Canadian Tire announces new initiative through Jumpstart program

Jumpstart has been helping children of all abilities get into sports for years, with the help of Canadian Tire who is putting forth a major investment.

Usually I come on here and have something to say about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sometimes rumours and breakdowns, other times wins and losses. We could be talking about how the Leafs got slapped 6-2 to the Ottawa Senators Monday night, but we’re going to change gears a bit. I’m here to talk about an incredible thing in Canada called Jumpstart.

This is an organization whose goal is to make sports in Canada more inclusive. Sports in general are a very healthy and important part a someone’s childhood. Not only does it promote activity and spending time outdoors and in the community, but it also promotes teamwork, humility, work ethic and dedication.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this lovely country of ours has had the same opportunity to play. Sometimes physical and mental disabilities or financial circumstances limit someone’s ability to enjoy the sports that you or I have grown up playing.

This is where Jumpstart comes in. Since 2005, the organization has helped a lot of kids around the country and allowed them to partake in the sport(s) or their choosing. As of today, 1.4 million Canadian children have benefitted from the efforts of Jumpstart.

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Even though the organization has helped many, there’s always room to do more. At a special announcement Tuesday, it looks like that is coming sooner than we thought. Canadian Tire CEO Stephen Wetmore introduced a new initiative with Jumpstart at the Toronto Pan Sports Center. The company will be committing $50 million over the next five years that will go towards Jumpstart programs.

Some of these include: an ‘Inclusive Playground Project’, which will serve to construct playgrounds that can be accessible to all people including those who are physically disabled, as well as future funding to program costs, sports equipment, and the construction of new recreation centers and rinks.

Many other athletes and officials were in attendance to show their support for the news. Including: Rick Hansen (Founder and CEO of Rick Hansen Foundation and six-time Paralympic medalist), Kent Hehr (Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities), John Ferland (newly appointed Chairman of Jumpstart Board of Directors), and Stephanie Dixon (19-time Paralympic medalist).

There were also people from the professional sports world present: Kevin Pillar, Ryan Tepera, and alumni Roberta Alomar from the Toronto Blue Jays, Jakob Poeltl from the Toronto Raptors, Hockey Hall of Famer Paul Coffey, and Toronto Maple Leafs alumni Wendel Clark, Daryl Sittler, Lanny MacDonald, and Darcy Tucker to name a few.

Among the speakers was the Great One Wayne Gretzky took the stage to speak on the importance of this new initiative.

"“People with disabilities still have the same ambitions and goals as anyone else. By this initiative, it’s going to help pay for equipment that they need, it’s going to redefine parks and recreation centers and make It more accessible for kids. As you grow up with dreams of playing for Canada in Olympic games whether its swimming, ice hockey or downhill skiing, it gives these kids that same opportunity and that same mindset that, ‘Wow one day I can participate in Olympic games and play for Canada’."

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At the end of the day, it’s all about bettering this country. No one should be held back based on their circumstances, and with Jumpstart and this new initiative, hopefully no child will ever have to be.