An inter-generational baseball program that promotes connection and belonging among Indigenous communities. The program is co-created with leadership from Tribal Councils to increase physical and mental health outcomes for Indigenous youth, while also promoting healing and collaboration among neighbouring communities. Partners receive league design support, funding, equipment, coach training, and community-based launch support to help their leagues succeed.
At Jays Care Foundation, we work in partnership with many First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities and urban Indigenous organizations across these unceded lands throughout Canada. We recognize that this territory is an unequal one, especially for children and youth identifying as Indigenous or living in Indigenous communities. That’s why so much of the work we do focuses on responding to the calls to action around sport and youth programs as laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report 2012. In order to answer these calls to action, we partner with Indigenous communities and organizations on an inclusive, trauma-sensitive, and evidence-based sport-for-development program.
Program Overview
Get Involved
Start an Indigenous Rookie League
Establish a league that connects many Indigenous communities to each other and that tackles long-term social goals! You’ll receive league design support, funding, equipment, coach training, and community-based launch support to help their leagues succeed. To learn more about launching an Indigenous Rookie League in your area, send an email to: [email protected]
Become a Jays Care Affiliate School
Bring inclusive sport programming to your students! Amplify the voices of Indigenous children and youth, celebrate their success and achievements, and advocate for their right to equal opportunity. This program brings Indigenous students together using the power of baseball and softball during or after-school to encourage connection and love of sport. You’ll receive a specialized equipment kit, Blue Jays t-shirts and hats for your students, a best-in-class program manual, and professional support from the Jays Care.
Become a Jays Care Community Partner
Bring inclusive sport programming to your Indigenous non-profit organization! Jays Care is building a roster of dedicated community partners to deliver safe, accessible, and inclusive programming to communities across the country. We specialize in training recreation workers or afterschool program staff to run baseball and softball for development sessions that are fun, inclusive and easy for those running them.
