Abilities Centre’s ASAD program partners with Variety Ontario and The Steadward Centre, to train the next generation of Para athletes.
Whitby, Ontario- Abilities Centre is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Variety Ontario (Toronto, ON) and The Steadward Centre (Edmonton, AB) aimed at expanding the Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) Parasport programming across Canada. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in breaking down barriers and creating access to high performance sport training for aspiring Para-athletes.
First launched in September 2016, the Academy for Student Athlete Development program is designed to remove barriers and create equitable access for student athletes to unlock their potential in athletics, academics, and life. The ASAD program offers a fully inclusive sport academy model for student-athletes in able-bodied, parasport and Special Olympic athletes. ASAD’s unique framework is built in collaboration with provincial sports organizations, local school boards, local coaches, and experts in the Canadian sport system to build a high-performance training environment where student athletes can access services that elevate their performance.
The ASAD Parasport Program has been funded through the Sport Canada: Innovation Initiative. Athletes from local sport clubs across the GTA and Edmonton will attend a regionally centralized program, bringing direct sport performance supports to local communities. The athletes will have access to programming focusing on strength and conditioning, mental performance and sports nutrition. These building blocks will help the athletes in their respective sports as well as create healthy habits they can take with them for the rest of their lives.
These new partnerships add to the growing list of national locations offering ASAD programming. The expansion of the ASAD Parasport Program is building off of a successful pilot in Ottawa, Ontario, in collaboration with Abilities Centre Ottawa, last year. Additional ASAD sites include Durham Region and London, Ontario, and Fort Providence, Northwest Territories. Abilities Centre continues to look for more ASAD partners across Canada and beyond.
This transformative partnership between Abilities Centre, Abilities Centre Ottawa, Variety Ontario and The Steadward Centre brings like-minded organizations together, all with similar goals of removing barriers and creating equitable access to sport and recreation for individuals with disabilities. Together these partnerships demonstrate the power of collaborative work, developing a framework that supports the growth of local athletes and coaches in their homes and communities, and driving innovative change within the Canadian sport environment.
To register for the ASAD Parasport Program, please visit the link here: ASAD Parasport Registration For more information about this partnership and the ASAD Parasport programming, please contact
ASADParasport@abilitiescnetre.org
About Abilities Centre
Abilities Centre is a Canadian charitable organization that is committed to building inclusive and accessible communities. Using our multi-award winning, fully accessible 125,000 square foot facility as an inclusion incubator, we develop evidence-based programs and services that can be scaled locally, provincially, nationally and globally. To learn more visit
www.abilitiescentre.org
About ASAD
Designed to support high school aged student athletes as they strive for success at regional, provincial, national & international levels of competition, the Academy for Student Athlete Development (ASAD) provides one of the most unique and inclusive models to support student athletes on Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics pathways.
About Variety - the Children’s Charity (Ontario) and Variety Village
For more than 70 years, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario has made a significant impact on the lives of children and youth with disabilities and their families in the greater Toronto area through specialized programs and services at Variety Village. Recognized as a world leader, the fitness and life skills facility offers a myriad of integrated programs and services that improve lives and strengthen the community. To learn more visit
www.varietyontario.ca
About The Steadward Centre
The Steadward Centre is a leader in Adapted Physical Activity and Parasport development, annually serving more than 1000 children and adults experiencing disability and training more than 250 students. As part of the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, the Centre’s strong research and education focus allow it to deliver innovative programs and to share proven expertise with community fitness and sport leaders across Alberta. To learn more visit
https://www.ualberta.ca/steadward-centre
Media Contact:
Kelly Kasper
Director, Sports and Recreation
kkasper@abilitiescentre.org