The sound of children’s laughter and squeaking running shoes filled the Westfort Recreation Centre on Saturday as dozens of youngsters got their first taste of rock climbing, bocce, and pickleball.
The INSPIRE sports event, now in its third year, has become a fixture in Thunder Bay’s youth recreation landscape, offering kids aged 8 to 14 the chance to try activities they might otherwise never experience.
“We’re seeing children light up when they discover something new,” says Melissa Halvorsen, Thunder Bay’s recreation coordinator. “It’s not about finding the next Olympic athlete—it’s about showing kids that being active can take many different forms.”
Nearly 80 children participated in this weekend’s event, rotating through stations where local coaches and athletes volunteered their time and expertise. The program’s popularity has grown steadily since its 2021 launch, when pandemic restrictions limited participation to just 30 kids.
Thunder Bay city councillor Brian McKinnon, who attended Saturday’s activities, points to the program as an example of smart community investment. “When we look at the health challenges facing our young people—from screen time to childhood obesity—creating these opportunities just makes sense,” McKinnon told me while watching a group tackle the portable climbing wall.
What makes INSPIRE different from traditional sports registration is its low-pressure approach. Children sample multiple activities in a single day without equipment costs or season-long commitments.
Parent Shawna Pelletier brought her 10-year-old son Jamie, who typically avoids team sports. “He’s always been hesitant to join anything where he might let others down,” she explained. “But today he discovered bocce and absolutely loved it. Now he’s asking when he can play again.”
This outcome represents exactly what program creators hoped to achieve. According to Statistics Canada data, youth sports participation has declined nearly 7% nationwide since 2015, with cost and lack of interest cited as leading barriers.
“Not every kid connects with hockey or basketball, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find joy in movement,” explains Raj Sandhu, a kinesiology professor at Lakehead University who consults with the program. “Our research shows that when children discover activities that match their individual interests and abilities, they’re more likely to stay active throughout their lives.”
The city-funded program partners with local sports associations who recognize the event as an opportunity to grow their memberships. The Thunder Bay Climbing Club brought portable walls that proved especially popular, with lines forming throughout the day.
“We’ve seen our junior program grow by about 15 kids directly from last year’s INSPIRE event,” says climbing club president Diana Wong. “These are young people who never would have found us otherwise.”
Beyond physical activity, the program emphasizes inclusivity. Organizers have worked to remove barriers for families with limited resources by providing transportation from community centres in underserved neighbourhoods and eliminating registration fees through corporate sponsorships from local businesses like North Shore Steelworks and Resolute Forest Products.
Thunder Bay’s approach has caught the attention of other Northern Ontario communities. Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie have sent recreation staff to observe the program, with plans to implement similar models.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel here,” admits Halvorsen. “But we are making sure every child gets a chance to find their thing.”
Twelve-year-old Destiny Kwandibens found her “thing” at last year’s event when she tried pickleball for the first time. “I thought it would be boring because my grandpa plays it,” she laughed. “But it’s actually super fun.” She now plays weekly and returned this year as a junior volunteer, helping introduce the sport to others.
The program’s success has convinced city officials to expand offerings throughout the year rather than hosting single annual events. Monthly “mini-INSPIRE” sessions are planned starting this fall, focusing on indoor activities during Thunder Bay’s long winter months.
“When the snow falls, that’s exactly when kids need these opportunities most,” says McKinnon. “Physical activity is crucial for mental health, especially during our Northern winters.”
The city’s 2023-2024 recreation budget includes $75,000 for youth sports exploration, a modest investment that recreation staff say delivers outsized returns in community wellness and youth engagement.
As the day wrapped up, volunteers handed out information packages about local clubs and upcoming activities. Many children left clutching registration forms for newfound interests.
For Pelletier and her son Jamie, the day represented a breakthrough. “He’s always felt like the odd one out because traditional sports didn’t click for him,” she said. “Today he realized there’s a whole world of activities where he might belong.”
That sense of belonging might be INSPIRE‘s most valuable outcome. In a city where winter isolation can challenge mental health, building community connections through physical activity creates ripple effects beyond fitness.
“What we’re really doing is giving kids permission to try and fail and try again,” says Halvorsen. “That’s a lesson that serves them everywhere in life, not just in sports.”
As the last families drifted toward the exit, 9-year-old Caleb Wright asked his mother when they could come back. Her smile said everything about the program’s impact: another child had found his reason to get moving.
