Annual ‘Sports Day’ brings out the best in youth and community

“There are some people here who didn’t have these opportunities back in their countries. So we’re trying to make them have fun like anyone else, like any other kid,” said Ali, who is a member of the Care for Newcomers youth SNAP team.

“The reason I moved to Canada was to find good knowledge and study so I can succeed in life, have good opportunities, and now I can give opportunities to other kids when they’re learning.”

Ali noted that his expectation upon arriving in Canada was that he would have great difficulty in making friends.

Joining SNAP, which stands for Settlement for Newcomers through Activities and Programs, changed that.

SNAP offers weekly activities and special events to youth around the community — newcomers and non-newcomers alike.

One of Ali’s friends, a former classmate who is also a SNAP team member, is Riyad Al Hussein — her family came to Canada from Lebanon three years ago.

Shams Ali and Riyad Al Hussein, both recent immigrants to Canada from Egypt and Lebanon, respectively, and both members of the Care for Newcomers youth SNAP team. (Image Credit: rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“One of the things I learned [coming to Canada] is that you need to speak English really well; also, you have to help others if they don’t know what to do,” she remarked.

Al Hussein is on the volleyball team at her middle school, which wasn’t something she had the chance to do in Lebanon.

“This event is fun. In their countries, some people, they don’t have these sports, so they’re learning it here,” she said. “They play them here, and they have fun.”

Frank Bauer is executive director at Care for Newcomers.

He says that, akin to the ongoing World Cup, this yearly event serves to unite people through sport.

“There are a few things that bring people, especially youth, together: food, music and sports. They’re all eager to do something,” he said.

“And with sports, you don’t need a language — not a spoken one anyway.”

Bauer noted the event also helps parents because they will meet people whom they’ll then see again around the community, and be able to recognize and say hello to.

In that way, it helps people integrate into Canadian society, he said

Bauer added he is proud of how this event has evolved over its roughly 10 years in existence.

All Care for Newcomers staff are encouraged to attend the event and use it as a regular working day.

by Josh Hall

Annual ‘Sports Day’ brings out the best in youth and community

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