Kamloops Long Blades win $10,000 grand prize to fund community programming

Photo: Kamloops Long Blades Association

The Kamloops Long Blades Association will take home a $10,000 award to fund a program which introduces new Canadians to the sport.

The Kamloops Long Blades Association has won a $10,000 award that will be put towards a program which helps teach new Canadians how to speed skate.

In a news release, the Kamloops Long Blades said the club was the “proud winners” of the Intact Insurance Club Excellence Award, which includes a $10,000 grand prize and a visit from a pair of national team athletes.

The Kamloops Long Blades said the grand prize money will help develop its Speed Skating with International Friends Together (SWIFT) program, which is run in partnership with the Kamloops-Cariboo Regional Immigrant Services.

“The program looks to bring new Canadians to the rink and teach them how to speed skate,” said a statement from the Long Blades.

“The goal of the program is to welcome new Canadians to the club and create opportunities for kids and their families to make new friends and become part of the community through sport.”

The Kamloops Long Blades were one of dozens of Canadian clubs who submitted project ideas for funding.

According to a statement from the Long Blades, $20,000 in grants were made available through Speed Skating Canada’s partner, Intact Insurance, to support local speed skating clubs undertaking programs that help grow the sport within their communities.

Other finalists included clubs in North Saanich B.C., Richmond B.C., Milton ON. and Montreal, QC, who each received $2,500 to help finance their projects.