COQUITLAM, B.C., May 4, 2021 – Coquitlam is increasing efforts to help people of all abilities benefit from recreation access through a new inclusive adult drop-in sports program.
The new Accessible and Inclusive Drop-In Sports program is just one of several programs helping to broaden access to the City’s recreation offerings. Adults of all abilities will be able to enjoy individual play with a variety of sports equipment, including basketball, soccer and floor hockey. While these inclusive programs have been in place for a number of years, the pandemic has made inclusive programming even more important given the link between activity and health, both mental and physical.
Recreation for People of all Abilities
The City encourages children and adults of all abilities to participate in its recreation programs, and provides supports such as:
- Recreation support plans – Providing extra support to assist those registered for recreation programs, including help with instructions, physical literacy skills, modified games and sports, encouragement and more.
- Accessible and Inclusive Drop-in Sports – For ages 18 and up, this program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex until May 27. To register, visit www.coquitlam.ca/registration and click Register for Programs. In the Drop In area, click Adult to see available dates and times.
- Social stories – Caregivers can download illustrated stories to assist children on the autism spectrum, or who experience anxiety, to prepare for a camp or program.
- Adapted fitness equipment in all City fitness centres – Equipment includes assisted dip/chin-up machines, Nustep inclusive recumbent trainers, upper body ergometer machines and a variety of aids for those with reduced hand function.
- Sensory-friendly swim – Registered drop-in swimming sessions without music or water features, for those with sensory issues or seeking a quieter swim. To register, visit www.coquitlam.ca/registration and click Register for Programs. In the Drop In area, click Swimming and open the Public Swim dropdown. Look for Sensory-Friendly in the drop-in name to see available locations, dates and times.
- Canucks Autism Network (CAN) skating programs – The City partners with CAN to offer adapted skating programs for children and youth with a CAN membership.
As with all recreation programs, adapted options comply with current health protocols and pre-registration is required for drop-in sports, fitness centre or swimming sessions.
For more information, registration links and the recreation support request form, visit www.coquitlam.ca/recsupport. Residents may contact the Community Services team at 604-927-6922 or communityservices@coquitlam.ca with questions or to discuss options.
Reducing Barriers
Accessibility is built into the planning, development and delivery of all City programs, events, facilities and neighbourhoods, through regulation, policy and input from relevant stakeholders and users.
In additional to its recreation inclusion initiatives, the City offers a number of other programs designed to reduce financial barriers to recreation. Outlined at www.coquitlam.ca/recaccess, these include:
- Affiliation with programs such as Canadian Tire Jumpstart and KidSport Tri-Cities;
- The Get Connected, Get Active financial assistance for recreation programs;
The City’s Community Support and Recovery Plan also continues to subsidize a temporary reduction in drop-in fees ($1 for child, youth and seniors, $2 for adults and $5 for families up to six) to encourage recreation access during the pandemic. Learn more at www.coquitlam.ca/csrp.
Media contact:
Debbie Clavelle
Community Recreation Manager
City of Coquitlam
604-927-4386 (4FUN)
prcs_info@coquitlam.ca