Is your community ready to get active and to return safely to sport and physical activity participation?

As the province gradually returns to sport and physical activity, we would like ot know more about your community’s state of readiness.

Survey respondents to be entered in a draw to win a swag bag from I·SPARC!  CLICK HERE to begin

Returning Safely to Sport & Physical Activity

At I·SPARC, we recognize the toll the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic are taking within Indigenous communities as participation in sport and physical activity is vital to our individual and collective wellness.

As outlined in BC’s Restart Plan, sport and physical activities have been able to resume in a limited way. Restarting is not mandatory and we respect that Indigenous communities and organizations will be in varying stages of readiness to engage in a return to activity.  However, some communities may be ready and eager to resume activities within the necessary modifications and following the applicable guidelines and safety measures.

As we support a return to activity, I·SPARC will work collaboratively with its partners and host communities to develop specific program delivery plans that meet the highest health and safety standards.

Using BC’s Restart Plan, viaSport’s Return to Sport Guidelines, and BCRPA’s Recreation and Parks Sector Guidelines for Restarting Operations, I·SPARC released its Return to Activity Guidelines on August 6, 2020. 
As the situation is rapidly evolving, click the Return to Activity icon  to view the latest changes or updates. 

Request to Host a Camp in your Community

I·SPARC invites First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, Friendship Centres and other not-for-profit organizations serving Indigenous youth from across the province to apply to host a sport camp:

• Youth Sport Development Camps – these sport camps are community-based programs in a sport of your community’s choice that can range from a one-time “Try-it” event up to multi-week sessions.  

As all in-person programs must be delivered within the modifications and protocols under the required and applicable health and safety guidelines (e.g. symptom screening, physical distancing, hand-washing and sanitizing, limited number of participants, modified activities, etc.), we will work collaboratively with the host community/organization to coordinate and confirm the appropriate COVID-19 safety program plan and to deliver the event(s) safely.

Our goal is to fulfill all requests for sport or physical activity programming while ensuring the specific program delivery plan meets the highest standard of health and safety for your participants.  If your community is interested in hosting a coach/leader development clinic/workshop, please submit an application today!

Request to Host an online Coach/Leader Development Clinic

Supporting sustainability and capacity-building through the development of coaches and leaders within Indigenous communities is a priority goal within our provincial strategy. I·SPARC invites First Nations, Métis Chartered Communities, Friendship Centres and other not-for-profit organizations serving Indigenous youth from across the province to apply to host a coach/leader development clinic or workshop:

• Coach/Leader Certification or Training Course – there are several leader development courses or workshops currently available in an online delivery format (e.g. Zoom) through our partners*.  The list below is non-exhaustive, examples include: 
  • NCCP multi-sport training courses, e.g. Managing Conflict, Psychology of Performance, Developing Athletic Abilities, and many more
  • You Can Play Project – LGBTQ2S+ Inclusion in Sport
  • Sport for Life (to roll-out online delivery for courses this fall, TBC)
  • BC Wheelchair Sports – Bridging the Gap webinar
  • SportMedBC, e.g. Concussion Management, Injury Prevention & Performance

*Once our partners resume coaching and officials clinics via in-person delivery, we will also support communities that request to host in-person clinics within health and safety guidelines.

If your community is interested in hosting a coach/leader development clinic/workshop, please submit an application today!

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
5:00 PM WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020
(for program delivery dates between October and December 31)

I·SPARC’s Provincial Strategy takes a youth-centered approach, inspired by the BC Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation Declaration established during the 2008 Gathering Our Voices youth conference.

As the fastest growing population in Canada, Indigenous youth represent the future for our communities. Through sport, physical activity and recreation, youth gain an understanding of the benefits of living healthy, active lifestyles. They develop enhanced self-esteem, self-confidence and life skills that translate into positive life choices.

By supporting and encouraging physically active communities and by expanding access to sport and recreation opportunities, I·SPARC aims to improve the health outcomes and positively impact the well-being of Indigenous communities across British Columbia.

I·SPARC’s regional model provides a structure to deliver programs and services at the community level. Its strength lies in the cultural approach to opportunities and ownership within each region for programming decisions on priority sport and physical activity opportunities.

Learn more about our Provincial Strategy and Regional Structure at http://isparc.ca

Find Out More

This newsletter comes to you from the Community Sport Development program at I·SPARC

Director, Sport
Lara Mussell Savage
P:  250.856.0862
F:  1.877.711.5594
lmussell@isparc.ca

Manager, Sport Development
& Community Engagement
Michelle Webster
P: 250.856.0866
mwebster@isparc.ca