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The Lethbridge Sport Council is inviting residents to celebrate Canada ’ s 150th anniversary by taking part in its Get Active Through Sport challenge : try a new sport , share your story , volunteer for a sporting event , or get out and cheer on our local athletes – there are any number of opportunities to get involved !
Photo courtesy of City of Lethbridge .
Photo courtesy of City of Lethbridge .
Photo courtesy of City of Lethbridge .
the year , including hockey and lacrosse . But right alongside those classic sports are others that are both accessible for those with physical limitations and challenging even for experienced athletes .
It ’ s at one of these 52 in 52 sessions to
explore sledge hockey that I meet Taylor Hecker , a recent Lethbridge resident who ’ s gotten on board with the program and quickly found himself being challenged . “ There ’ s definitely been some surprises so far . Sledge hockey ’ s not just for [ athletes with disabilities ], but a definite challenge for anyone of any ability ,” Taylor says , gasping for breath as he unstraps himself from the seated metal frame used to propel players around the rink . “ I think it ’ s great because a lot of people don ’ t realize that some of these sports exist – I for sure didn ’ t know this was out there .”
A prime example of the program ’ s success , Taylor has already tried a handful of new sports , including skiing and swing dancing , which he describes as “ surprisingly athletic .”
But does trying a new sport every week seem like something he can keep up all year long ? He gives me a good reminder that it ’ s not always about the destination , but the journey . “ I know I won ’ t be able to stick to everything , but I ’ d like to take this to my
“ Sport is a great way for people new to Canada or new to Lethbridge to get out and meet new people , try new things and make connections .”
friends and get them out to do things too after I know what some of the sports are like ,” Taylor explains . “ Because I ’ m new to Lethbridge this is great for meeting new people and to see what sports are a good fit for me .”
There are also casual opportunities to try new sports for those who ’ d like to try something on their own terms . The Lethbridge Public Library ’ s physical literacy collection gives library members the chance to explore new sports by checking out equipment for activities such as snowshoeing , disc golf , lawn darts , flag football , and more . This program helps reduce financial barriers to allow anyone to try before they buy , as many sports can often pose a high cost for getting started with the right gear .
Cheer On or Volunteer
The 12-month challenge , featuring a weekly demonstration and 150 suggested sports to try throughout the year , as well as volunteer opportunities and opportunities to cheer on local teams at games , tournaments , and special events , required the Sport Council to collaborate with existing partners and develop new relationships . In doing so , the Sport Council has begun to build a stronger local sports community . “ Because we only have two staff , the best way for us to reach out to the community is to work with partners ,” Susan says . “ Everything we do is in partnership either with a community group or a sport group .”
These relationships are not just focused on attracting new people to become participants . They help to develop a better appreciation for sports and encourage support through viewing and cheering on others as well as volunteerism . As most local sports organizations are run on shoestring budgets by volunteers , the goals of Get Active Through Sport are also to foster a deeper engagement through volunteerism , and to build support for future growth and
LETHBRIDGELIVING . COM MAR-APR 2017 21