viaSportView: May 2024

Check out the May edition of the viaSport View, our monthly video series where we share the latest sport sector scoop. Halima Bhurgri, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at viaSport British Columbia, shares what’s happening in the sport community this month.

Mental Health Week

Sport can be exceptionally beneficial for improving overall health and quality of life. However, this can only happen when participants feel they are in a psychologically safe sport environment.

May 6 to 12 is Mental Health Week, an annual event that raises awareness of the importance of mental health. At viaSport, safety in sport is essential to us – we are committed to leading a culture that prioritizes and promotes a healthy atmosphere where participants become the best they can be while having fun.

Join the conversation around mental health in sport by liking and resharing our #MentalHealthWeek campaign on our social media channels.

SportForEVERYBody

Sport is for everyone. Creating an inclusive environment in sport where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to pursue their passion is important to make sport better. 

National AccessAbility Week is from May 26 – June 1. This week, we will take the opportunity to capture and celebrate the incredible achievements of athletes with disabilities in sport.

Join us on social media by using our hashtag #SportForEVERYBody to hear stories from different voices and learn how to cultivate a more inclusive and accessible BC sport community.

Grants

The LeadForward, Indigenous Sport Youth Legacy Fund, and Hosting BC grant all open up for application on May 1, 2024.

The LeadForward grant strengthens balanced leadership for female coaches, officials or organizational staff throughout BC by supporting their training, education, and policy development opportunities. The grant is open to viaSport Designated Sport Organizations and their affiliated local sport organizations.

The Indigenous Youth Sport Legacy Fund assists amateur athletes of Indigenous ancestry in their pursuit of excellence in sport. This grant is open to athletes competing in any sport. However, priority is given to athletes participating on provincial teams, national teams, and/or regional provincial or national tournaments and competitions featuring Indigenous participants.

The Hosting BC grant is open for another round of intakes. Sport organizations are invited to apply for up to $35,000 in grant funding for amateur community sport events. The grant opens for applications roughly every four months, with eligible event dates shifting accordingly for each intake. Grants are available for events happening between June 1, 2024, and December 31, 2025.