Community Activation Grants: Hey Canada, Come Try Ringette!

Ringette Canada, with support from Canada’s Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC), is excited to launch the Come Try Ringette Community Activation Grant program. This initiative aims to help local and provincial ringette associations and community centres recruit and support new players, particularly women and girls, through free Come Try Ringette (CTR) events.

These events offer new players a fun introduction to the sport while helping local and provincial ringette associations recruit participants. Open to all ages and abilities, these events can take place on the ice or in the gym (‘gym ringette’). CTR is a fantastic way to get active and experience the excitement of trying a new sport.

Grant Opportunity

Ringette Canada is offering up to 50 grants​ ranging​ from $500 to $2,500 each to support CTR events focused on engaging women ​​and girls. ​​This grant program, supported by SIRC, and funded through Sport Canada is designed to help local and provincial ringette associations and community centres host or support these exciting events. These programs often target children, but we encourage clubs to broaden their focus, engaging not only girls but also bringing more women back into the sport.

We’re calling all applicants interested in hosting or supporting CTR events targeted at women and girls to apply for this funding opportunity. Together, let’s help get more women and girls on the ice!

How to Apply

To apply, complete a brief application form that includes information about:

1. How your association/centre will use the funds to support or run CTR events directly targeted at women and girls
2. Your proposed budget and how each element will contribute to your CTR activities

​​​​​​We encourage applicants to consider how these funds will support CTR events now and in the future, including building capacity for future CTR events and developing initiatives that engage underrepresented groups in ringette.

​​​​​​​Application Timeline

• The application process will begin November 6, 2024 and run until November 27, 2024.
• All grant applicants will be notified by December 20, 2024.

Assessment Criteria

Ringette Canada and SIRC will evaluate applicants based on the following criteria:

• The perceived importance of the suggested activities for supporting the engagement of women and girls in CTR events
• The potential reach and impact of the activities (for example, the number of women and girls who the initiative will touch)
• The potential for the project to promote the long-term participation of women and girls in ringette (for example, by supporting future CTR events)
• Justification of the budget  
• The overall quality of the proposal (clarity, feasibility)
• The degree to which you are going to reach beyond your usual ​​​​audience with this initiative

Eligible Project Expenses

This grant will support eligible expenses for associations related to CTR programs directed at women and girls. Eligible expenses include:

• Honorariums to facilitate CTR events (for example, for on-ice instructors)
• Facility costs to deliver the program (for example, ice or gym costs)
• Equipment costs (for example, to create an equipment bank for participants)
• Promotional materials or marketing costs (for example, to support the translation of or printing of material)

Ineligible Project Expenses

• Project expenses covered by other sources of funding or grants
• Administrative expenses related to an applicant’s ongoing business activities that do not relate to CTR

Please contact research@sirc.ca if you have any questions regarding the eligibility of your proposal.

Requirements

Grant recipients will be required to complete a report summarizing the impact that this grant had on their CTR initiatives. Additionally, recipients will be expected to provide a summary of how the grant funds were used. Please note that any changes in funding use must be approved by SIRC. The report will be due to SIRC in early June 2025. A template for the report will be provided by SIRC.

Recognition

The Recipient must provide appropriate acknowledgement of Ringette Canada and the Come Try Ringette program in its publicity, promotional materials, and information materials.