Save the date: Regional Engagement Meetings
Bringing together individuals, community leaders, organizations and stakeholders working in the areas of sport, physical activity, recreation, health promotion, education, and youth programming within each of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council's (I·SPARC's) six regions. This year, we have the unique opportunity to engage in discussion towards the creation of a new National Strategy on Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity, Recreation, and Traditional Practices. Come lend your voice at one of our six regional sessions this fall. Contact your [...]
B.C. sport and recreation sector honours 2022 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30, individuals and communities will be honouring Orange Shirt Day, as well as the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. Collectively, we are marking this important occasion by encouraging members of the sport, physical activity, and recreation sectors to actively participate in this day of Truth and Reconciliation. The individual and collective journeys of Truth and Reconciliation are enduring. It isn’t a destination, but rather a lifelong path of reflection, learning, and understanding. Accordingly, we are [...]
Indigenous participation in Canada Games survey
Cambium Indigenous Professional Services (CIPS), working in collaboration with the Government of Canada's Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) and the Standing Working Group for Indigenous Sport Development (SWGISD), has been retained to develop a strategy to increase Indigenous participation in the Canada Games. The results of this survey will be used as an avenue to gather individual input from: First Nation, Métis and Inuit people who currently participate or have participated in competitive sports as an athlete, official, coach or [...]
Thunder Indigenous Ruby successful California tour
The Thunder Indigenous Rugby program has just returned from its first international tour and its first international rugby tournament. The tour covered 14 days and included 39 players organized into two Under-18 boys teams, one Under-18 girls team and one Under-16 girls team. Accompanying the players were 11 support staff including coaches, managers, and parent chaperones. The teams played in two tournaments, competing in over 36 games of Rugby 7s, the Olympic version of the sport, during that time. They [...]
Procedure for selecting BC’s candidate community for NAIG 2027
2027 North American Indigenous Games Bid Process (August, 24, 2022) - The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) is an international celebration of Indigenous sport and culture, which features 14 to 16 sport competitions and a cultural festival. Spanning 8 days, the NAIG draws participation of 26 delegations inclusive of 750+ Indigenous Nations from across Canada and the United States of America. The North American Indigenous Games typically involve up to 6,000 participants inclusive of athletes, coaches/managers, chaperones, and cultural performers. The [...]
Nominations open for Tom Longboat Awards
(July 29, 2022) - Nominations are now being accepted for the Tom Longboat Awards, which recognize Indigenous athletes for their outstanding contributions to sport in Canada. The Tom Longboat Award is the longest standing, and one of the most prestigious, awards for Indigenous athletes in the country. The Awards are named in recognition of the athletic career of Tom Longboat, a member of the Onondaga Nation (Six Nations of the Grand River). Longboat became one of the best long-distance runners [...]
Nomination process open for National Indigenous Coaching Awards
The National Indigenous Coaching Awards are delivered annually in partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada. These awards were developed to recognize the outstanding commitment and contributes of Indigenous coaches to sport in Canada. As a program of the Aboriginal Sport Circle, the National Indigenous Coaching Awards provide a forum for acknowledging the participation and profile of Indigenous coaches in Canada and their tremendous impact on sport development from community level participation to elite level competition. The Awards include a [...]
Summer Lifeguarding Camp Opportunity for Indigenous Youth
The Indigenous Sport & Physical Activity Recreation Council (I•SPARC) is pleased to announce a provincial outdoor leadership learning opportunity through Aboriginal Youth Futures in Recreation & Sport Training (FIRST). The Summer Lifeguarding Camp encourages Indigenous youth to create a personal vision or goal in their lives by providing short-and long-term opportunities in the areas of Lifeguarding, Lifesaving and First Aid, Scuba Diving and Recreational Leadership. There is no registration fee for the camp which takes place Aug. 28-Sept. 4, 2022. [...]
Indigenous Athletes in Interior Region Receive Prestigious Award
Six Outstanding Indigenous Athletes in Interior Region Receive Prestigious Award Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (June 22, 2022) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce the six outstanding athletes named as the Interior regional recipients of the 2021 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. Brock Tomlinson, 19, Swimming, Fernie, Métis Nation British Columbia Darius Sam, 21, Endurance Running, Lower Nicola, Neskonlith Keanu Manuel, 14, Athletics and Snowboarding, [...]
Fraser Indigenous Athletes Receive Prestigious Award
Six Outstanding Indigenous Athletes in Fraser Region Receive Prestigious Award Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (June 21, 2022) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce the six outstanding athletes named as the Fraser regional recipients of the 2021 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. Brenden McElhinney, 18, Rugby, Hockey and Motocross, Langley, Fraser Valley Métis Association Darwin Douglas, 18, Rugby, Chilliwack, Cheam First Nation Gabrielle Papushka, 19, [...]
Outstanding Indigenous Athletes in Vancouver Coastal Region Receive Prestigious Award
Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (June 20, 2022) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce the five outstanding athletes named as the Vancouver Coastal regional recipients of the 2021 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. Adelle Larden, 15, Lacrosse, Volleyball and Judo, Richmond, Hwlitsum Felix Grant, 17, Soccer, Rugby, Track and Field and Basketball, Vancouver, Musqueam Mathias Nelson, 17, Soccer, Snowboarding, Basketball and Mountain Biking, Mount Currie, Lil’wat Nation, Nuxalk Nation Scarlett Sparrow-Felix, [...]
Vancouver Island Indigenous Athletes Receive Prestigious Award
Traditional Territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples / Victoria B.C. (June 17, 2022) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce the six outstanding athletes named as the Vancouver Island regional recipients of the 2021 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. Judy Cristante, 22, Field Hockey, Saanichton, Métis Nation Kieran Furlonger, 22, Ice Hockey, Mill Bay, Métis Nation of BC Lillianna-Claire Jaeger, 10, Competitive Gymnastics, Victoria, Métis Nation Greater Victoria Nikolas Sertic, 18, [...]