September 2008 Issue 30
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September 2008 Issue 30 East Coast Hospitality 2009 Canada Games preview Also in this issue: Good coaching matters . 4 Funding pays dividends . 8 Skipper Chicks on the water . 16 September 2008 Issue 30 Sport Nova Scotia Financing the System Editor Cover JAMIE FERGUSON Brent Sedo Katie MacAlpine CHIEF of Sport Layout & Desktop EXE C UTIVE OFFI C ER Paula Yochoff y the time you read this column, To truly build a sustainable system collaborating on sport infrastructure Senior Staff Bit seems likely that we will be that addresses the cost issue, we need in the development of the Mainland Chief Executive Officer in the process of a federal election, to develop both ways of increasing Common Centre—a positive step Jamie Ferguson which makes this a good time to revenue generation to provide more towards addressing our infrastructure examine some key issues that the programs, and ways of decreasing needs. One of the keys to this initiative Director of Finance federal government has the ability to what it costs to offer the programs. was the involvement of the federal & Administration address which would help move the With that in mind, here are some government. What we would like to see Debbie Buckoski sport system forward. The majority potential federal initiatives that is a specific program that would enable Acting Director of Public Relations of federal government funding for could help address the cost issue in a more of this type of collaboration Erin Gray sport goes towards National Sport systematic manner: around infrastructure development. Organizations and high-performance Director of Marketing programming—with that in mind, Jeff LeDrew it’s fair to ask what role the federal “One of the main barriers to Director of Sport Development government might play in directly Mark Smith improving the sport system at the sport participation has been—and provincial level. Sport Nova Scotia believes the continues to be—cost.” Sport Quarterly, federal government has an important a publication of Sport Nova Scotia. role to play in providing opportunities Incentives for corporate investment Currently, the federal government for more people to take part in sport. in sport has no dedicated program for sport Letters to the editor must We also believe sport is important, If the federal government infrastructure investment—outside of include name, address and and we continue to stress the benefits implemented a program that increased major games hosting—which simply phone number. that it provides in areas such as the incentives for corporations to isn’t systematic enough to address Sport Nova Scotia health, education, justice and social invest in non-profit sport, it would this issue. 5516 Spring Garden Road development. One of the main barriers open up an additional funding source These are only a few of the potential 4th Floor to sport participation has been—and for sport organizations across the policies that could help eliminate the Halifax, Nova Scotia continues to be—cost. The federal country. Although currently there is cost issue of sport participation. Of B3J 1G6 government can take steps that will significant sport investment from the course, to be truly effective, we would Tel: (902) 425-5450 help the sport community address corporate sector, this is an area that has need involvement from the provincial Fax: (902) 425-5606 that barrier. the potential for considerable growth. and municipal levels of government E-mail: [email protected] The sport system is just that, a When the benefits of sport participation as well. Areas such as insurance, “system”, and because of that, any are taken into consideration, this type which the provincial government www.sportnovascotia.ca initiatives to address the issue of cost of federal initiative makes sense. has indicated it will be investigating need to be systematic in order to truly in its most recent budget, can also be effective. The most commonly- Tax credits drastically affect the hard cost of sought solution to the cost issue by We have seen the federal government offering programs. At the municipal the sport community has been to introduce tax credits for participating level, a systematic look at how we ask governments for more money. in sport—and in Nova Scotia, our operate and finance municipal sport While this remains important—and provincial government now has tax and recreation facilities could also help government has a vital role to play—it programs for participation for people reduce user costs and increase access does not address one key issue in the of all ages. What about tax credits for to sport programs for all. sport system, and that is the hard coaches and officials to help offset the So there you have it. Although costs that are associated with offering cost of their training and certification? elections might not always be the most sport opportunities. These costs—such This is a key area of the amateur sport exciting topic, when it comes to sport, as equipment, facility rentals, coach system, and one that could potentially these types of federal issues could and official training, etc.—remain decrease costs of running programs, certainly be the beginning of a true the same (or in most cases, continue which could in turn decrease costs for system that would significantly reduce to increase). In addition, there are participants. the cost barrier to sport participation. mechanisms governments could And if we do happen to be in the put in place that would allow sport Dedicated sport infrastructure middle on an election as you read Senior Funding Partner of organizations to expand their avenues funding this column, it might also make for Sport Nova Scotia for revenue generation, outside of the OK, this is an old one, but the some interesting questions to ask your usual government or user fee options, problem isn’t going away. In Nova federal candidates. which could also help to decrease costs Scotia, we recently saw the result to sport consumers. of all three levels of government Athlete’s Column Bowling for Dad STEVE BEZANSON go away and play at a higher level of LAWN BOWLS competition you’re not going to get better. The guys around here are pretty good and collaborating on sport infrastructure Although he only picked up the sport as pretty talented, but you have to go away in the development of the Mainlandan adult, for the past several years Steve and play in all the major tournaments and Common Centre—a positive stepBezanson has been one of the top Lawn challenge yourself to elevate your game Bowlers in Canada. A veteran of a number or you’ll never develop the confidence to towards addressing our infrastructure of international competitions, most recently play at that level. needs. One of the keys to this initiativeBezanson did his hometown proud with a But I do keep on practicing more was the involvement of the federalthird-place finish in the singles event when the than anyone I know, and keep trying to government. What we would like to seeCanadian Lawn Bowls Championships were improve. When I do go away, I’m always is a specific program that would enableheld in Halifax in mid-August. picking the other players’ brains and more of this type of collaboration trying to gain little tips that might help around infrastructure development. “ ’ve been playing the sport for the past my game. I20 years, and basically it started with And I do keep learning. I went to my Dad and I looking for a sport we Australia this year and represented could play together. My Dad was quite Canada at the Australia Open. Everything an athlete—he was actually drafted by is a knock-out (tournament) down there, so you can go a long way just to play a the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team—and Steve Bezanson had been trying for two or three years couple of games. I ended up winning my to get me interested in Lawn Bowls. He keep the dream alive, and in 2000, I made in the final and won a silver medal. So I first game and then losing my second even started his own club that, including the Canadian national team. I was 51, but finally got to represent my country and on the last shot. But the thing you learn us, only ever had three or four members, that’s the beauty of Lawn Bowls, that you live the dream that Dad and I had talked playing like that is that every shot is Currently, the federal governmentbut I think the conversation was that we can play at an advanced age. about. important, and you just have to keep has no dedicated program for sportwere just going to keep playing until we I was on the National team for about Because we don’t have a lot of facilities grinding it out and trying to hang in infrastructure investment—outside ofgot good at it, and eventually we’d go seven or eight years. I think it was in in Nova Scotia, it was kind of tough to there. And I think that is one thing that major games hosting—which simplyto England and Australia where the big 2002 that I got to play in the Asia-Pacific stay with the national team, so I still keep has taken my game up from the level isn’t systematic enough to addressboys play. My Dad passed away in 1993, Championships, and went to Australia on playing—but not with the national team it was last year, to the level it’s at this this issue. and so essentially I just decided to try and the fours-team and we played Australia program.