The brand-new Junior Varsity Celtic Football team will receive new equipment, thanks in part to the involvement of the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Sport Relief Fund and the GPCSD Education Foundation. A $10,000 grant was awarded to the Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Education Foundation from the 2021 Jumpstart Sport Fund.

Celtic Football Coach Trevor Prichard went on to describe how the funding would be utilized. “This grant will give our students at St. Joseph & St. John Paul II more opportunities to play. We will be able to purchase additional safety equipment and create a second team with our Junior Varsity players. Currently we have 80 students looking to play next year and this grant gives us the opportunity have two teams for our athletes.”

Education Foundation Executive Director, Kari Prichard applied for the grant and was successful in her application. “We are thankful to receive this funding from Jumpstart to help support this new Junior Varsity Celtic Football team. New equipment costs are substantial; it will help this Grade 11 team greatly, as they prepare for the upcoming season.”

Superintendent Karl Germann showed his appreciation towards the Education Foundation and their on-going efforts to look after student needs. “We are thankful to the Education Foundation for their continued drive to help our students and families. Schoolbased sports are important to us and this $10,000 grant will help get our students outfitted for the Fall season.”

In 2021, Jumpstart has disbursed over $9 million in grants to over 800 sport and recreation organizations across Canada through Jumpstart’s Sport Relief Fund.

The Grande Prairie Canadian Tire General Manager, Ron Regnier was excited to see local Youth benefiting from the Fund. “Jumpstart’s mandate is to support Youth in sport across Canada and it’s exciting to see local Youth benefit directly from it.”

Celtics FootballPhoto Courtesy: GPDCS

Information provided by Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools