2020 Annual Regional Engagement Sessions
I·SPARC is pleased to announce the dates and theme for our annual series of Regional Engagement Sessions held across BC this fall! This year's regional meetings will be held virtually - bringing together individuals, community leaders, organizations and others working in the areas of sport, recreation, physical activity, health, wellness, youth, and education over interactive zoom platform to engage in a forum that will explore: Safely Returning to Activity - sharing how communities are staying inspired and active during COVID-19 pandemic; barriers, challenges, successes, best practices [...]
Deadline Midnight, Oct. 9, 2020 – Athlete Nominations
Call for Nominations – Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport I·SPARC to Honour Outstanding Young Indigenous Athletes in BC Victoria, BC (September 24, 2020) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC), in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia, launched the nomination process for the 2020 Premier’s Award for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. These awards provide a unique opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Indigenous athletes who excel in performance sport and who are using [...]
2021 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships Cancelled Due to Uncertainty of COVID-19
(OTTAWA, ON - September 22, 2020) - The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC), through its Board of Directors, has passed a motion to cancel the 2021 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). The games were to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 1-9, 2021, hosted by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council at the Seven Oaks Arena. The ASC's decision to cancel next year's event was made to safeguard the health of its fans, players, volunteers and the Canadian community at [...]
Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games Postponement Plan Extended
Victoria, BC (September 18, 2020) – Today, the North American Indigenous Games Council announced that the Halifax 2020 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) will be further postponed due to the ongoing situation with the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Halifax 2020 NAIG was set to bring together over 5,000 Indigenous participants from across North America to compete in the multi-sport event and to celebrate cultural heritage in July of 2020. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on March [...]
Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) – Funding Application
The Sport for Social Development in Indigenous Communities (SSDIC) component of the Sport Support Program (SSP) reflects that the Government of Canada considers sport to be a powerful agent for social change and innovation and can achieve key social development outcomes in Indigenous communities. It is also a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s Calls to Action, which identified four key social development needs of Indigenous communities. The SSDIC program funds eligible organizations to deliver sport for social [...]
Employment Notice – Finance and Administrative Coordinator
EMPLOYMENT NOTICE Finance and Administrative Coordinator The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established for the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous people 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, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Métis Chartered Communities, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout British Columbia. General [...]
Aboriginal Sport Circle – BOD Expression of Interest
Aboriginal Sport Circle EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Board of Directors August 2020 Application Package is due 5 pm EST September 15, 2020 The Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) Board of Directors (BOD) is extending a call for the Expression of Interest from individuals interested in serving on the board for a two (2) year term commencing in the Fall of 2020. As per the ASC By-Laws (Article 4.6), current board members at the end of their term are not required to submit [...]
Employment Notice – Manager, Premier’s Awards & Communications
EMPLOYMENT NOTICE Manager, Premier’s Awards & Communications The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established for the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous people 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, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Métis Chartered Communities, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout British [...]
Registration Open for Online Healthy Living Leader Training
The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is pleased to announce that registration is open for this year's Online Healthy Living Leader Training Sessions. Our healthy living team will be bringing you the training sessions live over Zoom, with all the engagement, activity and laughter you're accustomed to in-person. These sessions are available to anyone working within Indigenous communities who wants to deliver an Indigenous RunWalk or Honour Your Health Challenge program. While our sessions will be online [...]
I·SPARC’s Return to Activity Guidelines
I·SPARC's Return to Activity Guidelines I·SPARC has compiled these guidelines based on recommendations published by provincial and municipal Health Authorities as well as provincial sport and recreation organizations. They are the currently understood best practices at time of publication and were approved by I·SPARC’s Board of Directors. It is the responsibility of all participants to assess their own risks and the safety/preparedness of facilities when considering returning to activity. I·SPARC will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and will adapt [...]
NAIG at HOME: Interview with Waneek Horn Miller
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN! Information: Jarvis Googoo (Associate Director of Health for the Atlantic Policy Congress) and Indigenous Canadian Olympian Waneek Horn Miller discuss mental health, sport and how the pandemic has impacted indigenous communities. NAIG at Home is hosted by the NAIG 2020 Host Society in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) in Mi'kma'ki on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Mi’kmaq Nation. Join Jarvis Googoo on Tuesday at 7pm ET for a conversation on mental health with Waneek Horn-Miller. Join [...]
Announcing Provincial Recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport
Announcing Provincial Recipients of the Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport 10 Outstanding Indigenous Athletes Receive Prestigious Award Victoria, BC (June 18, 2020) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I·SPARC), in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, is pleased to announce the selection of 10 outstanding Indigenous athletes for the 2019 Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport. The provincial ceremony was scheduled to take place in March during the Gathering Our Voices [...]