The Municipality of Callander has received $16,481 from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) to implement new recreational programming.
The two-year project "Four Seasons of Recreational Safety Awareness" will teach 500 local children and their families safety and movement skills in four popular activities: biking, swimming, outdoor survival on trails and ice safety.
As part of the program, 46 children between 4 and 12 are currently enrolled in swimming lessons at the Callander waterfront. In the fall, the program will offer three outdoor survival sessions at the Cranberry Trail and Callander’s Community Centre. Ice safety and biking programming will take place in the first semester of 2019. All activities will be provided free of charge.
The “Four Seasons of Recreational Safety Awareness” funding is made available through the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund which supports projects that increase opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get active.
“Getting out and getting active as a family is a wonderful way to enjoy Ontario’s great outdoors all year round," said Sylvia Jones, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
"Our government is pleased to support community-based programs like the 'Four Seasons of Recreational Safety Awareness' through the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund that teaches children and their families how to engage safely in outdoor activities in any season."
“The grant makes it possible to offer local children wonderful experiences and skills in popular recreational activities. At the same time, the children and their families also learn about safety. This is especially important for a community like Callander which is surrounded by water and the great outdoors," said Catharina Nordbeck, Events, Marketing and Community Enhancement Coordinator at the Municipality of Callander.