Prince George, BRITISH COLUMBIA, January 31, 2023 – Prince George Pikes, launched by Engage Sport North, is coming to the Prince George Aquatic Centre this winter and already making a splash. This brand-new diving club offers introductory and competitive diving opportunities to participants of all ages. Two seven-week programs start at the end of January, and registrations for both programs have reached capacity, but there is lots of interest and a plan to offer more soon.

 

“Prince George has been without a diving club for the past 11 years,” Engage Sport North, Manager of Sport Development Sarah Saunders says. “With our mission to support and promote sport participation in Northern BC, we saw that the Olympic-level diving boards at the Aquatic Centre were underutilized and decided to do something about it. We are encouraged by the incredible registration numbers for the first programs.”

 

Engage Sport North believes in delivering inclusive quality programs in physical literacy, sport participation, and high-performance sport across northern BC. The  Prince George Physical Literacy Table has played a huge role in this mission and  has supported Engage Sport North in the development of the Prince George Pikes. Additional funding for this program has been made possible through the financial support of Sport for Life and the Public Health Agency Funding.

 

“There are so many benefits to diving,” says Prince George Pikes coach Tim Joyce. “Physical fitness is a large part of diving, and there is also a large mental component that helps with mental health and focus. On the diving board, you have something to strive for, and you’re really up against yourself.”

 

Tim Joyce performed as a competitive diver in Australia. Once he retired from the sport, he had no plans on coaching. One day while at the pool with his nephews, he started teaching them some basic diving techniques, and before he knew it, they were meeting weekly, and the group began to grow.

 

“I am a stay-at-home dad, so I decided to pick up a bit of a hobby. That is where it all started, and now, it is a club,” shares Tim. Through the support of Engage Sport north, VIA Sport and Dive BC Tim completed his NCCP Coach training and is ready to share the sport with participants in Prince George.

 

The Prince George Pikes are applying for not-for-profit status within the community and looking for board members, volunteers, coaches, and athletes with a passion for diving. With more programming opening in the spring, the Pikes need more coaches and volunteers to offer this experience to more athletes. 

 

To learn more about the Prince George Pikes and how to get involved, email: pgpikes@gmail.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

About Engage Sport North

 

Founded in 1994, Engage Sport North, a Pacific Sport Centre, is a non-profit sport-delivery organization. Engage Sport North supports athletes, coaches, officials, educators, parents and sport leaders in Northern BC. They are a member of the viaSport Regional Alliance— a collective of regional sport-delivery organizations committed to enhancing sport participation and athlete development across BC. Funded by investments from the Province of BC, viaSport, and the Northern BC Community Sport Development Society, we lead the provincial standard for athlete programming, coach development, physical literacy, and sport inclusion in the North. In partnership with the Canadian Sport Institute and SportforLife, we support athletes and coaches of all ages and abilities, from grassroots to high performance.

 

The office, located in Prince George, BC, is on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh.

 

For more information, visit engagesportnorth.com.

 

About Sport For Life

 

Our nationally recognized not-for-profit organization consists of sport and physical literacy experts with the long-term vision necessary to be catalysts for lasting change within the sport and physical activity ecosystem and beyond. By bridging gaps between sectors, creating new collaborations with Canadian institutions, and mobilizing our knowledge to communities across the country, we aim to create a future in which absolutely everyone has access to quality sport and physical literacy experiences.

 

The office, located in Victoria, BC, is on the traditional territory of the Lkwugen.

 

For more information, visit sportforlife.ca.

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