"This is a great step for us as we look to find ways to keep kids in sport, to open doors for those that need to earn some money to stay in sport and to those that are looking for a different opportunity in sport, while supporting our sport community with opening up an additional stream of potential referees that can help fill some of the growing need for officials.”
Calgary, AB – Supporting low-income families with access to sport is not new for KidSport but providing those same kids with access to officiating certification courses as an avenue to further pursue sport and some of the many opportunities sport can provide will be. 2024 will see KidSport Calgary & Area and the Calgary Flames Sports Bank teaming up with Hockey Calgary and the Calgary Minor Soccer Association to launch a pilot program aimed at giving further access to sport for the thousands of low-income kids KidSport supports in our community each year.
Project REF will give qualified (low-income) kids with access to additional funding to pursue their certification as a referee in their sport. That funding along with support to any necessary equipment through the Calgary Flames Sports Bank will open the door for KidSport kids to gain their certification, access additional knowledge in their sport of choice, and have income earning potential through the start of a very flexible part-time job that being a referee can provide.