Canadian tire and its efforts to help young kids through play certainly don't go unnoticed. Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities alongside local Canadian Tire dealer, Rob Hatch, hosted the seventh annual Jumpstart Games on Aug. 28.
With roughly 300 kids and around 40 volunteers from the Canadian Tire family which includes FGL, Sportcheck and Marks, the event was a hit.
"It was awesome, really organized, it went really good and we had lots of volunteers," said Susan Bannister, event organizer for the Jumpstart Games. "Sometimes we have children that don't want to stay but they all seem like they want to stay and they're having fun."
Though the Jumpstart games have taken place in other locations in the past, the last couple of years have seen the event take place at Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC) with seven out of the eight play stations taking place inside.
"This set up is by far the best, Spray Lakes treats us so well, we couldn't do it if they didn't help us with stuff," said Bannister.
The kids rotated through four play stations in the morning then had lunch and continued with the remaining four stations in the afternoon. The eight stations included soccer, Frisbee/kin-ball, volleyball, basketball, floor hockey, bouncers, a community fun-van and art.
At the end of the day, kids swarmed outside the facility - like the front door of a finished birthday party - anxiously waiting to get their loot bags.
"All of the kids get a T-shirt when they register, free lunch and then we stuff free sports equipment inside the backpacks and there's some school supplies in there and every kid gets to take that home," said Rob Hatch, Cochrane Canadian Tire Dealer.
Everything that was put into the bags, Canadian tire generously donates.
The program has been free over the seven years of its course and focuses on providing a fun-filled active day for youth.
"It's to celebrate Jumpstart and it's to allow kids to be kids and kids to have fun," said Hatch, "Shoot for their dreams."
Hatch goes on to credit the partnership with Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre (SLSFSC) for their continued support over the years stating the facility is incredible to work with and they couldn't do it without them.
Stephanie Pfefferle, a parent, thinks Jumpstart is a great way to get involved in the local community and what it has to offer.
"I love the program, I love that it's an all-day event and they get to try a bunch of different activities, that they're grouped with kids their age. I think it's a great experience for them, especially for those who are about to enter into kindergarten."
Since 2005, over $300,000 has been distributed by Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities to allow thousands of kids in Cochrane to participate in sport.
