BC Games Legacy
Welcome to the BC Games Legacy page!
The BC Games Society rallied behind the City of Maple Ridge following the cancellation of last year’s summer games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited and honoured that our City was chosen to host the 2024 Summer Games, that the BC Games Society introduced legacy funding for $125,000 and that they created the Karina LeBlanc Game Changer Award named after one of our local sport champions.
The Province, through the BC Games Society, is provided the City of Maple Ridge with $125,000 to support local sport and community development projects!
Legacy Funds Distribution
| Recipient | Funds Allocated | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Ears Athletics Society | $14,190 | Equipment (to support club athletes; equipment will be used for 2024 Summer Games. |
| Ridge Meadows Minor Lacrosse | $7,000 | Video equipment and software used for coaching, player development and strategy analysis. |
| Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey | $8,400 | Referee mentorship program that aims to improve skills of existing referees and increasing total number of referees. |
| Ridge Canoe & Kayak Club | $5,375 | New kayaks and paddles. |
| Port Coquitlam Ridge Meadows Ringette | $2,500 | Communication plan development and refreshed ringette program to increase engagement and participation of local indigenous youth. |
| Meadow Ridge Female Minor Hockey Assoc. | $5,000 | Specialized development across the association with highly skilled coaches who will also support mentorship and knowledge transfer to current coaching staff. |
| Haney Seahorses Swim Club | $8,000 | Coach and official development program to support growth and leadership and development of new volunteer coaches and existing coaching staff. |
| Haney Neptunes Swim Club | $1,557 | Portable digital deck pace clocks. |
| BC Wheelchair Basketball Society | $16,770 | Sport wheelchairs. |
| BC Artistic Swimming | $2,500 | As a new club, developing and implementing an activation plan to grow athlete membership and coach development in preparation for competition at the 2024 Summer Games. |
| Albion Football Club | $7,200 | Female player engagement for 3Y-12Y and adult women leadership and coaching opportunities. |
| Foundry Ridge Meadows | $18,000 | Rainawakens will engage local youth in the creation of a public art mural and a mobile art piece at the Foundry. |
| Legacy Facility - Beach Volleyball | $30,000 | Development of public beach volleyball courts for community use and the 2024 Summer Games. |
The Karina LeBlanc Game Changer Award was developed to recognize the achievement of a young individual who has created opportunities for underrepresented youth in their community to participate more fully in sport.
Anna Huber is the inaugural recipient! Learn more in the tabs below.
Anna Huber is the inaugural recipient! Learn more in the tabs below.
Anna is an exceptional young leader and change maker in Maple Ridge. In addition to being an accomplished soccer player, Anna is a first degree blackbelt in taekwondo and actively coaches at her local martial arts studio where she works to create equitable opportunities for female athletes within the sport.
Her name and face may be familiar to Maple Ridge residents as she was recently featured on the cover of the Maple Ridge Parks, Recreation & Culture Spring 2020 Program Guide and named a Community Champion by her fellow neighbours. “I volunteer because I truly believe it makes the world a better place,” wrote Anna. “Helping others and expecting nothing in return does not only better the world, but I find that it makes me feel like I am doing something that makes a difference.”
Anna’s long list of volunteer experience includes working at children’s summer camps with the Ridge Meadows Child Development Centre, with Thomas Haney Culinary Arts, Best Buddies, on her school’s Student Council, and with Eco-Action. Anna is also a previous recipient of her high school’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative for her project advocating for equipment purchases for the Arcus Association for Community Living, an organization that raises funds for community members with diverse abilities and Operation Trackshoes.
After graduating from high school Anna plans to attend university and study environmental science. By winning this award Anna hopes to set an example and inspire others to get involved in their communities. “I will continue to work hard to break down barriers for those who are underrepresented,” said Anna. “Just like Karina LeBlanc, I hope to continue to create opportunities for others and inspire many more years of action.”
Her name and face may be familiar to Maple Ridge residents as she was recently featured on the cover of the Maple Ridge Parks, Recreation & Culture Spring 2020 Program Guide and named a Community Champion by her fellow neighbours. “I volunteer because I truly believe it makes the world a better place,” wrote Anna. “Helping others and expecting nothing in return does not only better the world, but I find that it makes me feel like I am doing something that makes a difference.”
Anna’s long list of volunteer experience includes working at children’s summer camps with the Ridge Meadows Child Development Centre, with Thomas Haney Culinary Arts, Best Buddies, on her school’s Student Council, and with Eco-Action. Anna is also a previous recipient of her high school’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative for her project advocating for equipment purchases for the Arcus Association for Community Living, an organization that raises funds for community members with diverse abilities and Operation Trackshoes.
After graduating from high school Anna plans to attend university and study environmental science. By winning this award Anna hopes to set an example and inspire others to get involved in their communities. “I will continue to work hard to break down barriers for those who are underrepresented,” said Anna. “Just like Karina LeBlanc, I hope to continue to create opportunities for others and inspire many more years of action.”
About the Award
Named after Karina LeBlanc, retired Olympic bronze medalist and one of the longest serving soccer players for Canada, the Karina LeBlanc Game Changer Award was developed to recognize the achievement of a young individual who has created opportunities for underrepresented youth in their community to participate more fully in sport.
Maple Ridge hometown hero Karina LeBlanc is a game changer both on and off the field of play. Since retiring from professional sport, Karina LeBlanc uses her platform as a way to inspire and challenge people to live life purposefully. Karina has been the Head of Women's Football for CONCACAF and its 41 countries since 2018 and aims to use football as a mechanism to save young girls’ lives through the sport.
As a legacy of the Maple Ridge 2020 BC Summer Games, this year’s Karina LeBlanc Game Change Award provides one outstanding Maple Ridge youth with $1,000 to recognize their significant work and dedication to developing sport in their community.