BC Lacrosse's Aboriginal Coach and Athlete Development Program

The BC Lacrosse Association (BCLA), in partnership with the Lacrosse Regional Development Centres, Pacific Sport and the Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Association, launched an Aboriginal Coach and Athlete Development Program.

The BCLA expanded the delivery of its program to a number of Aboriginal communities, introducing box and field lacrosse to athletes; certifying referees; and mentoring, developing and certifying new lacrosse coaches. With $100,000 from the BC Sport Participation Program in 2004-2007, more than 1,500 children, aged 8-12, in 13 communities participated in the program, and 58 new coaches were trained.

The following communities participated in the Aboriginal Coach and Athlete Development Program: Comox, Courtenay, Cowichan, Kelowna, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach, Richmond, Squamish, Vancouver, Vernon and Westbank.

The BC Sport Participation Program aims to increase sport participation in community and school-based sports. From 2004-2007 the program gave more than $2 million to 22 sport organizations running programs in 109 communities for close to 85,000 participants and more than 4,600 coaches. The program is funded by the Province of British Columbia and Sport Canada.