How Newcomer Youth Are Thriving & Finding Community Through CCIS’s Sports Program
While many of us spent the holiday break unwinding, CCIS’s youth clients were busy building skills, confidence and friendships through our Sport for Settlement (S4S) program. Over 112 young participants embraced a packed schedule of activities designed to foster community and integration.
On December 23, the Genesis Centre buzzed with energy as 57 youth rotated through volleyball, badminton, basketball, soccer and tennis during an Open Sports day. A week later, on December 30, Shouldice Athletic Park hosted a spirited Boys’ Soccer Tournament with coaching support from the Lions Soccer Club.
The momentum carried into the new year. On January 2, girls enjoyed swimming at Vivo’s aquatic facilities while boys laced up for skating lessons at the Olympic Oval, led by Alien In-line, Calgary’s go-to skating school. The next day, it was the girls’ turn to hit the ice with lessons from the same expert instructors.
These activities are more than just fun—they’re a lifeline for newcomer youth navigating life in a new country. By combining physical activity with opportunities to connect and grow, programs like Sport for Settlement are creating spaces where young newcomers can thrive both on and off the field.
The S4s program is part of CCIS’s Newcomer Child & Youth Connections (NCYC) initiative which provides immigrant and refugee children and youth, ages 5-24, with ongoing support for their settlement, education, health, well-being and social integration.
To learn more, visit: https://ccisab.ca/newcomer-child-youth-connections-ncyc/
