Athletics Canada announces 2013 participation

OTTAWA – Athletics Canada is pleased to announce today the organizations, clubs and provincial branches who were chosen as recipients as part of the 2013 Branch Grant Program. The program was established in 2011 to encourage and support new and existing programs in the areas of grassroots athletics and first contact initiatives.

Funded projects in 2012 welcomed 57,000 new participants and 3,400 coaches from six different provinces. Additional value was achieved through the purchase of para-athletics throwing chairs, regional classification of wheelchair athletes, training of officials, delivery of clinics and camps, and volunteer support.

Run Jump Throw (RJT) / Hershey’s Track and Field Games (HTFG) recipients

Recipient	Project
Athletics Saskatchewan	Host RJT programming in five rural communities; each will host a HTFG event at the end of their program
Project Athletics (Ontario)	Utilize RJT at grassroots competitions; leverage participation with Olympian appearances
Nanaimo Track & Field Club	Host a HTFG event for the entire school district
Calgary Track Council	Deliver RJT in 15 schools through direct delivery and teacher in-servicing in partnership with the City of Calgary and school board. Host HTFG events at each participating school
BC Athletics	Offer learning facilitator training for proven RJT champions in rural communities; ongoing program delivery

First Contact Recipients

Recipient	Project
Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement (Alberta)	Introduce athletics to the Buffalo Lake Metis Community through coach education, participation incentives and events, including the creation of an after-school athletics program

For more information please contact Taunya Geelhoed, Athletics Canada’s First Contact Coordinator.