Newcomer program provides sports opportunities

West End

River Heights

Fort Garry

St. Vital

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This article was published 17/01/2024 (911 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ali Al Joumah knows all about giving back to a community that has embraced him.

The 17-year-old University of Winnipeg Collegiate student is a key member of the Winnipeg Newcomer Sport Academy, which — according to its website — provides economically accessible, multi-sport programming for new Canadian children and youth that’s intended to promote “growth and development that contributes to positive integration into their new community.”

Al Joumah, who is originally from Syria, moved to Winnipeg nearly five years ago. He said he contacted Carolyn Trono — the academy’s founder — about a year after arriving in the city and participated in soccer programs. Since then, he’s taken on a coaching role with the academy, which runs several of its programs at the Axworthy Health & RecPlex at the U of W, as well as the Frank Kennedy Centre at the University of Manitoba.

The teen said his involvement with the academy has been an invaluable and enriching experience, and he’s enjoyed the evolution of his role as a program participant to someone who is now in a leadership role for other young people.

“Personally, this is very important and very significant for me,” Al Joumah said, noting he takes the responsibility of the role very seriously. “Being a newcomer athlete and a newcomer coach, I know what the kids want to be doing.”

He added it’s interesting to compare the two different roles: “As an athlete, all you want to do is play games. As a coach, you can look at things from other perspectives.”

Al Joumah is grateful to Trono for giving him this opportunity.

“Carolyn is a wonderful, hardworking woman,” he said.

“She always wants to be on-point with everything, and she knows that safety for everyone involved is the key. She’s very passionate and loving in her desire to help newcomers to Winnipeg.”

Al Joumah, a West End resident said the academy welcomes individuals from around the world with open arms, and it’s heart-warming that it’s been cultivated to help immigrants become integrated and settled into a new culture, as well as providing a platform to let loose and act naturally.

“It’s a chance for people to learn about Canada, and learn about each other’s backgrounds. The main thing is about having fun, and it’s a great opportunity for the kids and coaches, as well,” he said.

Trono, who lives in River Heights, said soccer — a.k.a. the Beautiful Game — is especially popular with many of the academy’s participants, as it’s such a universal sport.

The non-profit organization also offers other sports, including skating, swimming, and ultimate Frisbee.

“Our role is to give newcomers to Winnipeg a taste of what we have on offer,” Trono said, noting the academy works closely with the St. Vital-based Bonivital Soccer Club. “It’s also about removing barriers.”

Trono said the academy is aimed at newcomers, both girls and boys, who’ve been living in Canada for five years or less, and are aged between five and 14. She said the fact the organization doesn’t charge a fee for individuals to participate helps open the gates for kids in the province.

“I think we might take sport, and physical activity, for granted sometimes, and the fact that everyone should have access to it. It’s about creating quality programming, and safe programming, for newcomer kids, and giving them the opportunity to bring their own culture to the table, and fostering a sense of belonging, and sport and physical activity is a great way to do that,” Trono said.

Go online at wnsa.ca for more information.