Youth Sports Programs Receive Financial Boost

NOTE: A list of schools involved in the Sport Nova Scotia After School Programs follows this release

Young people will continue having athletic leadership and after-school programs thanks to an investment of $254,000 from the Government of Nova Scotia and the government of Canada.

Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, made the announcement today, Nov. 21, in Halifax.

Sport Nova Scotia will receive $127,000 each year for the next three years from the province and $127,000 from the government of Canada for the Sport Futures Leadership Program and After-School Program.

"Sport Nova Scotia is heavily involved in providing quality opportunities for kids to be more active in sports." said Mr. Barnet. "Based on the program's success to date, I am pleased that our department will continue to provide funding for leadership and after-school programs for our young people."

Sport Nova Scotia's Sport Futures Leadership Program has benefited over 100,000 Nova Scotians over the past four years. Through a wide range of physically active sport opportunities, the Sport Futures Leadership program assists provincial sport organizations in developing and providing fun, safe and inclusive sport activities for children and young people regardless of gender, social-economic status, disability, ethnic background or culture.

"I am proud of our government's support for these important initiatives. Our pledge is to help increase sport participation in the province," said Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport). "We also want to promote a healthier Canada. That is why we are supporting programs that encourage young people to participate more in sport and be physically active."

"It's initiatives like this that give our young people in Nova Scotia a jump start on leading a productive and healthy lifestyle," said Peter MacKay, Minister responsible for Nova Scotia. "This is another example of our government investing in our children."

"The Sport Futures program has become one of the premier sport development resources in Canada thanks to the support of the provincial and federal government and participating provincial sport organizations," said Jamie Ferguson, chief executive officer of Sport Nova Scotia. "Through the leadership program we are seeing children and youth learning new skills, being physically active and having fun."

Provincial sport organizations such as Nova Scotia Golf Association, Athletics Nova Scotia, Tennis Nova Scotia, Swim Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Curling Association have all offered programs through the program. More than 17 organizations have participated in the program since it began.

In addition to supporting sport projects, Sport Nova Scotia has developed partnerships with selected regional school boards and schools to deliver after-school programs. Sport Nova Scotia identifies and trains high school students to become instructors for elementary school students.

The Sport Nova Scotia After-School Program provides children in Grades 3 to 6 with daily sport and physical activity programming in addition to regular school-based activities. The After-School Program has proven successful at delivering non-competitive skill development and sport opportunities to children who otherwise may not have had an opportunity.

This year, the After-School Program is in eight elementary schools and 575 students are participating. Since the program started in 2005, 355 high-school students have been trained to be program leaders to deliver program activities, along with a program co-ordinator.

Schools hosting the Sport Nova Scotia After School Program are:

• Tatamagouche Elementary School, Tatamagouche
• West End Elementary School, Springhill
• Junction Road Elementary, Springhill
• Greenfield Elementary School, New Waterford
• Harbourside Elementary School, Sydney
• Sheet Harbour Consolidated School, Sheet Harbour, Halifax Regional Municipality
• Port Williams Elementary School, Port Williams, Kings County
• Temperance Street School, New Glasgow