Research Library

Community organizations: 6 unidentified Intro to Sport programs for newcomers to Canada

Future research / gaps identified:

Examine how intersectoral community partnerships form and develop to support/not support sport programs for newcomers.

Integration timeline: not defined

Key findings:

• Sport participation barriers included: costs, navigating rules and regulations, program location and transportation, and availability of facilities.
• Sustainability is a key indicator of success for Intro to Sport programs for newcomers to Canada, where intersectoral community partnerships can play an important role in.

Location: Calgary, AB

Open access: No

Key populations:

• Program administrators
• instructors
• parents of participants in Intro to Sport programs for newcomers to Canada

Key recommendations:

1) Critically consider inclusion and sustainability principles from the outset in designing programs and facilities involving newcomers.

2) Centre the voices of newcomers in the design, implementation, and evaluation stages of sport programs.

3) Foster intersectoral community partnerships as an integral piece to ensuring the viability of newcomer Intro to Sport programmes, in part, through building capacity to address the known participation barriers facing many newcomers.

4) Expand efforts in seeking out innovative solutions to the shortage of sport facilities – especially indoor ice facilities – in order to offer more newcomers access to iconic Canadian sport experiences that connect to ideas of Canadianness and integration into Canadian culture

5) Consider local context and program rationale when determining whether to offer no- or low-cost programs for newcomers, while generally working to ensure registration fees are as low as possible in order to be truly inclusive of everyone.

6) Consult other similar, successful programs to provide relevant insights and case studies from across Canada to aid in creating effective Intro to Sport programs.