delegates were in attendance from May 2-5. The keynote speakers were Tom Farrey, Dr. Brian Culp, Dr. Sheelagh Quinn, Dr. Melanie McKee, Kevin Atlas, Hip Hop Public Health and Rob Simmelkjaer.
>>Read more
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Sport for Life is proud to announce the launch of its equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility (EDIA) web page, Catalysts for Change, which went live earlier this month.
Sport for Life strives to be a catalyst for change within the sport and physical activity system. Aligned to our Sport for Life values of collaboration, integrity, and pursuing EDIA, to name a few, the organization has had the opportunity to work and partner with many groups to create and share resources that support equity-deserving groups.
Though Sport for Life’s has always intended for our work to reach equity-deserving groups and ensure everyone has a chance to become active for life, the creation of this new web page gives us an opportunity to share more specifically how EDIA concerns impact our work.
>>Read more
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A steady stream of physical literacy enthusiasts flooded into PLAY Shuswap’s first open house in April’s first open house in April, where they were invited to learn about all the partners and individuals in the community who are working to encourage the population to become active for life. The organization was first created as part of the Physical Literacy for Communities initiative, but is now independent and self-sustaining.
“There was a lineup out the door before we even started and we had a continuous stream of people engaging in the many opportunities to learn more about physical literacy and PLAY Shuswap. I enjoyed meeting so many people and discussing all the different ways PLAY Shuswap may be able to partner with their organizations,” said program coordinator Amber Wright.
>>Read more
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Sport for Life set to host virtual Education Series
Join Sport for Life to celebrate the latest Sport for Life ambassadors as we offer a variety of our virtual workshops—and with NCCP professional development points available!
From June 12-24, join our next cohort of learning facilitators as they facilitate their first workshops alongside an experienced master learning facilitator.
Registration for each workshop throughout the Education Series is open now! Sign up today for one (or more!) of the following workshops, for just $20 per workshop!
>>Register here
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Webinar explores how to support students’ physical literacy journey in schools
In our upcoming webinar on June 1, join Sport for Life physical literacy lead Joe Flavel as he shares trends he has observed throughout his 20-year career in physical education that affect students’ physical literacy development. He will provide practical classroom strategies, and introduce organizational tools and school-friendly resources that will help you support students within and beyond the classroom.
Hear important insights and best practices from the education system that will inspire you to proactively support the development of your participants’ physical literacy journeys.
The webinar will be held on Thursday, June 1 at 3:30-4:30 p.m. PDT | 6:30-7:30 p.m. EDT.
>>Register now
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Aboriginal Sport Circle honours Indigenous athletes with 2023 Tom Longboat National Awards
The Tom Longboat Awards provide a forum for acknowledging the growth and strength of the Indigenous sport movement in Canada and its tremendous impact on the sport development from community level participation to elite level competition.
The Aboriginal Sport Circle awards honour the accomplishments of an athlete within a program year, and eligible athletes must have performed their accomplishments between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023. Applicants must be of Indigenous descent (First Nations, Inuit or Metis) and must have demonstrated sportsmanship, fair play and ethics in sport. The award is available to those 15-years-old or older.
The application deadline is June 30 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. They must complete a nomination form and provide a supporting narrative. The form can be completed online here. To learn more, contact Aboriginal Sport Circle’s Programs & Events Senior Coordinator Krista Hodder at khodder@aboriginalsportcircle.ca.
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viaSport introduces Play Safe, an online assessment tool aimed at creating safe sporting environments
How can you tell when somebody’s behaviour has crossed the line?
Thanks to viaSport’s Play Safe BC, there is now an online assessment tool that can be accessed by players, coaches and parents that helps them draw the line between an environment that allows bullying and an environment that promotes belonging.
With a variety of resources readily available online, Play Safe gives you all the information and support you need to be an informed advocate for yourself and the people around you. The goal is to create inclusive, empowering and safe environments for everyone.
>>Learn more
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Si vous voulez consulter nos infolettres en français, cliquez ici.
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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
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