Hay River (Jun 19/06) - Colleen Maurice is a mother who wants to give her child everything.

Her son Brandan Couillonneur is an active 11-year-old involved in baseball, track, swimming and hockey.

This past hockey season, Maurice found herself short of funds needed to enrol Brandan in Hay River's hockey program.

Colleen Maurice and her son Brandan Couillonneur of Hay River took advantage of the Kid Sport Program this year to help Brandan play hockey. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Telling him he couldn't play was not an option.

Through other parents in the league, she was directed to the NWT Kid Sport program, a grant initiative designed to help families in need to cover the sometimes high costs of playing sports.

For hockey, costs are quite high.

Registration fees, depending on the division, can be as high as $400, while equipment, depending on the quality, can be just as much.

"I heard he was an awesome hockey player and I couldn't really afford it, so I decided to get the funding," Maurice said. Applying for the Kid Sport funding was easy, Maurice said.

"It was simple and straight forward, which was awesome, because you don't get stuck with a lot of paperwork," she said of the application forms she picked up at town hall.

Brandan has been playing hockey for almost six years and without it, he said winters would be pretty boring.

He has also met a lot of friends through playing the sport and Maurice didn't want to deprive him of that.

"Kids have to keep active with their mind and body. It keeps them out of trouble," she said.

It also gives them an opportunity to experience success, something that Brandan definitely had this season.

Maurice said coaches often commented about her son's perseverance, dedication and positive attitude.

"He won the sportsmanship award this year," she said.

"I'm really proud of him."

Maurice said she recommends Kid Sport to anyone who needs the extra help. While she agreed to be interviewed by the media, information about who applies and how much they receive is kept strictly confidential.

"It's there to help you," Maurice said.

Kid Sport has been operating in the Territories for the past five years.

As word of its benefits catch on, more and more families are taking advantage of the funding it provides.

In its first year, 19 families in five communities were approved for $3,900 worth of assistance.

In 2005, 224 families from 19 communities were approved for $42,240.

Gail Nesbitt, with Sport North, said they are happy with the program's success.

Although there are still a number of communities not accessing funding, they are working on ensuring everyone in the NWT knows the program is available and how to access it.

"It's progressed quite nicely. We're very happy with how the program has done," Nesbitt said.

Each year, the program generates more revenue than it hands out, which Nesbitt said is an ideal situation.

The goal is to build up a funding pool to ensure money is available each year in case of an unusually busy season.

For example, in 2005, the fund generated $47,000 - only $5,000 more than it gave away. Compare that to 2,004, where the fund generated more than $70,000 and doled out $45,000.

"Some years you are going to be higher because of certain fundraising events," Nesbitt said.

"This year, because of the sports federation dinner, that will bump things up."

The fundraising dinner is scheduled for the fall.