Six organizations across Canada received a total of $20,000 to support boccia development through Boccia Canada’s 2023-2024 Provincial Development Grant Program.
This program enhances existing capacity to deliver programming across four strategic pillars: Recruitment and Development, Coach Education, Official Development and Competition Hosting.
2023-24 grant recipients delivered many boccia projects benefiting children, youth, and adults with disabilities across Canada.
“Grassroots development takes creativity, commitment and perseverance and all of our grant recipients demonstrated those qualities this year. We’re proud to support the efforts of our provincial partners to keep growing and developing boccia across Canada”, says Jennifer Larson, Program Manager.
The six grant recipients included the Alberta Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (ACPSA), SportAbility, Association québécoise de sports pour paralytiques cérébraux (AQSPC), Boccia Newfoundland and Labrador, the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (OCPSA) and ParaSport and Recreation PEI.
The Provincial Development Program supports the development of boccia across Canada, following the principles of the Boccia Long-Term Athlete Development Model. Through this model, provinces are responsible for the Learn to Train, Train to Train, and Train to Compete stages of athlete development. Progression levels within each stage are intended to provide athletes with a solid foundation of technical and tactical skills from which they can become proficient boccia players.
With the help of their grant, the Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association trained nine new boccia referees, supported three coaches to complete NCCP multisport modules and delivered the NCCP Competition Development Analyze Performance Technical Tactical module. Boccia Newfoundland and Labrador also directed their grant funding towards training new referees and coaches. AQSPC supported the development of two new referees.
“Thanks to the funding provided through the Provincial Development Grant Program, we are able to offer more comprehensive training programs and resources that empower our volunteers to excel in their roles. This partnership enriches our sport community and strengthens the impact of our work. We deeply appreciate Boccia Canada’s ongoing support and partnership,” said Amanda Fader, Executive Director, OCPSA.
Other grant recipients focused on recruitment and development initiatives. ParaSport and Recreation PEI ran a 10-week spring boccia program in Charlottetown and Boccia try-it days in Summerside, Charlottetown and Montague. They also hosted an Atlantic Canada Roadshow that included a boccia demonstration and held their annual Parasport Festival, a multi parasports try it day for 78 students with a disability from 19 schools. SportAbility also supported recruitment and development, hosting three try it events and supporting their equipment loan program. The Alberta Cerebral Palsy Sports Association ran their first Alberta Boccia Day, providing athletes recruited at their Take the Shot and Adaptive Sport Festival events to be exposed to their first competition and giving referees the chance to practice their officiating skills.
Get involved with Boccia Canada as an athlete, coach, official, volunteer or in other ways here.
Media contacts:
Holly Janna
Communications Lead
hjanna@bocciacanada.ca
514-944-5193