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Parasport New Brunswick Announced as New Provincial Partner of Boccia Canada

Published on: December 8, 2023
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Sally Hutt and Simon Richard participate in a boccia try it session

Ottawa, ON (December 8, 2023) – Boccia Canada and Parasport New Brunswick are pleased to announce that Parasport New Brunswick is the official provincial boccia partner for New Brunswick.

Provincial partners act as the provincial sport organization (PSO) for boccia. They are responsible for developing boccia in their province, including:

  • Providing a competitive pathway for athlete development from grassroots, recreational programming to the Canadian Boccia Championships
  • Athlete recruitment and retention
  • Recruiting and training coaches, officials and volunteers
  • Conducting provincial championships
  • Selecting provincial teams

While New Brunswick has previously had boccia athletes and some programming, without a lead organization in the province it has been challenging for the sport to grow and develop. The addition of Parasport New Brunswick in this role will help the sport reach its true potential.

Parasport New Brunswick has already trained several boccia coaches and is actively hosting try it events and starting their first boccia program, which includes visually impaired athletes.

“We’re so happy to be working with the team at Parasport New Brunswick. They are already such a strong hub for parasport knowledge and activity in New Brunswick that adding boccia to their menu of sport opportunities seemed like the perfect fit,” says Program Manager, Jennifer Larson.

“Governing all non-integrated Paralympic sports is our goal and Parasport NB is now in a strong position to support boccia development. We look forward to growing this sport in our province as it’s one of the most inclusive parasports and it is a great opportunity for individuals with a wide range of abilities to have fun and be active,” said Sally Hutt, Executive Director, Parasport New Brunswick.

This announcement is a tangible result of ongoing boccia development efforts in the Atlantic region, which has included shipping Bratz@Home boccia equipment kits to recipients in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, hosting a virtual Atlantic Boccia Forum and hosting a Provincial Boccia Forum in Charlottetown in 2022.

Find boccia practice opportunities and registration information here.

Find a list of current provincial boccia partners here.

About Boccia Canada

Boccia Canada is the boccia delivery arm of the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association (CCPSA), the National Sport Organization for the Paralympic sport of boccia. Boccia Canada is focused on providing athletes and individuals of all ages and skill with the chance to play a unique Paralympic sport. We lead, develop and grow boccia from grassroots to producing World Champions, and we collaborate with partners to increase participation of Canadians with physical disabilities in sport.

About boccia

Boccia is a Paralympic sport of precision and strategy similar to lawn bowling or curling, played by athletes with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and related disabilities. It is one of only two Paralympic sports that do not have an Olympic counterpart. Athletes compete in one of six sport classes based on their level and type of disability: BC1, BC2, BC3 BC4, BC5, and Open.

Media Contact

Holly Janna
Communications Lead and National Team Coordinator, Boccia Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 613-748-1430 x3 | Cell: 514-944-5193

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