Learning Through Play: Inside the 2026 Spring Adaptive Sport Festival

More Than a Field Trip

The gym floors at the Big Marble Go Centre were filled with movement, laughter, encouragement, and moments of quiet confidence as over 90 students, experiencing disabilities from Medicine Hat and surrounding areas, came together along with 61 educators and school staff, 15 sector partners and one parent for the 2026 Adaptive Sport Festival. For many students, April 30th was more than just a field trip. It was a chance to discover what movement, sport, and belonging could look like when everyone is included. Co-hosted by Ever Active and Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation (MHASR) and part of the Everybody Plays program, the Festival created opportunities for students to explore adaptive sport and recreation in a space intentionally designed for inclusion, connection, and success.

Throughout the day, students were encouraged to try new activities, build confidence through movement, and experience the joy that comes from participating alongside peers and supportive adults. At the same time, teachers and educational supports had the opportunity to learn new strategies, gain ideas for inclusive programming, and see firsthand what becomes possible when barriers to participation are removed.

More Than Play

More than just a day of sport and recreation, the Adaptive Sport Festival was a reminder that every student deserves opportunities to move, belong, and thrive. The day did not include competition. It was about participation, exploration, and helping every student feel like they belonged in movement spaces. They were split into three groups that rotated through three different stations, which were bocce, wheelchair sports, and modified gym games.  Grade six student Reid was attending the Adaptive Sport Festival for the second time, and he was excited to be back. Already involved in MHASR’s programs like sledge hockey and bocce, Reid said the day was “a lot of fun.” When asked what he thought his friends learned from the experience, Reid reflected on the variety of activities throughout the day.

“I would say they learned a lot from the different games. I think it would be nice to do more of these types of events.”

His response captured one of the Festival’s biggest goals: creating opportunities for students to explore movement, build confidence, and experience the joy of inclusive recreation together. 

More to Build On

As the day came to a close, the energy inside the Big Marble Go Centre remained high. Students left with new experiences, new connections, and, for many, a new sense of confidence in what movement and recreation can look like when spaces are intentionally inclusive.

The impact of the Festival extended beyond the students themselves. Teachers and educational supports were able to see firsthand how small adaptations and supportive environments can create meaningful opportunities for participation and success. The hope is that ideas, activities, and experiences shared throughout the day will continue to create more inclusive movement opportunities within schools and communities long after the Festival ended. Events like the Adaptive Sport Festival serve as an important reminder that inclusion in recreation and sport is not about changing the individual, but about creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to participate, connect, and thrive. Through collaboration between Ever Active and MHASR, the day created space for joy, confidence, and belonging through one game, one connection, and one experience at a time. 

written by Erin Schwab