'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
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.