NEWS RELEASE
November 24, 2006
McGuinty Government’s Investment Helping Kids Get Active
Communities In Action Fund Delivers New Sport And Recreation Opportunities
OTTAWA – The McGuinty government is investing $200,000 through the Communities in Action Fund (CIAF) to help up to 2,400 children and youth in communities across the province get involved in organized sport, Minister of Health Promotion Jim Watson announced today.
“Through this funding, our government is creating new opportunities and building on existing ones to increase physical activity and community sport and recreation participation at the local level,” said Watson in Ottawa today. “By increasing opportunities for sport and recreation, we are building a stronger, healthier province.”
This grant to the Sport Alliance of Ontario will increase physical activity and sport participation rates by increasing the delivery of organized sport at the community level through participation grants to KidSport Ontario local chapters and through 20 new KidSport FunZones. The grant will also go towards the development of Community Sport Councils across the province.
“The Sport Alliance of Ontario is pleased to be working closely with the Ministry of Health Promotion to enable us to deliver the KidSport Program across Ontario,” said Jim Bradley, CEO, Sport Alliance of Ontario. “The program breaks down barriers and provides kids with funding so they can play sports in their local community. The program is in place so every kid can play.”
“This past year, KidSport Ottawa has provided more than 300 kids in Ottawa with approximately $22,000 in grants to cover registration fees and equipment costs so that they could play an organized sport of their choice,” said Katie Jarvis, Chair, KidSport Ottawa. “The CIAF grant will provide many more deserving children and youth in Ottawa and throughout the province with the opportunity to be active.”
CIAF is a $5 million annual program that supports ACTIVE2010, Ontario’s strategy to increase physical activity and sport participation across the province. The goal of the strategy is to increase participation across the province from 48 per cent to 55 per cent by 2010. CIAF also supports the work of Ontario’s Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living.
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For further information:
Adam Grachnik
Minister’s Office
416-326-8497
Julie Rosenberg
Ministry of Health Promotion
416-326-4833
