Photo: Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection Facebook page

By Shane Clausing

sporting numbers down

Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection concerned with latest national youth, senior activity numbers

Nov 27, 2021 | 6:00 AM

With 2021 coming to an end, the Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection says the percentage of Canadians reaching daily physical activity recommendations has taken another hit over the last two years.

The Sport Connection says only 37 per cent of youth aged 12-17 are meeting the recommended goal, while the number for seniors sits at 40 per cent.

Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection Executive Director Karna Germshied says this is concerning news.

“I think it is really alarming. We need to make sure we are re-engaging people as far as physical activity goes,” she explained.

Germshied says the numbers in terms of youth and seniors participating in sport or physical activity were down prior to the pandemic, however, the pandemic sped things up, bringing the numbers to where they are today.

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While there has been a significant drop in numbers for those who participate in sport across the country, Germshied tells EverythingGP, there are some organizations locally that are doing better than others.

“I know locally some of our organizations, (especially) some of the sports outside are booming and doing exceptionally well. Then there are some of our smaller organizations that really suffered through COVID and tried to maintain their membership numbers,” she said.

“They are in a position trying to rebuild those memberships and you’ve got to realize those organizations really depend on those members actively being engaged in order for them to survive and offer that quality programming for community members.”

Germshied says the Sport Connection is trying its best to get people off the couch and back onto the playing field, by holding the annual winter Try-It Day on January 15.

Try-It Day allows people of all ages to try a new sport for free through various clubs and organizations in Grande Prairie.

“We as an organization we need to make sure that we’re helping (other sport organizations) increase their exposure. That’s why we’re having these Try-It Day’s, so their organizations can participate, and we can hopefully put more members through their doors. Those types of events become that much more important during post COVID recovery.”

Any organization wanting to participate in Try-It Day can do so by contacting the Grande Prairie Regional Sport Connection.

Last year, the Sport Connection was able to get 25-30 organizations on board for the event.