What’s Up at City Hall – Motion to declare Vancouver a True Sport Community
At the regular council meeting this Tuesday March 2, 2010 Ellen is putting forth a motion to address the issue of Vancouver becoming a True Sport Community.
True Sport
WHEREAS:
- True Sport is a national movement for sport and community. Its core mission is to be a catalyst to help sport live up to its full potential as a public asset for Canada and Canadian society – making a significant contribution to the development of youth, the well-being of individuals, and quality of life in our communities;
- There is now evidence that sport’s benefits go far beyond the positive health effects of physical activity that have long been understood including:
- A healthier, more active population
- Improved school enrollment, attendance and achievement
- More employable youth with transferable life skills
- Less youth crime and gang involvement
- Lower rates of teen pregnancy and health risk behaviour
- More inclusive communities
- Higher levels of social capital and social trust
- Faster community integration of newcomers
- Improved inclusion, health and wellbeing of people with disabilities
- Strengthened Aboriginal communities and youth
- Improved workplace skills and productivity
- Enhanced sport tourism and neighbourhood renewal efforts
- Attraction of mobile knowledge workers and companies that hire them
- Improved environmental awareness and social mobilization;
- No other aspect of community life has demonstrated sport’s capacity to connect so many young people to positive adult role models and mentors, opportunities for positive development, and help in acquiring critical life skills.
- To gain these valuable benefits the sport we do must be good sport, built on the values of excellence, fair play, fun and inclusion;
- The Big City Mayors’ Caucus has declared itself a True Sport Community
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
THAT the City of Vancouver declare itself a True Sport Community, joining over 1500 other True Sport communities, organizations, clubs, leagues, and teams across Canada; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Vancouver encourage other FCM member municipalities to work towards the following True Sport principles:
- Ensuring equitable access to sport facilities and programs, especially for new Canadians, low income people and those with disabilities
- Setting clear standards for ethical behaviour and inclusion for all municipally funded sport facilities and programs
- Asking how sport can help advance key social and economic goals and developing strategies and linkages to make it happen
- Facilitating dialogue between sport and other community organizations and working together to achieve community objectives
- Developing an integrated community sport plan aimed at providing accessible, quality sport experiences to all community members.
Tags: True Sport
