The Ontario government is investing $800,000 to make community sport and recreation more accessible for nearly 6,000 children and youth across the province.
The funding is part of Ontario’s Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program and will support three organizations delivering accessible sport and recreation opportunities for young people facing financial barriers.
The province says the investment will help organizations introduce programming that gets children and youth active, builds confidence and develops lifelong skills, while helping reduce costs for families.
Jays Care Foundation will receive $300,000 to expand two programs expected to provide more than 4,200 children and youth with opportunities to learn baseball fundamentals, build connections and develop a lifelong relationship with physical activity.
The funding will support Challenger Baseball, which provides adaptive baseball programming for children and youth with disabilities, and the Indigenous Rookie League, which delivers community-based baseball programming designed to engage Indigenous children and youth.
KidSport Ontario will receive $400,000 to help approximately 1,100 children and youth from low-income families participate in organized sports. The funding will assist with registration fees and equipment costs.
The Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network will receive $100,000 to increase sport participation among Black, Indigenous and other racialized children, youth and families.
That funding will provide free swimming lessons and lifeguard training for approximately 650 children and youth. It will also provide training and mentorship for up to 30 young women from racialized communities to become certified basketball officials.
The Ontario government says the Inclusive Grassroots Recreation program works with organizations across the province to make sport and recreation more accessible and affordable.
The province says increasing opportunities for young people to participate in local programs will help build healthier communities while creating pathways for lifelong participation in sport and recreation.
