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EVERYBODY PLAYS: LEAGUES OF PLAY
In the 2022/2023 school year, Ever Active Schools and Canadian Tire Jumpstart entered into a multi-year partnership centered around the dream that everybody plays. Through this work, we are providing: 100% opportunity to participate so that everybody plays. Focus on priority populations so that everybody plays. Capacity building through grassroots approaches so that everybody plays.…
HOSTING A HISTORIC ATHLETIC EVENT
In October 2022, Ever Active Schools had the opportunity to co-host the Alberta School Athletics Association (ASAA) Cross Country Running Provincial Championships with maskêkosihk, or Enoch Cree Nation. This was only the second time in ASAA history that a First Nation community was selected to host. “It was so special because the Cultural Grounds [where…
HOW TO HOST A YOUTH FUN RUN OR WALK EVENT
Written by Hayley Degaust, Ever Active Schools The AMA Youth Run Club is a free, fun and flexible opportunity for schools and students to get active! Run, walk or roll your way to a healthier school community at any grade level. Hosting a fun run or walk event is a great way to either kick…
ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAST THAT ENSURED OUR FUTURE
Acknowledging the Past that Ensured Our Future Written by Apsipistoo (Evans Yellow Old Woman) Oki Niksokowa, nistoo’unohk Apsipistoo, nitohmto’to Siksikawa. Hello my friends, my name is Apsipistoo, which is my Siksika name. It was gifted to me by my late great grandmother Koomakii, who hailed from the Blood Tribe. My name means White Owl. My…
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE JOY4ALL PROJECT
By the student team behind Joy4All It’s important to celebrate all things big and small as we move into another spring focussed on virtual learning and caring for the well-being of our families, friends, and communities. Here at Ever Active Schools, we recently celebrated the very first birthday of The Joy4All Project: a phone hotline…
SELF REGULATION THROUGH MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION AND BREATHWORK
Written by Shonna Lamb, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP With vast access to unlimited content, it can be overwhelming to know where to start when you want to develop a deeper understanding and relationship with meditation and mindfulness practices. Ever Active Schools and I have partnered together to create videos to help you dip your…
CRAFTING MEANINGFUL LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Beginning in September 2020, Ever Active Schools began to question our practice of territory land acknowledgements. The tipping point for some staff could be expressed in the words of Kay Ho: “Oftentimes, when non-Indigenous organizers make a territory acknowledgement, it is done hastily, and then discarded.” (2014, An Introduction to Settler Colonialism: Part Three) This…
PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP!
Written by Megan Weiler, Krista Trim and Kayli McClelland The days are getting longer, the sun is shining warmer, and the people are coming out to play. It’s spring time, and we’re going to enjoy every minute of it. The easiest way to take advantage of the changing weather is to get out there and…
MOVE YOUR BODY, GROW YOUR BRAIN
It’s no secret that physical activity boosts brain health: just read the 2018 ParticpACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth! While we all know that movement can help our children and youth learn better, oftentimes we find it hard to prioritize physical activity. Teachers might have curricular outcomes to focus on, out-of-school…
FOUR REASONS TO TRY PODCASTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Podcasts are a rich source of information, stories and entertainment, with a surprisingly wide range of topics: the history of the elevator, the secret world of moss, Dolly Parton, and much, much more. Many of us listen to podcasts while we cook, travel, or move our bodies – but have you ever considered using podcasts…
Resettlement Through Recreation
Resettlement Through Recreation started in response to the influx of Afghan families to Canada during the pandemic. In those early discussions with local resettlement agencies, we found there was a need for recreational opportunities for newcomers from all regions of the world. Sport and recreation are powerful avenues to connect people and build communities; Ever Active Schools (EAS) saw the chance to provide recreational programs to help newcomer youth and families feel welcome in their new homes.
EAS partnered with Jumpstart, Saamis Immigration Services of Medicine Hat, as well as the Brooks Francophone Association and the Brooks and County Immigration Services with 3 goals in mind;
- Train staff,
- Develop fundamental movement skills in youth, and
- Invite newcomer parents to experience sport and recreation with their children, many for the first time.
In our first year of the Resettlement Through Recreation initiative, EAS and their partners have:
- Hosted an outdoor winter fun day
- Lead 4 evening recreational sessions
- Facilitated recreational sessions during school PD days
- Coached evening soccer nights
- Lead professional development for staff
- Guided the trained staff through various games with youth
- Lead programming during summer camps
- Hosted a family recreational day
- Hosted a games room for special event
- Provided take-home equipment and lesson plans for families
As the program has grown, other community partners including the City of Medicine Hat and the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program have also joined EAS to provide continued programming and services to newcomers.
EAS continues to provide recreational programming and help bridge community partnerships. We've provided community engagement on wheels custom equipment wagons for more newcomer serving organizations, LEARN (Lifelong Education and Resource Network) and BCIS (Brooks & Country Immigration Services). We hosted another Outdoor Family Fun Day in March 2023, embracing winter and learning how to stay active during the cold winter months. Starting in April 2023, we hosted rec nights for youth ages 7 - 17. Multi-sport programming in Brooks is ongoing and we hope to continue this work throughout 2023 and into 2024.
Project Partners
This work would not be possible without the partnership of the following organizations:
