Sport Matters 2023

INSIDE THESE PAGES INSIDE THESE PAGES

Welcome to the 3rd annual issue of Sport Matters, a window into Lethbridge's sports scene. We are pleased to present this unique online publication once again. Inside, you'll see the programs, and people that shape Lethbridge’s sports community.

Join us as we explore the significance of sports and its role in our lives. Discover opportunities that lie ahead, inviting you to become a part of Lethbridge’s sports culture.

Our aim remains constant: to connect people of different age groups with the wide array of sports and recreational activities available in our city. With almost a hundred local sports organizations catering to various age groups and skill levels, you're sure to find something that suits your interests.

Watch for links to direct you to organization websites and social media profiles. Follow these links and learn more about the sports organizations and programs in our community and how to take the next steps. If you have questions or need more details, don't hesitate to reach out to the organizations or to us – we're here to help you get connected with local sports.

We extend our gratitude to the sports providers who have supported this publication. We genuinely hope that 'Sport Matters' becomes a valuable resource for the community, further highlighting the importance of sports in Lethbridge.

CONTENTS CONTENTS

06 LETHBRIDGE SKATING CLUB

BOARD LEADERSHIP LETHBRIDGE

HORNS RECREATION

ACE VOLLEYBALL CLUB

LETHBRIDGE BADMINTON CLUB

ADAPT CHIROPRACTIC

LETHBRIDGE BMX ASSOCIATION

COALDALE PICKLEBALL CLUB

LEGACY TAE KWON DO

LETHBRIDGE SOCCER ASSOCIATION

BRIDGE VALLEY GOLF

PURE POWER WRESTLING

TOURISM LETHBRIDGE

HORNS ATHLETICS

PRONGHORN AMATEUR WRESTLING ASSOCIATION

LETHBRIDGE SPEED SKATING ASSOCIATION

LETHBRIDGE SYNCHROBELLES

LETHBRIDGE HORSESHOE CLUB

LETHBRIDGE LITTLE LEAGUE

ROVING GYMS

SOUTHERN ALBERTA SKATING ACADEMY

LETHBRIDGE PLAYS

LETHBRIDGE VOLLEYBALL CLUB

LETHBRIDGE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL

LETHBRIDGE COMMUNITY THERAPEUTIC RECREATION

LETHBRIDGE LEARN TO SKATE

LETHBRIDGE LIGHTNING

LETHBRIDGE TRACK AND FIELD

DRAGONBOAT ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA

LETHBRIDGE AMATEUR WRESTLING ASSOCIATION

LETHBRIDGE MINOR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION

HENDERSON LAKE PARKRUN

KIDSPORT LETHBRIDGE & TABER

LETHBRIDGE CURLING CLUB

Photo Credit: Cameron Yoos @lasportspage on Twitter

Photo Credit: Cameron Yoos @lasportspage on Twitter

QUICK LINKS TO SPORT ORGANIZATIONS QUICK LINKS TO SPORT ORGANIZATIONS

How to use quick links: 1 2.

Click any organization's logo to go directly to the page containing their promotion.

To come back to the 'QUICK LINKS' page, click the icon found in the bottom left corner

Ace Volleyball Club

Para Ice Hockey

QUICK LINKS TO SPORT ORGANIZATIONS QUICK LINKS TO SPORT ORGANIZATIONS

How to use quick links: 1 2.

Click any organization's logo to go directly to the page containing their promotion.

To come back to the 'QUICK LINKS' page, click the icon found in the bottom left corner

Pronghorn Athletics

Lethbridge Wheelchair Basketball Association

Pronghorn Amateur Wrestling Association

Pure Power Wrestling

University of Lethbridge Horns Recreation

Southern Alberta Sport Leadership Conference

COMMUNITY ROOM

OPEN for rental by both members and non-members.

Capacity - 38 seated

828 Sq ft

Podium

LCD Projector

IT Equipment available

Online booking

Wheelchair Accessible

Complimentary Wifi

OWL hybrid meeting camera

By Susan Eymann, Executive Director

The collective efforts of athletes, coaches, officials, leaders, and volunteers help to shape communities, empower youth, and foster economic growth. These dedicated individuals form the backbone of the Lethbridge sport system, leaving a positive impact far beyond the playing fields.

However, lately, sport has faced its fair share of challenges such as negative stories in the news, a lack of alignment between various levels of sport, impacts of the pandemic, and the changes in how people volunteer.

The Lethbridge Sport Council, through valuable partnership, is playing a vital role in driving positive change. It has responded through the Lethbridge Game Changers: Empowering People in Sport initiatives. These programs address challenges specific to Lethbridge.

One such program is getting more people to become volunteer coaches. The Lethbridge Sport Council partnered up with the University of Lethbridge and FSQ Sport to create a first of its kind training program for community coaches. Lethbridge Game Changers: Empowering Coaches in Sport helps coaches feel ready and confident. This year-round support system fosters competence, confidence, character, connection, and culture, providing coaches the tools to develop exceptional youth.

In parallel, the Lethbridge Game Changers extends its impact through three additional programs supporting board of directors, student-athletes, and volunteers - offering training and education to help sport organizations run smoothly, engaging secondary school students to become leaders in sport, and making sure everyone feels included and respected.

By working together and giving people the skills and opportunity to do great things, the Lethbridge Game Changers program is not just about sport – it’s about making our community better.

Interested in becoming involved? Want to learn more? We welcome you to reach out and become involved. Whether you are an athlete, coach, volunteer, or just someone who loves sports, your involvement can make a real impact. Together let’s build a brighter future for community sport. Contact us today to get started!

Annually, in November, the Lethbridge Sport Council pays tribute to our local officials who dedicate their time to our sports and our athletes.

If you know a official and would like to see them get the recognition they deserve, please let us know by emailing info@lethbridgesportcouncil.ca

By Keegan Brantner, Community Coordinator, Sport For All

A recent 2023 SIRC article focused on the need to reframe sport; highlighting a similar mandate as Lethbridge Sport Council that sport needs to place excellent experiences for all at the center. In this article SIRC highlights that gold standards will return to sport in the shared values of respect, friendship and excellence.

SIRC suggests that six elements contribute to a quality sport experience: belongingness, engagement, achievement, challenge, choice and personal and social meaning. These elements contribute to everyone who’s involved in sport; athletes, coaches, officials, parents, administrators and supporters to having positive sport experiences.

In our efforts to provide quality sport experiences to all there is a need for a mindset shift to see sport for development. This is the intentional use of sport and physical activity to build healthy communities and help all people reach their full potential. As we look to make sport accessible and inclusive to all within our community, there are practical steps that sport organizations and teams can do to assist in achieving this goal. A starting point for organizations is to truly embrace inclusion by fostering a culture of inclusion. Some strategies to achieve this are:

Use language and imagery that is inclusive and respectful of all cultures and identities. Adjust program activities and make them adaptable to cater various skill levels. Communicate with participants, families, parents and caregivers. Create a culture where participants feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings and experiences and where they are celebrated for their differences. Ensure that policies and procedures are equitable and consistent for all.

The Community Coordinator, Sport for All position is made possible through funding from the Government of Alberta Sport Participation Support Program, which supports the Pathway to Participation for All (P2P4A) initiative

The primary objective of P2P4A is to establish a sustainable network that brings together community and sport organizations to create an inclusive and welcoming pathway for sport participation, whether as athletes, coaches, officials, or volunteers, regardless of race, ability, identity, or economic status

At Lethbridge Sport Council we strive to be a voice for sport- believing that everyone should experience quality sport; emphasizing IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility) within sport.

Photo Credit: Tourism Lethbridge

By Tanya Whipple, Communication Manager

Sport is a powerful force that knits communities together, crossing barriers and forming connections between people who may have otherwise not become connected. These connections, rooted in collective experiences, help to nurture our society. On and off the field, court, or track, people rally behind their teams, engage in friendly competition, and foster relationships that extend beyond sports.

In many communities, Lethbridge included, most sport programming is offered by not-for-profit organizations run by a volunteer board of directors. There are many advantages to this model, but one downside is the turnover of the sport leaders. This turnover can have benefits, and it can also result in organizations having to learn the ropes over and over. One of the roles we have at the Lethbridge Sport Council is to provide support to organizations so they can focus on providing quality sport programs. Some of the ways we do this through our member support program include AGM support (facilitation of elections), facilitation of strategic planning sessions, fund development support, and bylaw and policy review. We’ve also been a key contributor to the local organizing committee for Board Leadership Lethbridge. For more information, look for the ad on page 6.

One of the lessons we have learned is that each organization has unique needs, and unique timing for those needs. Through one-on-one conversations, we can learn from each other both what they need and what we can provide.

We are committed to elevate sport excellence in or community. The Lethbridge Sport Council functions as a collaborative partner, working closely with organizations to enhance program quality. We offer resources, expertise, and strategic guidance to equip our member organizations to provide athletes and participants with quality experiences that give them the opportunity to achieve their goals. Through collaborative partnerships, persistent advocacy, and steadfast support, we work towards making sport an accessible, inclusive, and transformative force for all.

T R U E S P O R T P R I N C I P L E S

Go For It

Rise to the challenge - always strive for excellence. Discover how good you can be.

Play Fair

Play honestly - obey both the letter and spirit of the rules Winning is only meaningful when competition is fair

Respect Others

Show respect for everyone involved in creating your sporting experience, both on and off the field of play Win with dignity and lose with grace.

Keep It Fun

Find the joy of sport Keep a positive attitude both on and off the field of play

Stay Healthy

Place physical and mental health above all other considerations - avoid unsafe activities Respect your body and keep in shape.

Include Everyone

Share sport with others Ensure everyone has a place to play

Give Back

Find ways to show your appreciation for the community that supports your sport and helps make it possible.

By Shawn Daye-Finley, Program and Events Coordinator

With over 100 sport organization members, the Lethbridge Sport Council aims to be a collective voice for sport, sharing their challenges and achievements as we strive for the shared goal - to create pathways for safe quality sport experiences.

Our program objectives align with the Long-Term Development stages to achieve better sport, greater health and higher achievements. From an Active Start to Fundamentals, Learn to Train, Train to Train, Train to Compete, Train to Win, and Active for Life, all stages correlate with the ages and stages of participants. As written on Sportforlife.ca, “Science, research, and decades of experience all point to the same thing: kids and adults will get active, stay active, and even reach the greatest heights of sport achievement if they do the right things at the right time”

Our keystone active start program, Lethbridge Roving Gyms, nurtures physical literacy, the love of movement, and provides an environment for families to expand their social connections. As the name suggests, we rove around town setting up pop-up gyms for children five years of age and under and their caregivers to play using equipment meant to promote movement. The aim is to improve participants' competence and confidence in basic skills to be active for life. Check out our ad on page 24 to learn more.

While Roving Gyms center on developing physical literacy, our Give It A Try program focuses on awareness and first involvement in sport. Give It A Try events give you and your family a chance to try a new sport; no commitment is required. It is critical that all participants have a positive first experience when trying an activity. With our members, we strive to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments for participants of all abilities and all ages. Look for the Give It A Try on page 32 for more information.

By Martin Lawrence, Sport Tourism Assistant

At Lethbridge Sport Council, we understand the importance of sport tourism and the numerous economic and social benefits it brings to our community and the further development of community sport.

We support our members to boost the visibility of their events that attract out of town participants and spectators. We maintain a comprehensive on-line sport event calendar and promote the events through social media posts to drive greater engagement and attendance. This not only elevates the profile of the sport but also boosts its economic value for both the organizers and the local economy through ticket sales, accommodation, dining, and other related activities.

We engage with the event organizers to collect data for projecting the event's economic value to Lethbridge using the Sport Tourism Canada Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM).

The economic value generated by sport tourism in Lethbridge can drive the enhancement and creation of facilities accessible to all residents. This expansion of venues provides local sport organizations with increased options for hosting training sessions and preparing for upcoming events. As a result, a broader range of opportunities opens up for local participants and spectators alike

The economic advantages of sport tourism extend from the organizing club to the entire community. Event-generated revenue can lead to reduced participation fees, making sports more accessible. As a result, hosting events leaves a lasting legacy of affordability, enabling athletes from financially challenged backgrounds to participate in sport.

By supporting local organizations in hosting sporting events, residents are able to enjoy a variety of sports in their community, creating shared experiences and giving local athletes a home-field advantage. After watching a sport, many spectators are encouraged to “Give it a Try” and join the local sport association.

Photo Credit: Tourism Lethbridge

Photo Credit: Tourism Lethbridge

HOW TO FIND ADAPTIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS HOW TO FIND ADAPTIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS

if your child has additional support needs

Having inclusive and adaptive recreational programs available is so important because it can help your child develop independence, build friendships, and increase confidence, all while having fun.

While the words “adaptive” and “inclusive” are often interchanged when promoting programs for children with disabilities, they’re not the same. Adaptive programs are modified to make a program more accessible, while inclusive programs permit children with disabilities to join the same program. If you’re keen on one type of program over another, be sure to ask the sport organization or program supervisor which is used.

Take a deep dive into the program and scan the interpersonal skills of the instructor: How do they manage conflict? How do they treat the children? What type of teaching or coaching style do they use? All children are unique and their needs differ. What one child might benefit from, another might not and that’s normal. Trial and error is a common way of getting into a new sport, especially for children with differing abilities.

Take a look at the physical environment: Can your child access the change rooms, bathrooms, and main rooms being used? Are there harsh lights or loud music playing? Will your child have challenges in accessing this environment? If a child is uncomfortable being in a space, they won’t enjoy it as much as they could, even if the program seems perfect. Look into the program support structure: What is the ratio of support staff? Are aids allowed to accompany a child?

Look at the difficulty and the adaptability: Would your child have trouble playing these games and practicing these skills? Would they find the rules or lengthy instructions draining? If they cannot keep up, can the program or lessons be modified to better suit their needs?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE READ FULL ARTICLE FROM ON FROM ON THE ACTIVE FOR LIFE WEBSITE THE ACTIVE FOR LIFE WEBSITE

Choosing a program to suit your child’s needs, while ensuring they have fun

#THANKS COACH #THANKS COACH

Below is

Whatmadeyouwanttostartcoaching?

Myoldestsonisautisticandwefoundthatgroupsportswereanightmareforhim Hewasanaturalwhen itcametowatersoweensuredhehadalltheswimminglessonsneeded.WhenIfoundoutthattherewas aSpecialOlympicschapterinLethbridgeIthoughtitwouldbegreattohavehiminvolvedintheswim program.WhenIinquired,Iwastoldtheremaynotbeaprogramastheyneededsomeoneforthehead coach,anddidIknowswimming,andhadIbeenalifeguard?Itwasayestothatand18yearslaterIam stillcoachingtheSpecialOlympicswimteam.

What do you enjoy about coaching Special Olympics athletes? Everything. What isn’t there to enjoy about them?

What was the biggest difference between your experience as an athlete and your experience as a coach?

As there was a huge time gap from when I was an athlete to when I became a coach, one thing I needed to do was reteach myself the strokes. I attended nearly 6 months of stroke improvement courses and camps. I realized you are not just a coach but you must take courses to become a certified coach. After 18 years of coaching, I am still taking courses and improving my coaching skills all the time.

How do you adapt to coaching in the Special Olympics categories? Some things like nutrition planning, mental training and workouts are the same as coaching other athletes Underneath these athletes is a heart of gold Winning isn’t everything to them Friendship, acceptance, pride, and inclusion are more important to most of them. We celebrate personal bests in the pool versus medals Bling is nice but knowing how much they improved, what their friends are doing, and seeing fellow athletes after a few years away is, well, lots of hugs to be had. I have dealt with seizures, panic attacks, etc, and me being calm and collected helps them know I have their backs and will make sure nothing happens Mental training for me has been a life saver coaching Special Olympics athletes

National Coaches Week celebrates the positive impact coaches have in sport This week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by saying #ThanksCoach To celebrate National Coaches Week in 2022, we caught up with 9 local coaches to find out what makes them tick Thanks to Jude Hooey, Alec Hillman, Sean Cassidy, Madi Vanden Elzen, Josh Dumoulin, Aaron Hernandez, Martin Lawrence, Marcus Meneghetti, and Wendy Nelson for sharing their stories with us READ

an excerpt from the interview with Wendy Nelson, a swimming coach with Special Olympics. Over the years Wendy has attended many competitions with her athletes, including the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara where Lethbridge swimmer Naomi Leam won a silver medal.

FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

The cost of sport is a well-known barrier for many Canadian families. KidSport reports that cost keeps 1 in 3 Canadian children out of organized sport. Below are four assistance programs that help cover sport costs such as registration fees and equipment. These programs are excellent resources to help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport

KidSport - Lethbridge & Taber

KidSport provides grants for youth 18 and under to participate in registered sport programs. The grants are to help cover sport registration. If equipment is required to play, let KidSport know and they will make a referral to a partner agency.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart

The Canadian Tire Jumpstart Individual Child Funding is for youth between 4-18 years of age. The funding is allocated to cover the registration fees to sport and physical activity programs running a minimum of 5-weeks (or minimum 5-day sport camps) and equipment for sport and physical activity programs.

City of Lethbridge Recreation and Culture Fee Assistance Program

The City of Lethbridge offers a Fee Assistance Program for all ages to help with the costs for any recreation, sports, arts, or culture registration, membership, or equipment. The program is for Lethbridge residents who face financial barriers to participate in recreational and cultural opportunities.

Calgary Flames Sports Bank

The Calgary Flames Sports Bank provides equipment to kids from low-income families Therefore, families must provide adequate documentation Equipment available is based on items that they currently have in stock Please call ahead to book an appointment and to check the availability of appropriate gear Walk in requests for equipment will not be fulfilled

FROM SPORT TO LEADERSHIP

From Sport to Leadership Series 3 includes stories featuring local educators in our community sharing their experience with sport, and how the skills learned through sport and active recreation impact their professional roles and life Thank you to Tracy Wong, Alexa Koshman, and Kristi

for sharing their stories

"Participation in sport and activity teaches me every day that it is a privilege to move my body. Even on tough days. The idea that I get to participate, I get to train rather than I must, sets the foundation for how I view the world and my role in leadership. I see my professional work through this same lens. It is a privilege to be a teacher and principal. I get to work with students, staff, and families during great and during complex times."

"I am a firm believer in giving back to the community that gave so much growing up. My goal as a coach now is help youth maintain a love for the game and the learning that comes with it. As much as I miss playing volleyball, there is something special to me about coaching. If I can have a profound impact on even just one of my players, I have done my job. Going back to my first point, sport goes so much deeper than the game itself. It gives you family, friends, confidence, opportunities, and memories that last a lifetime"

ALEXA KOSHMAN

" I will never forget the proud moments watching students overcome their fears of performing onstage. Feeling the strong sense of community and belonging students had after working together as a performance ensemble. I still to this day experience the joy of having a team of staff that feel more like family than they do coworkers. This is because I am surrounded by people who care, people who want to help make this world a better place by being there for our future generations. "

KRISTI LEGGE

MARIA FITZPATRICK READ THEIR FULL STORIES AND PAST SERIES OF 'FROM SPORT TO LEADERSHIP'

Legge

TRACY WONG

A local collaboration of organizations, Lethbridge Plays is dedicated to promoting play for all children and youth! Lethbridge Plays hosts and promotes events for families and youth Learn more about Lethbridge Plays on their website.

VISIT THE LETHBRIDGE PLAYS WEBSITE

SAFE SPORT TIPS FOR ATHLETES

OK NOTOK

Group training with your teammates and coach

Team get-togethers and group social gatherings

Electronic group chats with your teammates and coach

Sharing a room on an overnight trip with a teammate of the same gender identify

Carpooling with your teammates

Practicing alone with your coach in a space where other people cannot watch

Visiting your coach at home

1-on-1 electronic communication (e.g. direct message) with your coach

Sharing a room with a coach or chaperone on an overnight trip or being alone in a room with a coach or chaperone

Being alone in a car with your coach

Your coach entering the changeroom without advance warning while you or other teammates are still changing Giving permission to a coach to physically touch you to demonstrate a training technique

Your coach entering the changeroom to assist with a medical emergency

Your coach touching you unexpectedly or frequently

If an issue arises, respectfully asking for feedback or clarification

Friendly humour not targeted at one specific person that is not discriminatory in nature

Insulting or using offensive language toward an opponent, official, athlete, or coach

Joking about someone's race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other topic meant to insult, belittle, or embarrass them

What is okay and what isn’t when it comes to safe sport?

Sport Manitoba has compiled a handy checklist for athletes to remind them of appropriate boundaries that should exist between them and sport coaches, officials or administrators. The list identifies green light behaviours and red flag behaviours for athletes to keep in mind.

Give itaTry experiencenewsports

Trying a new sport can be lots of fun and a great experience, but it can be tough to find opportunities to try before going all in. Here are some benefits you'll find if you attend a 'give it a try’ session with us:

Physical benefits ⟿ work different muscles than you are used to using and gain coordination and other skills

Confidence building ⟿ learn a new skill outside of your comfort zone to boost your confidence and motivate you to want to keep learning new things.

Social benefits ⟿ Enjoy the chance to spend some quality time with new friends and old who may already do the new activity

Need for novelty ⟿ A new activity can help to alleviate boredom and offered a welcome change to the daily routine

Stress relief ⟿ New activities require you to focus and are a great distraction from the daily stresses. Cognitive benefits ⟿ Research shows that learning a new sport is good for your brain. It improves cognitive function and can even help ward off age-related cognitive decline, such as memory loss.

The Lethbridge Sport Council works with local sport organizations to host free events for the public to come try new sports. If you are interested in being notified about new opportunities to 'Give-It-a-Try', sign up to our email list, and we'll be sure to invite you.

HTTPS://LETHBRIDGESPORTCOUNCIL.CA/PROGRAMS/GIVE-IT-A-TRY

The Lethbridge Sport Council sport directory includes sport organizations and businesses offering sport and active recreation opportunities in our community!

What will you find in the sport directory?

400+ local, provincial, and national sport organizations

Enhanced member listings for over 85 local sport organizations. Listings include information about their organization, facilities, social media links, photos, and videos!

The CCES is an independent, national, not-for-profit, multi-sport organization with a vision of fair, safe, accessible, and inclusive sport for everyone We believe the fundamental purpose of sport can and should be to make a positive contribution to Canadian society and that ethical sport is the best way to achieve that.

RESPONSIBLE COACHING MOVEMENT

The Responsible Coaching Movement (RCM) is a call to action for sport organizations, parents, and coaches to enact responsible coaching across Canada – on and off the field of play.

Established by the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and the CCES, the RCM invites all coaches and sport organizations to learn and apply consistent safety principles.

It includes three distinct pillars, each serving to create a sport environment that is Safe, Smart, and Secure Each pillar provides crucial elements, resources, and processes to follow

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RCM PILLARS

Rule of Two

A safe sport environment ensures all coaches, staff, and administrators apply the Rule of Two. When following the Rule of Two, all interactions and communications with participants are in open, observable, and justifiable settings, and two responsible adults are present. There may be exceptions in emergency situations. Check with your sport organization as to how the Rule of Two is enforced.

Background Screening

A secure sport environment is one where all coaches and sport organization leaders are screened to meet requirements to be involved in sport. Screening includes comprehensive background and reference checks, interviews, plus police checks, to be completed at regular intervals.

Ethics Training

A smart sport environment ensures coaches are trained and have the confidence and skills needed to effectively manage challenging situations. Lifelong learning through numerous training modules help aids coaches in expanding their knowledge and awareness of important topics throughout their career.

WHY DOES SPORT MATTER? WHY DOES SPORT MATTER?

Besides the mental and physical health benefits of sport, there are many ways sport positively impacts the lives of everyone, whether you are playing, officiating, coaching, or spectating. The benefits of sport reach far beyond the gains an athlete will experience. The broader community benefits from sport in a variety of ways, including:

BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Sport opens up a social network with the community. Participants (and their parents in the case of youth participants) who may not have otherwise crossed paths meet and get to know each other. Sport can form long-lasting connections between people

LIFE LESSONS

Important life lessons can be learned through sport

Sport can teach healthy competition, the importance of strategy, critical thinking, and teamwork. Often we find that leaders in our community were very active in sport as youth, where they learned those valuable life lessons.

HELPS ACHIEVE BALANCE

Sport is a great way to release the stress of everyday life. Sport doesn't have to be organized or competitive. A hike in the coulees, a round of golf, shooting hoops, joining a game of shinny, all will have a positive impact.

A REASON TO RALLY

Whether it is cheering for Team Canada around an Olympic broadcast, cheering for Team Alberta at the Tim Horton's Brier at the ENMAX Centre, or coming out to the stadium on a Friday night to support the local high school team, sport brings people together to cheer and support our teams and athletes.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

Lethbridge hosts numerous sporting events every year. Whether small or large, they bring people to our town, often for a few days. While here, they spend money on hotels, at restaurants, shopping, at attractions, and they fuel up to go home. Every event hosted has a positive economic impact on our city.

This 15th anniversary commemorative publication showcases the significant impact the Lethbridge Sport Council has had on the local community From promoting physical activity and healthy living to supporting local athletes and events, the LSC has played a vital role in promoting sport and active recreation in Lethbridge With a strong commitment to building partnerships and fostering collaboration, the LSC is well-positioned to continue its important work for the next 15 years and beyond. We celebrate this milestone anniversary and look forward to seeing the positive impact we will continue to have on the community.

Many Lethbridge sport organizations offer programs for individuals of all experience levels and abilities

Additionally there are programs and organizations whose primary mandate is accessible sport.

Below is a list of local organizations that provide accessible programming, there are additional organizations that offer inclusive sport opportunities Contact your sport of choice or the Lethbridge Sport Council to inquire about inclusive program options for differing abilities

Adaptable Outdoor Recreation Society (Adaptable Outdoors)

Southern Alberta non-profit society, that offers adaptive outdoor sport and recreation programs to people living with physical and cognitive disabilities

Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind

ASRAB was established to support visually impaired athletes of all ages and to enhance their quality of life through an active lifestyle Contact Lethbridge Program Lead Kamryn Sandberg program lethbridge@asrab ab ca

Blind Ambition Dragonboat Team

This newly-formed dragonboat team participated in the ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival Contact Kamryn Sandberg program.lethbridge@asrab.ab.ca for more info

Blind Bowling

A bowling league from September through April. Open to anyone who has a visual impairment. Transportation included upon request.

Challenger Baseball with Lethbridge Little League Baseball

Challenger Baseball is a program that provides an opportunity for children, youth and adults with cognitive and/or physical disabilities to enjoy the full benefits of participating in baseball at a level structured to their abilities

Lethbridge Dopamine Boxing

Providing group fitness classes to individuals living with Parkinson's disease in a safe and supportive environment.

Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association

Offers individuals with special needs hands-on instruction in riding and horse care to exercise the body and spirit

Lethbridge Wheelchair Basketball Association

Provides recreation and competitive programs for wheelchair basketball

Skating and Figure Skating

Both the Lethbridge Skating Club and Southern Alberta Skating Academy offer programming and accommodations for athletes with a disability and Special Olympics athletes Contact them for details

Special Olympics Lethbridge

A variety of programs including: swimming, golf, curling, softball, bowling, basketball, and floor hockey

Para Ice Hockey (Alberta Health Services Therapeutic Recreation)

Para Ice Hockey is like traditional hockey with a few sport-specific modifications Players sit in a specifically designed sled For more information contact 403-382-0380 or shana wandler@ahs ca

Walking Football (soccer)

Open to anyone 50+ at the Servus Sports Centre (aka soccer centre) For more information, contact mike8380@gmail com