Boccia Canada is pleased to report on the activation of provincial development funding to Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) and others supporting boccia development across the country last year. The grants helped with recruitment, coaching, and officials’ development in boccia, further strengthening opportunities for people to play boccia and targeting champion organizers at all levels.
The following recipients were awarded provincial development grants in 2024-25:
- Alberta Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (ACPSA)
- Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (OCPSA)
- SportAbility
- Manitoba Rehabilitation Centre for Children
- Boccia Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
- London Cannonballs
The grants support activities in three pillars: Recruitment & Development, Coaching, and Officials Development. Organizations can access gold, silver or bronze levels of support in each pillar.
SportAbility was able to increase their technical leadership by training three new referees and purchasing equipment to get a new Vancouver boccia program up and running.
Reflecting on the grant’s impact, Executive Director Donna Cumming said, “We are immensely grateful for Boccia Canada’s continued support through the Provincial Development Grants. It helps to build long-term capacity for the delivery of thriving programs in British Columbia. By offering different funding streams, the grant gives us an opportunity to focus on new areas each year and take steps to keep the development of the sport moving forward.”
In addition to the provincial development grants, Boccia Canada also offered Competition Hosting Grants to support the organization of boccia events nation-wide. Grants were available to event hosts who met sanctioned event requirements or were working towards meeting them within a three-year period.
The London Cannonballs were recipients of the sanctioned event grant for their annual Boccia Blast tournament they’ve hosted since the early 90s. The event is the oldest competition on the national circuit and is entering its 35th year this June. The grant will help offset event costs incurred and give the hosts more flexibility in their 2025 investments as well which could include a streaming service so that more people can watch the tournament online and follow the action live.
For more details on funding opportunities, eligibility, and application, please refer to our Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn pages where we typically announce our outreach along with the Boccia Canada website here for all news and event updates.
About Boccia Canada
Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. CCPSA leads, develops and grows boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.
About boccia
Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3, BC4, BC5, and Open. For more information on boccia, visit www.bocciacanada.ca.
Media contacts:
Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator
hjanna@bocciacanada.ca
514-944-5193