A new Statistics Canada report says adult participation in sports in Prince Edward Island has increased significantly since the early 90s.
A research paper – Sport Participation in Canada, 2005 – released yesterday by Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics says Islanders participation in sports has brought the province from 10th place in 1992 to fourth place in 2005, the most recent reporting period.
Hon. Carolyn Bertram, Minister Responsible for Sports and Recreation says partnerships with communities, sports organizations and the federal government have helped lead to an increase in sports participation among adults in the province.
“Partnerships with Provincial Sports Organizations, Island communities and the Government of Canada have given us improved facilities and increased sports opportunities in communities throughout our province, “ she said. “The 1991 Canada Winter Games certainly raised sports awareness, and a bi-lateral agreement with the federal government, signed in 2003, has increased our opportunities for the development of local sports organizations.”
The bi-lateral agreement provided Provincial Sport Organizations funding support to share professional leadership. As a result, eight full-time positions were created impacting 20 Provincial Sport Organizations. Full-time recreation leadership at the provincial and municipal level also contributed to this success.
The report looked at sport participation by Canadians, including information on sports activities of household members and whether they regularly participated in sports.
BACKGROUNDER:
• Respondents aged 15 and over in the 10 provinces were asked whether they or any other household members had regularly participated in any sport during the previous 12 months.
• Respondents were also asked whether any other household member had participated in amateur sport as a coach, sports official/referee/umpire, administrator or helper.
• For the purposes of this report, Sport is defined as: mainly team or organized activity such as hockey, baseball, basketball, golf, competitive swimming, soccer, downhill skiing, volleyball and tennis.
• Activities not defined as sport by the survey, include aerobics, aquafit, bicycling (for hobby or transportation), body building/body sculpting, car racing, dancing, fishing, fitness classes, hiking, jogging, lifting weights (non-competitive), motorcycling, snowmobiling and non-competitive walking.
• The report can be found online at
www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-595-MIE2008060