SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Getting parents involved in the lives of their children, especially in sports and recreation, is integral to improving the lives of youth in NWT communities, according to a panel of youth at the annual NWT Recreation and Parks Association conference.

Six youth ambassadors from across the territory participated in a panel discussion about the state of sports and recreation in the territory and what can be done to improve sports and recreation in communities this past Wednesday during the annual NWT Recreation and Parks Association annual conference. From left, Bobby Bourque, Fort Smith, Jennifer Greenland, Fort McPherson, Sara Balanuik, Norman Wells, Tyson McLeod, Fort Liard, Rusty Mantla, Behchoko, and Abby Alty, Yellowknife. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Bobby Bourque of Fort Smith said he was fortunate to have the opportunity to compete in sports, but he wouldn't have been able to do it without the support and effort of his mother. Bourque's mother was going to school while he was competing in sports and she would go to the hockey rink and do her homework there.

"She crossed the barrier," he said, adding if they were travelling for hockey on the weekend, she'd stay up all night doing her homework so he could be there. "She made that extra effort so I was able to compete.

"I do see other people who weren't so lucky in communities where I used to live. When there was a tournament some couldn't come and it hurt them. The only reason they couldn't come is because they couldn't afford it or their parents wouldn't take them to practise. We need to break down those barriers for youth."

Bourque said the money is there in communities for programming to be offered, but the lack of people and parental involvement is a problem.

"We don't have the people to pass on these programs offered," he said.

"If we have people in place that are qualified to coach would help retaining people from a young and all the way up to high school would go a long way."

The theme of this year’s conference was engaging youth through recreation and presented sessions on how to successfully engage youth in physical activity and cultural programs. Our Conference will be hosting recreation leaders, teachers and youth from across the NWT (and beyond).

Panelists said there needs to be more variety offered to youth and to do so, would require more people qualified to teach sports and recreation.

Sara Balanuik played hockey in Norman Wells for five years, but because there was no girls' team, she played with the boys'. When it came time for Arctic Winter Games tryouts in 2007, she failed to make the women's team, being told she was "too rough."

"That was really disappointing for me to not be able to go because I had to play with boys all my life and play with boys rules," she said.

"I think there is not a broad enough spectrum of choices in the North for sports and recreation and I think being able to play lacrosse, rugby, broomball - it would be a positive thing to have sports amps to introduce people to these sports to see if there is enough interest," said Balanuik, adding dance classes would be great to have in communities, citing dance as a "huge part of our culture."

Jennifer Greenland of Fort McPherson said there wasn't much available for the younger kids in her community, pointing out how there aren't many people involved in curling, a sport she thinks would be a great benefit to youth.

While panelists talked mostly about sports and recreation, they discussed ways on how they can do more for the territory through programs like Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Bourque said his roommate, a soccer player at Lethbridge University, is involved with an internationally recognized program, which Bourque believes would benefit younger kids in the NWT who might not have someone to look up to.

"Each sports team hangs out with a child involved in the program and they're role models," Bourque explained.

"They go and hang out with the children and take them to all the activities at the university. Something like that would really work here."