NEWS RELEASE
ALL SPORTS ALL PEOPLE
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On Tuesday, Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop and Alden Barty, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) volunteer, took part in a virtual meeting to hear more about the impact that a six-month, $49,800 Community Building Fund grant from 2021 has had on the delivery of accessible sports programs.
The grant was awarded to the Elmvale Bears sledge hockey group for use with the All Sports All People program to help with the setbacks in program delivery due to the pandemic and ensure that All Sports All People continues to facilitate and offer inclusive sports programs in Simcoe County.
“This funding will greatly assist the Elmvale Bears sledge hockey program in their continued outreach to offer an inclusive hockey opportunity for individuals living with physical disabilities,” said Dunlop. “I’ve had the pleasure of participating in this sport in the past and witnessing the passion behind the organization. This OTF Funding will help ensure positive outcomes for any individual facing physical barriers and wanting to participate with the team.”
Funds from the grant have been used to assist with staffing, website and online media platform costs, as well as rental and key operating costs. All of these enabled All Sports All People to continue offering inclusive sports programs to the community. As well, it is involved with educating local schools on the importance of inclusive sports through the online school outreach programs. Many families were also able to borrow inclusive sporting equipment during these unprecedented pandemic times.
“The impact these programs and other opportunities have on families in the community is something we can’t measure, but it’s amazing to see,” said Brad Bowden, program development facilitator for All Sports All People. “The grant has allowed us to bounce back and survive to offer these programs and equipment to people who really need them. It was amazing to have this support to continue to do this. We have reached quite a few new families this year and it’s been really heartwarming, for sure.”
All Sports All People has been dedicated to partnering with local rec departments and other organizations to bring inclusive sporting programs to many areas in Simcoe County, offering sports such as sledge hockey/para ice hockey, wheelchair basketball and hand cycling, to name a few. All Sports All People also offers educational programs to local schools to speak on the importance of inclusive sports and to break some of the stigma attached to adapted sports. You can visit them on Facebook or at www.allsportsallpeople.com.
The OTF is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. Last year, nearly $112 million was invested into 1,384 community projects and partnerships to build healthy and vibrant communities and strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector. In 2020-21, OTF supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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