New Parasport Games Legacy Fund Grant to help children and youth participate in parasport programs

Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham, in partnership with Their Opportunity, is excited to announce the new Parasport Games Legacy Fund Grant. The new grant will provide qualified families with subsidies to help alleviate registration costs for children and youth to participate in parasport programs in Durham Region.

Established by the Region of Durham’s sport tourism program, Sport Durham, and administered by Their Opportunity, the Parasport Games Legacy Fund Grant aims to remove financial status as a barrier; allowing more children with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of participating in parasport programs.

The grant was created following the 2019 Durham Region Ontario Parasport Games and allows families to receive up to $500 annually per child. In total, the Games netted $112,000 for the legacy fund, and will be used to raise awareness and create new opportunities and participation in parasport and adaptive sport in Durham Region. Committed initiatives include:

Durham Adaptive Sport Collective (which met for the first time in October 2019) and working subcommittees to grow adaptive sport participation.
An online catalogue of adaptive sport opportunities in Durham Region.

The two-year Parasport School Grow It program delivered in partnership with Abilities Centre and the Durham Adaptive Sport Collective, to introduce four parasports, which includes providing instruction and equipment, to 25 to 30 schools in Durham Region.
A new annual Parasport Festival hosted in Durham Region.
Sledge Hockey accessibility upgrades for a rink at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby.

For questions or to receive a copy of the Parasport Games Legacy Fund Grant application, contact program@TheirOpportunity.com.

Quotes

“At the heart of Durham is a very passionate, diverse and inclusive community. Through the creation of the Parasport Games Legacy Fund Grant, the Region of Durham will ensure equal opportunities for children and youth to participate in parasport, and help to create more opportunities that celebrate the heart of our region.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Region of Durham

“It was important to Regional Council, the Games Organizing Committee and community partners to ensure that part of the event legacy was that more children would have the opportunity to participate in parasport. We’re proud to see the fund launched and excited to see the impact it will have.”

- Don Terry, Games Co-Chair

“When we were approached about a partnership to help nurture and grow parasport in Durham Region, we immediately said yes. It furthers our efforts to ensure all kids get their opportunity to play.”

- Randy Gill, President and CEO, Their Opportunity

“The Parasport Games Legacy Fund Grant program will create new opportunities for youth from lower income families to participate in parasport—something our team is very passionate about and excited to watch unfold.”

- Lori Talling, Games Program Manager and Sport Tourism Specialist, Region of Durham 

Quick Facts

Sport Durham is a program of the Region’s Economic Development and Tourism Division, providing a full range of sport tourism services, including bid development, venue coordination, participant and visitor experience development, assistance with accommodations, transportation, catering and event hosting logistics, event promotion, media relations and more. To learn more about sport tourism in Durham Region, visit SportDurham.ca.
Their Opportunity supports underserviced families with the means to enroll their children in local sports and recreational programs. Based in Oshawa, Ontario, this local not-for-profit sets out to eliminate financial barriers so children can develop healthy lifestyles and essential life skills, including confidence and sportsmanship. To learn more, visit TheirOpportunity.com.
The Durham Region 2019 Ontario Parasport Games has been awarded the 2020 PRESTIGE Award for Canadian Sport Event of the Year (Group B: budget less than $1 million), a 2019 Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Economic Development Excellence and a 2019 EDCO Award of Excellence for Tourism Attraction & Tourism Product Development (Urban-Over 100,000 Population). The Games was also a finalist for Tourism Industry Association of Ontario’s 2020 Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence Tourism Event of the Year.

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