In February, Canadian Tire Corporation announced an additional $12 million commitment to Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund to help sport and recreation organizations build back sport and play in Canada.
Jumpstart conducted a State of Sport study via Ipsos which revealed the pandemic has not only impacted current access to sport and play but has real long-term effects as well. COBD: Camp Bowen and the communities it serves have experienced the impact of the pandemic first-hand.
COBD: Camp Bowen recently received confirmation that we will be provided with grant support through the last round of Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund. In 2021, Jumpstart has now disbursed funding to more than 1,200 organizations across Canada through Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund. We are beyond grateful to receive this news and know the positive impact it will have on sport and recreation organizations, and ultimately, on kids across the country.
“Thanks to the generous contribution from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, COBD: Camp Bowen, which is part of the Canadian Organization of the Blind and Deafblind (COBD), is able to reset and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19,” says one of COBD: Camp Bowen’s directors, Alex Jurgensen. “Camp Bowen staff are currently working hard to ensure that the 2022 summer independence camp season can reach even more children and teens who are blind, Deafblind, and low vision from across Canada, especially those with additional disabilities and other challenges that preclude them from partaking in mainstream programming. The funding from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is helping us to build back better and more resilient than ever. It is helping us to continue to break down the social isolation and barriers to participation in sports and recreation children and teens who are blind, Deafblind, and low vision so often face. Far too often blind, low-vision, and Deafblind children and youth are simply left out of social and recreational activities. This lack of connection and opportunity to develop socially is detrimental to their development. Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is helping us to continue to change this narrative and we can’t wait to welcome the 2022 season’s campers. Camp provides a safe and inclusive environment where children and youth can foster friendships in an environment surrounded by friends and mentors who share in their challenges.”
