Over 40 Community leaders met and spent the morning in strategy sessions at the Aurora Town Hall, Council Chambers Friday, March 28th and on May 30th, 2014,  to help move Aurora closer to becoming a Canadian Sport For Life Community (CS4L).

Sport Aurora brought this project to the attention of the Town's Park & Recreation Department and using the resources of both organizations, Community leaders were approched and invited to attend.

Our partner in this project, The Community Sport Councils of Ontario (CSCO) provided support for this development through a grant from the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund and five Ontario Communities were selected.  Aurora was one of them.

The CS4L movement is well established in Canada (www.canadiansportforlife.ca) having been adopted by Sport Canada through the Long Term Player Development Model that all sports follow.  But it is much more than sport.  It is an intergrated model that brings people and programs together for the common cause of helping our Communities become healthier and more vibrant places to live.

That is why leaders from early childhood education, sport, public education, the municipal recreation department, local service organizations, Seneca College, Trails and Seniors Associations, private fitness providers and potential sponsors were eager to spend their morning working with the Project in order to develop a Town-wide Program that will eliminate gaps in programming and maximize facility use.  The other objective is to ensure that all Aurorans, regardless of age or abilities, are included in the process and that their needs for healthy physical activity are met.

Using the skills of the (CSCO) facilitators, Clay Melnicke and Jeff Charmichael, the group was introducted to the CS4L movement as well as important concepts such as physical literacy.  Ten the work began identifying possible strategies to help build the Community, beginning with inclusion.  The leaders identified those who needed to be involved in the Community building and the list was extensive.

Although Friday March 28th, 2014 was a good start, there is much work left to do.  A CS4L Committee must be built to help direct and inform the Community as the process unfolds.  We need people to volunteer their time for this worthwhile effort.  More Community consultation will proceed as Aurora becomes one of Ontario's first CS4L Communities.

To become a CS4L "Champion" in this Community or to simply provide input for consideration, please contact us for more information.

If you have any questions or require more information, please contact the Executive Director Laurie Mueller

By email:  executive.director@sportaurora.ca

or

By Phone:  905-713-5027