Police and Fire Games legacy program to benefit local youth

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This article was published 13/12/2024 (608 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local venues, athletes, and organizations are getting a boost to help more Manitoban youth develop through sport and recreation.

The Winnipeg World Police and Fire Games announced Friday it would be launching a legacy program aimed at supporting the well-being and physical, mental, and cultural growth of athletes in Manitoba for years to come.

With a total investment of more than $300,000, the program will send nine $10,000 donations to sport venues throughout the city: Bison Butte Recreational Trails (Fort Whyte Alive), Dakota Community Centre, St. Vital Curling Club, Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club, Archery Manitoba, Winnipeg Trap and Skeet Club, Maple Grove Rugby Park, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 9 (Elmwood), and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 30 (West Kildonan).

Additionally, the funding will have $34,000 allocated to first-responders from Manitoba who plan on competing in the upcoming World Police and Fire Games in 2025 in Birmingham, Ala., and will award $60,000 each to three youth organizations in the province.

These organizations are the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC), Manitoba Aboriginal Sport & Recreation Council Inc., and KidSport Canada.

“It’s a tremendous donation,” said Dustin Ehr, the Manitoba Co-ordinator for KidSport Canada, during a presser at the Winnipeg Police Service headquarters on Smith Street. “Usually it takes up to five or six donors to fund one child, so to fund 120 in Manitoba next year, it is something we greatly appreciate.”

Treasurer Ward Gordon of the Winnipeg 2023 Police and Fire Games said organizations like KidSport Canada were chosen because they provide young people with the opportunity to participate in sport and recreation — fostering concepts of teamwork, discipline, and leadership.

Ehr said the funding couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We’re seeing the highest numbers we’ve ever seen in our program,” he said. This year alone, we are going to be funding just over 1,700 kids — that dollar amount comes out to $620,000, which has jumped $100,000 from this time last year.”

Trevor LaForte, executive director of the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre, also shared that sentiment.

“These funds will help us continue to develop leadership and mentorship skills for Indigenous youth in sport, recreation, and cultural programs,” LaForte said. “This is greatly appreciated.”

The 2023 World Police and Fire Games, which took place over 10 days and featured more than 5,000 athletes from more than 70 countries, is an event where first-responders from all over the world compete in a variety of sports.

With the goal of celebrating the dedication, courage, and commitment of first responders, the Winnipeg World Police and Fire Games had an excess of $330,000 to spend after $14.5 million went toward funding the entire event.

The Winnipeg World Police and Fire Games chose to donate nearly all of the $330,000 with the legacy program, with the hopes of benefiting the community of Manitoba for generations to come.