NEWS RELEASE

 

Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (November 26, 2024) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC), in partnership with the BC Regional Sport Alliance, is pleased to announce the launch of Pathways: Indigenous Sport Leadership Gatherings. These collaborative events are designed to empower Indigenous community leaders and advocates in the fields of sport, recreation, youth, health, and education. The two events will take place over November 27th in Victoria and December 6th in Langley.

The Pathways: Indigenous Sport Leadership Gatherings will bring together community champions, coaches, recreation managers, youth workers, and other passionate individuals for an inspiring opportunity to learn from subject matter experts and engage with community members in the sporting world.

In support of the Pathways events, a bespoke event identity was created in partnership with Ryan Johnston, a Squamish First Nation graphic designer, who shared his inspiration behind the design. “The hand of knowledge and culture is passed down to the next generation, igniting their passion and opening a world of possibilities for them to explore,” said Johnston. “The Coast Salish hand is passing culture and teachings to the next generation’s participant, who is jumping into action ready to explore their own unique pathways!”

These in-person gatherings will feature a dynamic lineup of workshops presented by I·SPARC and BC Regional Sport Alliance partners, specifically PISE and PacificSport Fraser Valley. The workshops will offer practical tools and valuable education, training, and certification opportunities, fostering leadership skills and advancing Indigenous sport and recreation initiatives in their communities. Workshop topics that will be offered include an introduction to the Holistic Model, Athletic Taping Courses, Addressing Racism in Sport, and Concussion Awareness and Management.

“The Pathways: Indigenous Sport Leadership Gatherings reflect our commitment to fostering leadership development and these events will uniquely include a complement of current industry knowledge and culturally relevant content, such as the Holistic Model. These events aim to empower community leaders and advocates to inspire positive change through sport and physical activity,” said Lara Mussell Savage, Director of Sport at I·SPARC.

The inaugural events will help guide the planning and execution for future Pathways’ events. The full event details can be found below:

November 27, 2024: VICTORIA, BC
Hosted in partnership with PISE
Venue: PISE (Pacific Institute of Sport Education)
Located on the Camosun College Campus
4371 Interurban Rd, Victoria, BC V9E 2C5

December 6, 2024: LANGLEY, BC
Hosted in partnership with PacificSport Fraser Valley
Venue: The Langley Events Center
7888 200 St, Langley Twp, BC V2Y 3J4

Those interested in attending can sign-up through the event portal or through any of I·SPARC’s social media channels.

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About the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council

The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established with the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous peoples by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities. The programs and services delivered by I·SPARC are designed to build capacity and increase access to sport, recreation, and physical activity in First Nations communities, Métis Chartered Communities, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout British Columbia.

For more information, please visit: www.isparc.ca

Media Contact:

Brock Freeman

Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity, & Recreation Council (I·SPARC)

Senior Manager, Communications

250-856-0859

bfreeman@isparc.ca