Ontario invests $800K to make community sports more accessible for youth

The Ontario government is investing $800,000 to make community sport and recreation more accessible for almost 6,000 children and youth across the province.

This investment will help local organizations deliver new programming that will help get young people active, build confidence and develop lifelong skills, while reducing costs for families.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to play, build confidence and reach their full potential through sport,” says Natalie Pierre, parliamentary assistant to the minister of sport.

“By investing in community organizations, we’re making sport and recreation more accessible and affordable for families across Ontario while helping young people stay active, build lifelong skills and thrive.”

$300,000 of this funding is going to the Jays Care Foundation to expand two flagship programs for over 4,200 children and youth.

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The Challenger Baseball program will provide adaptive baseball programming for children and youth with disabilities while the Indigenous Rookie League will deliver community-based baseball programming designed to engage Indigenous children and youth.

$400,000 of this investment is going to KidSport Ontario to help around 1,100 children and youth from low-income families participate in organized sport by assisting with registration fees and equipment costs.

$100,000 of this funding is going to the Canadian Sports Network to boost sport participation among Black, Indigenous and other racialized children, youth and families.

This funding supports free swim lessons and lifeguard training for about 650 children and youth. It also offers training and mentorship for up to 30 young women from racialized communities to become certified basketball officials.

Ontario’s Inclusive Grassroots Recreation Program partners with organizations across the province to make sport and recreation more accessible and affordable.

READ MORE: Ontario spends $330K to expand children’s access to sports