Ringette Canada receives far-reaching community ringette grant from Sport Canada

Ottawa, ON–Ringette Canada was recently awarded a grant by Sport Canada (a division of the Department of Canadian Heritage), enabling the support of community ringette initiatives nationwide. Ringette Canada’s mission is to govern, promote, and lead the sport of ringette, and this grant will allow us to reach underserved communities and groups, transforming lives through the power of community sport. 

 

“We are grateful to Sport Canada for supporting and investing in ringette,” said Julie Vézina, Executive Director of Ringette Canada. “This grant enabled us to offer meaningful support to ringette associations across the country, as well as to create national resources to help grow ringette for underserved communities.” 

 

This program aims to support the development of ringette in underserved communities and to increase participation opportunities for currently underserved groups (i.e. Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Low-Income, Persons with a Disability, Newcomers, etc.) through the use of Ringette Canada’s Mixed Ability Ringette, Gym Ringette, and Come Try Ringette programs. These three programs increase the accessibility of ringette, and reduce barriers to participation linked to ice time and equipment costs. 

 

Through this grant, we were able to provide grants to 30 clubs, associations, and programs from coast to coast, enabling Come Try Ringette sessions, gear libraries and adaptive equipment to lower the barrier of entry into ringette, gym ringette kits, and the development of new Ringette For All teams.

 

As the national governing body for ringette, we see firsthand the need for dedicated support of community ringette programs, and the impact these programs have on helping people find a sense of belonging. We believe this grant will help to further cement our belief that ringette is for everyone, and continue to improve inclusion efforts nationwide. This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada. 

 

 

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For more information:

 

Jenni Lloyd

Communications, Engagement, and Marketing Director

Ringette Canada

jenni@ringette.ca

 

About Ringette Canada

Ringette Canada is the national body that oversees ringette in Canada. Ringette is a Canadian sport that was invented in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario by Sam Jacks. There are currently over 30,000 players on nearly 2,000 teams across Canada, with over 1,500 officials and nearly 8000 coaches. Internationally, it is played in more than half a dozen countries worldwide. Ringette has been designated a Heritage Sport by Sport Canada and as part of the Sport for Life movement, ringette is well advanced at adapting Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development model. Learn more at www.ringette.ca.