Despite the fact that many immigrants represent Canada in world athletic competitions like the Summer Olympics in Paris, newcomers — and their children born in Canada — often face barriers to accessing physical activities and sports.
Money, language, cultural differences, xenophobia and a lack of awareness of the resources available to the public all combine to keep newcomers on the sidelines, said Kabir Hosein, director of strategic initiatives at Sport for Life, a national non-profit dedicated to improving access to sports and physical literacy.
In addition to the health and wellness benefits, playing sports or even having the motivation, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to engage in an active lifestyle — the definition of physical literacy — is important for building relationships in your new community, he said.
Playing sports leads to “connections to your community, which leads to a sense of belonging,” Hosein said. “Especially for equity-deserving groups.”