What happens when new-to-Canada and Indigenous youth come together through sport? That’s the question at the heart of Connected by Sport, a new community initiative now underway in the WSÁNEĆ territory, B.C.
Developed by Physical Literacy for Life, Sport for Life’s registered charity, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC), the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), Connected by Sport uses sports as platforms for cultural exchange, skill development, and relationship-building between new-to-Canada and Indigenous families.
What the Program Looks Like
Youth will take part in weekly or bi-weekly sport sessions that combine skill-building with cultural orientation. The programming is co-developed with all four partner organizations, drawing on Indigenous cultural protocols and the lived experience of newcomer-serving agency staff and volunteers.
A Community Sports Day will celebrate what participants have built together. At the end of the project, youth who want to continue playing will be supported in joining local clubs, creating lasting pathways into organized sport.
A Partnership Built on Trust
Connected by Sport builds on an established relationship between Physical Literacy for Life, I·SPARC, and ICA. The partners have collaborated on youth engagement and sport initiatives before, and each brings something distinct to the project. I·SPARC provides cultural guidance and access to Indigenous youth. ICA contributes staff and volunteers with lived experience in newcomer communities. Physical Literacy for Life brings expertise in physical literacy, sport delivery, and program coordination.
“Most settlement programs rely heavily on language or system literacy to engage. Sport flips that dynamic — on the field, everyone starts as a learner. And by bringing newcomer and Indigenous youth together on shared land, it creates space for real relationships to form. That matters deeply at ICA, where reconciliation and intercultural understanding are core values,” said Todd Kitzler, Associate Director of Adult Learning, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria.
Supported by the Calgary Foundation
Connected by Sport is funded through a Doc Seaman Amateur Sport Grant from the Calgary Foundation, with additional support from Sport for Life. The project runs from April 2026 to January 2027 and is expected to reach approximately 125 participants.
To learn more about Sport for Life’s work in sport inclusion for new-to-Canada participants, visit our New-to-Canada Long-Term Development Pathway (NLTD).