Ottawa/Toronto, February 18, 2021 – The sport community across the country knows the value that participation in sport and physical activity at all levels – from the playground to the podium – holds for creating healthy, vibrant communities. Alongside Canada’s national sport organizations, the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, and CBC Sports today launched a new grassroots social initiative called #PowerOfSport to illustrate the importance and widespread positive impact of sport for all Canadians.

#PowerofSport encourages Canadians to participate in physical activity, to enjoy being outdoors and being active. With COVID-19 shutting down many recreational sport leagues, programs, and facilities throughout the nation over the past year, many people have been missing their regular sport activities. Canadians have shown their resiliency in finding different ways to move and play, such as going for walks and hikes, skating on outdoor rinks and tobogganing on neighborhood hills, and using online yoga or workout classes. Canada’s top athletes have also been creative in keeping up their training, doing things like creating mini gyms in their garages and living rooms, or even building their own pool like Para swimmer Danielle Kisser.

The pandemic has also shone a brighter light on the many ways sport and physical activity are a critical positive influence on both physical and mental health. Sport is part of the fabric of Canadian society, and sport at all levels will ultimately play a huge part in helping our nation recover and heal from COVID-19. It will help restore and ignite community connections, whether it’s reuniting with one’s recreational basketball team, kids returning to the ice for the minor hockey season, or being able to try a new sport at the local community center.

The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer will also bring sport to the forefront, with Canadian athletes achieving their sporting dreams on the international stage while inspiring youth around the country to develop and pursue their own goals.

Running throughout the year, #PowerOfSport will unite storytelling efforts in the greater sport community, connecting different stories and content across various mediums that share the positive effect sport can have on people within their communities. A grassroots initiative that will organically expand as more stories are shared, all Canadians are encouraged to join the conversation by sharing how they are safely participating in physical activity right now and what sport means to them, posting photos or videos on social media with the hashtag #PowerOfSport.

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ABOUT WHEELCHAIR RUGBY CANADA

Wheelchair Rugby Canada is the national governing body for the Canadian Heritage Sport of wheelchair rugby. Wheelchair Rugby Canada strives to be a world-leader in wheelchair rugby, a respected advocate for wheelchair athletes and a visionary organization committed to excellence in programs from recruitment to retirement.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ben Parker-Jones
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Wheelchair Rugby Canada
ben@wheelchairrugby.ca or 613-523-0004