By Julia Magsombol
Local Journalism Initiative
Columbia Lake Recreation Centre (CLRC) recently presented their sports program to keep local youth active and healthy.
“I want to continue to grow it,” said Tom Smith, the founder and coach of the youth program in CLRC.
He’s from the United Kingdom and has been a coach for over a decade, including four years with The Manchester United Foundation. He’s been coaching in the valley for the past three years.
Smith runs his coaching business, Valley Sports Hub and rents a space in the CLRC. He explained that he collaborated with CLRC and thought this would be an excellent opportunity for children to be coached in different sports.
The youth program consists of different sports each day of the week. Cricket is on Monday, dodgeball and basketball are played on Tuesday, and pickleball is on Thursday.
“We’ve got new sports and initiatives that we’re hoping to roll out in the New Year,” he explained.
Smith is adding soccer to the program, and hopes to open up other sports to more age groups. He is also running a sports camp for spring and summer break.
“My main aim of the business is to offer sports services to local schools and the community,” he said. “My favourite part of this program is watching the kids develop weekly as they get to see their own progression and how much they’re improving.”
Smith gives kudos to the CLRC and the Akisq’nuk First Nation for helping build the sports program.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaLakeRecreationCentre.
