À propos
The Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council is a non-profit organization that has been operational for over twenty years. It was established in 1988 and Incorporated in 1994.
We believe that physical activity is a healthy and positive tool to build strong and vibrant citizens and communities. With this in mind, the MASRC programs promote Aboriginal health and wellness.
The MASRC is "The Bridge" between existing partners in the sport/recreational delivery system and Manitoba's Aboriginal community. The MASRC partners with Sport Manitoba to provide more programs and opportunities for Aboriginal people to participate in sport. We work with Provincial Sport Organizations and Coaching Manitoba to provide educational and upgrading opportunities for Aboriginal coaches and officials.
The focus of the MASRC is to work with Aboriginal communities, organizations and individuals to develop sustainable programs that improve opportunities for community members to participate in sport and recreation activities. Our overall objective is to assist in this development by providing the necessary training and resources.
The MASRC administers the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Legacy Athletic Scholarship program that recognizes the achievements of Aboriginal athletes and coaches in Manitoba. Each year in June, the MASRC awards $600 scholarships to 18 Aboriginal high school athletes from across Manitoba. Most recipients have participated in the MASRC's programs or events.
On an annual basis, we host an Aboriginal youth hockey tournament that attracts over 50 teams from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The tournament is a large gathering of family in addition to the participants.
We host athlete development camps on an on-going basis. Selected athletes from these camps attend the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) and the Manitoba Indigenous Games (MIG). The MASRC has participated in all 8 of the NAIG events. We organized a team of approximately 400 youth athletes to attend this large sport and cultural event in Regina, Saskatchewanin 2014. The young athletes from Manitoba brought home many medals and also many memories.
As of May 2010, the MASRC is responsible for the administration and operation of the Kid Sport/MASRC Equipment Warehouse. We accept and distribute new or gently used sporting equipment to youth in need across the Province. This fits within our goals of eliminating barriers for children to participate in sport.
The MASRC has supported the following sports with a focus on grassroots skill development: Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer, Hockey, Athletics, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Canoeing, Archery, Badminton, Curling, Golf, Field Hockey and Swimming.
We continue to support isolated, remote and urban communities to create capacity with coach and official's certification in sports including: Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Wrestling, Canoeing, Archery, Athletics, Swimming, Hockey and Badminton.
We continually support programs to ensure that Aboriginal communities, organizations and individuals across the Province of Manitoba have the opportunity to participate in sporting and recreational activities.
Hundreds of Aboriginal youth have participated in our programs or have benefitted from our services. In the past couple of years:
- Over 1800 youth participated in the MASRC Indigenous Minor Hockey Tournament's
- 75 youth from Norway House Cree Nation attended a Special Olympics Sport Day (partnership with Manitoba Special Olympics)
- Over 500 participated in our Basketball Development Camps
- Over 200 participated in our Basketball Development Camp
- 80 participated in our Athletic Development Camp
- 47 attended the Soccer Development Camp
- Over 500 participated in Wrestling Manitoba clinics
- Over 600 attended Softball Manitoba clinics
- 150 youth registered in the North End Hockey Program outfitted with full equipment
- 300 full sets of hockey equipment given out to youth in rural, remote and isolated communities from the MASRC equipment warehouse
- 45 youth assisted in Basketball skills development towards competition in the Winnipeg Minor Basketball League (in partnership with Anishinabe Pride Basketball)
In 2017, over 800 youth are expected to participate in youth based sport programs taking place in Winnipeg and Northern Communities. Our Program focuses on developing fundamental skills, sportsmanship and positively influencing youth through basketball. It allows participants the opportunity to maximize their potential, while promoting the importance of basketball as a vehicle to build character, discipline and self-esteem.