Support for training and education provided to northern B.C. coaches and officials

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2014

Support for training and education provided to northern B.C. coaches and officials Targeted grant initiative helps prepare new sport leaders for 2015 Canada Games in Prince George  

Vancouver, BC – Twenty-four groups in northern British Columbia will benefit from $28,905 in funding through a recent intake of the Northern BC Coaching and Officiating Development Fund, a localized grant initiative funded by the Province of BC and Team BC, and administered by viaSport.

A number of coaches, officials and community groups in the north (BC Games Zones 7 and 8) have been awarded up to $1,500 each in an effort to increase accessibility to training and development opportunities leading up to the 2015 Canada Games in Prince George, supported by the Northern BC Community Sport  Development Society and Team BC.

“The Northern BC Coaching and Officiating Grant is key to preparing our region’s best sport leaders for both the Canada Games and for future events,” says Wade Loukes, president of the Northern BC Sport Development Society. “We are thrilled to have received this funding through the Province of BC, Team BC and the Northern Sport Strategy as a means to leave a lasting legacy for sport in Prince George and beyond.”

Grant recipients will use the funding to host or attend a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) course or other training opportunities offered in their region. For many, the funding supports a much needed boost to the number of officials and qualified coaches required to fulfill a growing demand of new, young athletes in the north.

“Based on the number of applications we received at viaSport for this grant, there is clear demand for more coaching and officiating courses in the north,” says Eric Sinker, coaching and leadership development manager at viaSport. “This grant funding will enable a greater number of organizations the ability to offer these courses, and in turn, we should see an increased number athletes have access to trained, certified coaches and sport leaders in the region in time for the Canada Games and years following.”

The next intake for the Northern BC Coaching and Officiating Development Fund will open in spring of 2014.

Check the viaSport website regularly for updates at www.viasport.ca.
 

Full list of Winter 2013/14 grant recipients:

www.viasport.ca/sites/default/files/PDFs/2014_2_25_Backgrounder.pdf

Featured recipient profile – Northern British Columbia Freestyle club:

http://www.viasport.ca/winter-grant-feature-coaching-officials

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Learn more:

• ViaSport: www.viasport.ca/northern-bc-coaching-and-officiating-development-fund
• Fact sheet: Northern Sport Strategy: www.viasport.ca/fact-sheet-0 2

About viaSport British Columbia:

viaSport British Columbia is a not-for-profit organization established in 2011, responsible for providing strategic leadership to sport in BC in order to increase levels of physical activity at every stage of life, in every community. Formed in partnership with the provincial sport sector and the Province of BC, viaSport – along with BC sport partners – is shaping a new, more effective model for sport delivery and fund administration which drives increased participation, powers sport excellence and better unifies all sport throughout the province.
 

About the Northern BC Community Sport Development Society:

The Northern BC Community Sport Development Society (formerly known as the Northern BC WinterGames Society) recognized a need to better service sport in northern British Columbia outside of their usual sport hosting landscape. Under a new name and mandate, the Northern BC Community Sport Development Society was formed to develop a more effective sport delivery model serving BC’s northern regions. Today, the Society assists in building enhanced sport opportunities in the north through increased community coach and officials training, volunteer enhancement and athlete development.
 

About Team BC:

Every four years a team of athletes, coaches, managers and mission staff are assembled to represent British Columbia at Canada’s premiere multi-sport events – the Canada Winter Games, the Canada Summer Games and the Western Canada Summer Games. Representing the best in BC, they are known as Team BC. For some, the Canada Games are a goal along the way to what they hope will be success in sport at major multi-sport Games including Olympic and Paralympic Games. For more information about Team BC visit TEAMBC.ORG.
 

Contacts: Meaghan Rentmeester
Communications Coordinator, viaSport
778 655 1755
meaghanr@viasport.ca
Wade Loukes
President, Northern BC Community Sport Development Society
250 552-1104
wloukes@city.pg.bc.ca