Jumpstart: We All Play for Canada | Toronto Teacher Mom

Jumpstart: We All Play for Canada

Thursday, February 13, 2014

If I could have chosen to dedicate myself to a single sport as a child, it likely would have been figure skating. Swimming would have been a close second. Looking back on my youth, should the circumstances had been different, I probably could have excelled at a sport if I had been able to dedicate myself fully to it. The problem wasn't any lack of motivation but rather the inevitable reality that both of my parents had to work long hours in order to provide for us, their children. As immigrants, all they really knew was the life of hard labour. Joining a sports team was never on their radar. Instead, they appreciated the value of a hard-earned dollar and preached how important it was to be debt-free. They did not have any insurance benefits and therefore had to pay for all of our dental, health and vision costs out of pocket. The idea of spending money on expensive sports equipment or costly recreational fees was unfathomable, let alone finding the time in their busy work schedules to taxi us around to practices or games.

Nevertheless, whenever it was time for the Olympic Games, our family could often be found sitting together in the living room marveling over the accomplishments of our nation's top athletes. It was a time for me to live vicariously through my figure skating idols, to dream about what it must feel like to land a perfect triple axel, to shed a tear of pride as they accepted their medals whilst the Canadian flag hung in the background.


There is no denying that sports play an important role in shaping a child’s life. However, the reality is that 1 in 3 Canadian families cannot afford to get their kids involved in sports and recreation. Jumpstart, a nationally registered charity, aims to help kids experience the joy of participating in sports and develop the life skills inherent in doing so. Kids aged 4-18 are given a sporting chance through Jumpstart, which covers costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation. Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped almost 700,000 kids (and counting) get in the game. And 100% of donations to Jumpstart go straight to achieve their vision of helping equip kids for life and directing them towards a better future. Together we can help all kids play!



This year, Canadian Tire Jumpstart is proud to have 10 Olympic Ambassadors attending the Winter Games in Sochi. To show their support, Canadian Tire and Sport Chek will be donating $5,000 to Jumpstart for every goal scored by one of the Jumpstart Olympic Ambassadors. These Ambassadors include Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, Hayley Wickenheiser, Meaghan Mikkelson and Maëlle Ricker, who was named one of the top 10 most influential snowboarders of all time and brought home an Olympic Gold medal in 2010 and World Cup Gold in 2013. To learn more about the Ambassadors, visit the Ambassadors tab on Jumpstart’s Facebook page.

In honour of the Olympic Winter Games, Jumpstart has launched the Podium Predictor. Submit your total medal count prediction for the Canadian Olympic Team before February 20 to be entered to WIN 1 of 17 daily prizes or a Grand Prize of a $250 Canadian Tire shopping spree!

To help get you into the spirit of the Games, you could also win this Jumpstart prize pack valued at $110. It includes:
  • Adidas duffel bag, small
  • Jumpstart slingback backpack
  • Nike towel
  • Canada games sweater
  • Jumpstart lanyard and ball



To be eligible to win, complete the Rafflecopter form below. Open to Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

    
Disclosure: I received compensation for this post. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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90 COMMENTS

  1. I'm rooting for all of them. they are amazing having come so far! Hayley Wickenheiser is amazing!

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  2. They are all great, but Toews is my favorite!

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  3. All of them ... but Haley Wickenheiser plays some sweet hockey... was watching her earlier this week and it was awesome that she carried the flag.

    DOREEN LAMOUREUX

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  4. I am voting for Hayley Wickenheiser

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  5. I'm rooting for all of them but I love what Hayley Wickenheiser embodies! She truly is a fantastic ambassador for the JumpStart program!

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  6. I've really been cheering all of them on. Mark McMorris's medal win was amazing!
    My rafflecopter name is Julie G.

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  7. My kids say they are rooting for Sidney Crosby!

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  8. I'm rooting for Hayley Wickenheiser, go girl!

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  9. I m rooting for Sidney Crosby

    Londia

    silverneon2000 at yahoo dot com

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  10. Sidney Crosby!
    -Lucy

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  11. Sidney Crosby..love that guy!
    (Karla Sceviour)

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  12. Charles Hamelin - amazing athlete!

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  13. All of them, but I choose Charles Hamelin.

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  14. All of them. Mark McMorris is my favourite. Good Sask guy.

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  15. I'm rooting for Hayley Wickenheiser

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  16. I am rooting for Mark McMorris

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  17. I'm rooting for Hayley Wickenheiser.

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  18. I am rooting for Sydney Crosby...everyday of the year :) (Lori Jackson)

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  19. All of them of course, but I will go with Kaillie Humphries because she's from Calgary and so am I :)

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  20. Hayley Wickenheiser

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  21. I am rooting for Hayley Wickenheiser

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  22. I am cheering for my home town boy of Jonathan Toews

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  23. I am picking Haley Wickenheiser!

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  24. I am for all Canadians that work so hard to become one of Canada's team members. Mark McMorris is young and hopeful!

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  25. I rooting for all of them but I've always been so inspired by Hayley Wickenheiser.

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  26. Mark McMorris is who I'm rooting for

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  27. Hayley Wickenheiser - because she's small town

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  28. Sidney Crosby - hockey is Canadas game

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  29. Were rooting for Hayley W- shes an amazing hockey player and a great role model for girls

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  30. Sidney Crosby! He is such a Great Role Model & Human Being

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  31. I love Haley Wickenheiser, she is absolutely amazing!

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  32. Woohoo! Go Canada! Kaillie Humphries for the women's bobsledding.

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  33. All of them Canadian pride! Jonathon Toews just happens to be local! :)

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  34. Sidney Crosby!

    billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

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  35. Hayley Wickenheiser. Go Canada Go and Jennifer Jones.
    Florence C

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  36. Sidney Crosby!
    KellyPC

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  37. I'm going with Charles Hamelin!

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  38. I am rooting for Mark McMorris

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  39. That good Winnipeg boy Jonathan Toews!

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  40. Hayley Wickenheiser. We're big fans of hers around my house.

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  41. I'm rooting for Sidney Crosby! (Suzi)

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  42. Sidney Crosby .. he'll always be Sid the Kid to me

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  43. I'm for Hayley Wickenheiser.
    (Debbie W)

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  44. Haley Wickenheiser - amazing role model.

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  45. I really like hockey and I am cheering for Haley Wickenheiser, especially since it is probably her last year of playing for the Olympic team.

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  46. All of them ... but Haley Wickenheiser plays some good hockey

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