Feds announce $5.4M funding for youth engagement in Saskatoon

Canada’s heritage minister paid homage to the country’s root by taking to the South Saskatchewan River in a canoe Wednesday.

The Hon. Melanie Joly was in Saskatoon to announce funding related to the Canada 150 celebrations.

Joly said plans for the country’s big birthday next year will be an opportunity to get more people involved in their communities.

 “All the celebrations are really about what it is to be in Canada now, and how we can make sure to build a strong country for the next 150 years,” Joly said.

She announced $5.4 million in funding for ParticipACTION, an organization aimed at getting more Canadians active, with a focus on youth.

“We want to give them the tools to fully invest in themselves, so they can reach their full potential and eventually give back to their community,” she said.

Youth engagement is one of the four themes for the 2017 celebrations; the others include the environment, reconciliation and diversity.

“There’s different sports that are linked to our past history,” Joly said.

“Sport is a really amazing opportunity to get people of all ages and from all different backgrounds – indigenous and non-indigenous – to get to know each other, ultimately to help better our social cohesion.”

High school students and other dignitaries, including Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Carla Qualtrough, were also on hand for the announcement.