Provincial grant will break down cultural and language barriers to sport and recreation

Hamilton , ON – July 31, 2006 – The City of Hamilton has received a provincial grant that will help to break down cultural and language barriers to sport and recreation for some residents. Hamilton West MPP Judy Marsales, on behalf of Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson, today announced a $30,000 dollar grant to the City from the Ministry’s Communities In Action Fund (CIAF). The money will be used to help set up a community round-table that will foster direct feedback and communication between the City’s Culture and Recreation division and cultural and linguistic community groups.

The CIAF aims to help bring about a physical activity and community sport culture in Ontario by helping local and provincial not-for-profit organizations provide and enhance opportunities for physical activity and community sport and recreation. The provincial grant will be combined with $30,000 of financial and in-kind support pledged by the City and Sport Hamilton, to set up the project.

“The Province is pleased to provide support for the City of Hamilton with a $30,000 grant to help with sport and recreation programming, said MPP Judy Marsales. “This grant will be essential to ensure the City can provide responsive and appropriate programming for all citizens”

“It is important for the City to continue to work with our provincial and local partners in order to give all those in our community access to sport and recreational programming,” said Mayor Larry Di Ianni. “The round table will allow us to learn from a very important segment of our community, what we can be doing as a City to enhance their quality of life through better access to sports and recreation in Hamilton. “

“Sport Hamilton is extremely happy to be involved in this partnership with the City of Hamilton as the "Community Roundtable" project will directly address some of the barriers identified in the recreation access research and report conducted by Sport Hamilton earlier this year,” said Dr. Gene Sutton, Chair, Sport Hamilton. “Sport Hamilton has a strong history of working with the City of Hamilton and we look forward to continuing this relationship, particularly with a project such as this which will benefit a wide cross section of linguistic and cultural groups in the Hamilton community.”

The Community Roundtable will consist of a facilitator from the City of Hamilton Community Services Department, a project manager from Sport Hamilton and up to 15 representatives from identified under-served cultural and linguistic groups in Hamilton.

Once formed, the Roundtable will meet regularly to discuss various issues relating to access and availability of recreation programming. The project also provides for 30-45 pilot recreation projects targeted to these community groups in 2007-2008.

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Media Contacts:
Helena Ferriera
Office of Judy Marsales                                                       905 529-1277

Dr. Gene Sutton, Chair
Sport Hamilton                                                                   905 648-6369

Mike Kirkopoulos
Office of the Mayor                                                             905 546-4106