KidSport Kamloops reports record year for local funding distribution

Feb 11, 2025 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — KidSport Kamloops is a non-profit that raises money to remove financial barriers that would otherwise prevent a child or teen from playing sports. Last year, the organization nearly doubled the amount of aspiring athletes and families it was able to help out.

KidSport Kamloops Chair Duncan Olthius says in 2024, the local chapter distributed more than $177,000 to cover registration fees for 418 kids. That is a 47 per cent increase from the 285 children and youth it funded in 2023.

“We do fund the size of School District 73, so we’re going out to Chase, to Savona, out to Logan Lake and those areas,” says Olthius. “We are a little bit larger than Kamloops but the core of the funding is in Kamloops.”

Last year’s fund was divided between 27 different sports clubs and teams in the area. The money is a combination of grant funding from the Kamloops Sports Legacy Fund, provincial and federal dollars with KidSport BC, Canucks for Kids, the Stollery Foundation, 50/50 contributions and donations from community members.

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“Every year, it’s trying to find the last few dollars to keep the funding open. It’s not a struggle but we’re always trying to find new ideas and find ways to keep those funds up,” explains Olthius. “We never want to say ‘no’ to anybody because we know how important sport is in Kamloops.”

Counting last year’s record, Olthius says KidSport Kamloops has been able to help make sports programs accessible to more than 2,000 kids and families since 2021.

by Dylana Kneeshaw

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KidSport Kamloops reports record year for local funding distribution

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