The Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish are pleased to announce the hiring of Maria Fraser as a Community Sport Navigator as part of a three-year pilot program with Sport Nova Scotia. The purpose of the Navigator position is to work directly with deserving groups and connect them with community-based sport opportunities to make free play and sport more accessible and inclusive. The position is funded by Sport Nova Scotia.
“Sport Nova Scotia recognizes that often, it is a lack of capacity and resources, not interest, that prevents community sport organizations from developing and delivering programs to encourage under-represented groups to participate in sport,” says Mark Smith, Director of Sport with Sport Nova Scotia. “Antigonish is one of three communities in the province we are partnering with to deliver this pilot. We are excited to partner with municipalities and provide the funding to hire a community-based navigator who will focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
The Community Sport Navigator is responsible for working with community sport stakeholders to increase access and participation in community sport.
“Maria started her position in early December, and we are so pleased to welcome her to our team,” says Owen McCarron, Warden for the Municipality of the County of Antigonish. “She has worked in the recreation departments at both municipalities and has extensive knowledge of our community sport organizations. Her experience and connections will be valuable to this position.”
As part of her role, Fraser will create a sport programing model that is safe, accessible, affordable, equitable, diverse, inclusive, and will increase participation from targeted groups.
“We know there are still barriers that prevent people from participating in sport.” says Laurie Boucher, Mayor of the Town of Antigonish. “Through an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens, Maria will be working with the African Nova Scotia and Indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, newcomers, members of the 2SLBGTQ+ community, as well as women and girls to connect them to more sport opportunities.”
For more information on Sport Nova Scotia, please visit: https://sportnovascotia.ca/.