'Make it more accessible': Walk-a-thon raises awareness about importance of youth sports
Montreal sports lovers came together Saturday in the NDG borough to raise awareness about the importance of youth sports when it comes to mental health and community connection.
At the Power of Sports Walk-a-Thon, young athletes strolled alongside the likes of Alouettes quarterback coach Anthony Calvillo and pro basketball player Tevonn Walker.
The event raised over $125,000.
The funds will go to Montreal Community Cares, an organization that promotes youth sports, most known for its Red Rush basketball program.
Tevonn Walker has long been involved with Montreal Community Cares, joining the program when he was just 12 years old.
Since then, he's travelled the world playing basketball, and he credits community sports for making him the person he is today.
"When one door closes, a lot of people don't have any outlets to turn to," he told CTV News. "This program helps you make those doors open, build those relationships, and then all of a sudden you have choices, you have opportunity."
He hopes youth in NDG will have the same opportunities that were given to him through sports.
"Playing with Red Rush was kind of, was a way for me to build a family outside of my home."
RISE IN TEEN VIOLENCE
Sports were one of the first activities to be shut down when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Advocates say its ripple effects have been disastrous, with the province witnessing a sharp rise in youth violence.
Montreal saw at least five teens killed in youth-related violence over the past year and a half.
Volleyball plater Théjah Tavarez, who is a teen herself, said she and her friends are still healing.
"During the pandemic, a lot of teenagers started doing gang violence, guns shooting, all of that," she said.
"It was very emotionally tiring because I know we can be better than that."
In response to the violence, the City of Montreal has invested more than $7 million into youth programming and sports.
Denburk Reid, founder of Montreal Community Cares, wants the existed facilities to be renovated and, more importantly, for the programming to be made financially accessible to families.
"It's not about building something," he said."Rejuvenate a gym [...] but open it up to the community."
"Just make it more accessible."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.