14<strong>Sport</strong> <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong> wishes to thank their family ofpartners, sponsors and major supporters for theircommitment to amateur sport in <strong>2009</strong>.Funding PartnersPresenting PartnerPremier SponsorsMedia SponsorsMajor SponsorsTMMajor SupportersPre s e n t e d b y D o c t o r s N ov a S co t i aOfficial SponsorsHalifax & Dartmouth
15Sponsored byEaster Seals <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong> Helps Youth Take PARTOn a Sunday afternoon at St.Andrew’s Centre in Halifax, eightteenagers and young adults are racingup and down the gym floor in sportwheelchairs, enthralled in a back-andforthgame of soccer.Some of these youth use a wheelchairas part of their everyday lives, whileothers are friends or volunteers joiningin for fun. But they’re all equallycaught up in the game—and most ofthem are laughing.A good time for all is one of the maingoals of Take PART (Physically ActiveRecreation Today), one of the ActiveLiving programs run by Easter Seals<strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong>.“It’s essentially an opportunityfor kids with disabilities to try outactivities they might not otherwiseenjoy, and they’re encouraged tobring friends along,” says ChristinaSwett, the coordinator of ActiveLiving programs for Easter Seals <strong>Nova</strong><strong>Scotia</strong>.Take PART is open to youth betweenthe ages of 8-21, and offers them achance to test out a range of sportssuch as soccer, basketball, rugby,sledge hockey and boccia, a sport usedin the Paralympics.Recreation is just as important foryouth with a disability as it is for anyoneelse—but it’s often an overlooked partof their lives, says Swett.“For most families who have a childParticipants gear up for a game of wheelchair basketball at an Easter Seals activity campin Sydney.with a physical disability, recreationis not at the top of the priority list,especially when you have to pay forit,” Swett says. “Our program is free.It’s mostly an introduction for kids totry out a bunch of sports and see whatthey like.”Easter Seals even provides thesport wheelchairs, with the help ofthe provincial Department of HealthPromotion and Protection.Some participants discover a sportthey love and become connected toother programs as well—like 17-yearoldNicole MacDonald, who wasintroduced to sledge hockey throughTake PART and now competes in ahockey program in Dartmouth.“I like playing sports, especiallyhockey,” says MacDonald, who hasbeen attending Take PART since itstarted in 2005.Jennica Gagne, also 17, says TakePART is as much a social time as anopportunity to try out new sports.“It gives me a chance to hang outand have fun and be together withfriends,” she says.The program runs out of St. Andrew’son Sunday afternoons in Halifax andalso takes place at the Forest HeightsCommunity School in Chester onSunday evenings.Participants get a good workout:by the end of the soccer game at St.Andrew’s, many were stretching outtired arms after so many laps wheelingup and down the court.Easter Seals offers other active livingprograms as well, including summersport camps and Kids Quest, whereparticipants have a chance to test outadventure sports like white-waterrafting and rock climbing.No matter how severe a person’sphysical disability, Easter Seals findsa way for young aspiring athletes toparticipate.Fast facts about Easter Seals <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong>‣ Easter Seals <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong> enables <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong>ns with physical disabilitiesto enhance their quality of life by realizing their individual potential.‣ Easter Seals <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong> reduces barriers to access and opportunities thatexist for people living with disabilities.‣ Formerly also known as the Abilities Foundation of <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong>; moved tothe singular identity of Easter Seals <strong>Nova</strong> <strong>Scotia</strong> in <strong>2009</strong>.‣ Easter Seals operates Camp Tidnish, a summer camp in the Amherst areafor children and youth with disabilities.For more information, see www.easterseals.ns.ca.
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