The province helped fund 168 sports and recreation projects across the province through special grants marking 2015 as the Year of Sport in Manitoba.
“Last year Manitoba hosted no less than 11 major sporting events. We showed the country and the world that we’re a top-notch destination for sports, entertainment and travel,” said Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux. “Celebrating 2015 as the Year of Sport was about more than showing off all that we have to offer to the world, it was also about strengthening the opportunities youth have right here at home to get involved in sport and become the athletes of tomorrow.”
As part of the 2015 Year of Sport celebration, the Manitoba government provided one-time grants to community organizations to enhance the quality of their programming through the Sport and Recreation Opportunities Fund. The fund was administered by Sport Manitoba.
The minister said the fund provided one-time grants of up to $5,000 for community organizations to increase their ability to provide quality sport and recreation programs and to purchase equipment and supplies like:
- up to $5,000 for permanent equipment such as volleyball standards, goal frames and adaptive bicycles;
- up to $2,500 for equipment with a shorter life span such as soccer balls, pucks and paint brushes; and
- up to $5,000 for organization capacity-building initiatives, such as strategic planning and volunteer training, thereby strengthening the ability to offer quality community programs.
“Sport and recreation play an invaluable role in bringing positive opportunities to Manitobans, especially to at-risk youth and families,” said Minister Wight. “This is pivotal to the growth and development of individuals and to the growth and development of communities as a whole.”
Through two intakes (July and November 2015) 168 projects totaling $355,000 in grants were awarded including:
- Central region – 19 projects totalling $43,600;
- Eastman region – 31 projects totalling $57,400;
- Interlake region – 21 projects totalling $49,300;
- Norman region – six projects totalling $20,100;
- Parkland region – 15 projects totalling $26,400;
- Westman region – 21 projects totalling $40,300; and
- Winnipeg – 55 projects totalling $117,600.
“Sport and recreation are an integral part of the development of our communities,” said Laurel Read, interim CEO, Sport Manitoba. “It has been wonderful to see so many engaged Manitobans looking to strengthen the opportunities for their children to ensure everyone has a chance to play and the equipment needed to do so.”
To further acknowledge the Year of Sport, Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection acquired a van for KidSport Manitoba. This van will be used to support KidSport in its annual fundraising initiatives and to collect and distribute used sports equipment to disadvantaged children and youth in communities throughout Manitoba, Minister Lemieux said.
KidSport is a national not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance for registration fees and equipment to young people aged 18 and under. Since its creation in 1993, more than 450,000 children across Canada have been given a chance to participate in sports programs with KidSport grants and programs. In Manitoba, KidSport receives ongoing staffing and administrative assistance through the department’s agency, Sport Manitoba.
The Year of Sport was highlighted by events such as the RBC Cup in Portage la Prairie for Canada’s Junior A hockey championship, the 2015 Canadian Native Fastball Championships, 2015 FIFA World Women’s Soccer Championship and the 2015 Grey Cup in Winnipeg.
