Majority of Community Sport Organizations
Concerned About
Permanent Closure as a Result of the Pandemic
TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - In response to the absolute
need demonstrated by community sport organizations across
Canada, Canadian Tire Corporation
(CTC) has committed an additional $12
million to Jumpstart Charities' Sport Relief Fund.
For nearly 100 years, CTC has supported communities across
Canada and developed a deep
understanding of the important role sport plays in the lives of
Canadians. Last year, with the support of CTC, Jumpstart Charities
disbursed $8 million through its
Sport Relief Fund, helping nearly 700 organizations continue to
operate through 2020. But with ongoing stoppages to sport and play,
and based on recent Ipsos survey insights, we've merely scratched
the surface. There is more we can do to help build back
recreational and amateur sport.
The Ipsos survey1 reveals that the pandemic has not
only impacted current access to sport and play but has real
long-term effects as well: 81% of community sport organizations are
worried about their ability to offer programming in 2021 and 52%
are potentially facing permanent closure as a result of the
pandemic. Additionally, parents who say the pandemic has had a
strong impact on their kids' participation in sport or recreational
play are more likely to say their child is feeling lonely (78% vs.
64%) and finding it difficult to reduce stress and anxiety (68% vs.
53%), demonstrating a link between the loss of sport and mental and
physical wellbeing.
"The overwhelming response to Jumpstart's Sport Relief Fund in
2020 demonstrated the significant and growing need for support,"
said Greg Hicks, President and CEO,
Canadian Tire Corporation. "Throughout the pandemic, Canadian
Tire's nearly century-long purpose has not wavered, and we remain
steadfast in our commitment to being there for Canadians when they
need us most. Now more than ever, our country and communities need
recreational and amateur sport – and sport needs Canadian
Tire."
In addition to the $12 million
towards Jumpstart's Sport Relief Fund, CTC is committed to raising
$20 million in support of the Charity
in 2021. This year's efforts will focus on increasing access to
play by breaking down barriers and creating new play spaces.
Jumpstart Charities will:
- Create up to 150,000 square feet of new inclusive and
accessible play spaces across Canada to provide more space for both
organized sport and casual play
- Help kids overcome the financial barriers to play by disbursing
Individual Child Grants
- Support launch of new Company volunteer program in response to
direct feedback from community partner organizations experiencing a
growing shortage of volunteer coaches, administrators and
officials
- Expand Play From Home resources, continuing to offer ways for
kids to get active at home during the pandemic
"The pandemic continues to have a detrimental effect on local
sport organizations, with many in our network concerned if they'll
be able to operate beyond 2021," said Catriona Le May Doan, Two-Time Olympic Champion
and President and CEO, Sport Calgary. "With Canadian Tire and
Jumpstart's support, we can help safeguard the return to sport and
play, ultimately helping kids, athletes and communities not simply
overcome this challenge, but emerge even stronger."
CTC has been trusted for nearly a century to help families get
involved in sport and play. And while the long-term impact of the
pandemic is currently unknown, the Company is proud to embrace its
role in building back Canadian sport and ultimately, in helping
communities rebuild. CTC is confident that so long as our nation
continues to work together, Canada
and its communities can emerge stronger from this crisis.
Applications for Jumpstart's Sport Relief Fund are now open. For
more information, including how to apply, please visit
jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.
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1
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Ipsos, Jumpstart
State of Sport Study
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About Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX: CTC.A) (TSX: CTC) or
"CTC", is a family of businesses that includes a Retail segment, a
Financial Services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led
by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians
with products for life in Canada
across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal &
Gardening divisions. Party City, PartSource and Gas+ are key parts
of the Canadian Tire network. The Retail segment also includes
Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear; Pro Hockey
Life, a hockey specialty store catering to elite players; and
SportChek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports,
Intersport and Atmosphere, which offer the best active wear brands.
The more than 1,740 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and
strengthened by CTC's Financial Services division and the tens of
thousands of people employed across Canada and around the world by CTC and its
local dealers, franchisees and petroleum retailers. In addition,
CTC owns and operates Helly Hansen, a leading global brand in
sportswear and workwear based in Oslo,
Norway. For more information, visit
corp.canadiantire.ca.
About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity
committed to ensuring kids in need have equal access to sport and
recreation. With an extensive, national network of more than 1,000
grantees and 289 local chapters, Jumpstart helps eligible families
cover the costs of registration, transportation, and equipment, and
provides funding to selected organizations for recreational
infrastructure and programming. Supported by the Canadian Tire
Family of Companies, Jumpstart has provided more than two million
opportunities for Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005. For
more information, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.
Follow Jumpstart on Twitter and Facebook to learn about how the
charity is giving kids across Canada a sporting chance.
SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED