JADE
Marina Simpson was at a loss.
She was looking for sports programs for her granddaughter, Jade, who’s going into grade four, to enroll in. Something that would be a positive outlet for her boundless energy.
“She’s very hyper,” Marina says, laughing. "She's seven, she's a hyper little girl. I thought it would be good for her to be out and about and also to have her friends participating in sports.”
Marina is a pensioner, and she’s Jade’s sole caretaker. Chances are, any sports programs in the area would have been very expensive for them. Even if that wasn’t the case, children’s sports programs in their neighbourhood, the Bannerman area, were few and far between, save for Marina and Jade occasionally going swimming at the Community Recreation Center.
“There’s nothing for children in our area,” Marina says.
Fortunately, Free Play was around. Jade’s other grandmother works at Jade’s school, Sifton Elementary. She learnt about Free Play for Kids and let Marina and Jade know about it.
Marina didn’t recognize the program immediately, but after a Google search, she was convinced. And now, she and Jade are both very enthusiastic about it.
“Now she can participate in any sport she wants because of Free Play,” Marina says.
Free Play appealed to Marina because it would allow Jade the opportunity to try out many sports and find one or many to her liking. And that she did, as Jade’s favourite sport quickly became basketball.
“I like shooting,” Jade says.
Marina is very happy with how Free Play takes care of Jade and the other kids in the program.
"Her being in sports and having a wonderful staff who watches them and supervises them excellently…” Marina says. “Just having her in not only that, but [also learning] how to make sandwiches or other things other than sports. Not only sports, but the program itself."
The other aspects of the program beyond just the sports are crucial for Marina and Jade as well. Jade has gone on several field trips with Free Play, allowing her to see different parts of the city. Jade’s favourite field trip so far has been swimming.
Marina doesn’t have a vehicle, and can’t reliably depend on transit to get from place to place due to changing bus routes. Without Free Play, Jade too would be restricted as to where she could go.
"Being in Free Play, she gets to go places I wouldn't be able to take her because of my age," Marina says. "That's why I have her in the summer program also. And she loves it.”
Marina has also been very happy with her granddaughter’s time with Free Play. Jade has an outlet for her energy and can play sports, go on field trips, go swimming, and learn valuable life skills like food preparation. And she’s game for not only Jade to keep at it with the program, but fore more kids just like her granddaughter to get involved.
“I think it’s the best program,” she says. "I'm very, very happy with Free Play… It's an excellent experience for children to be in Free Play.”
Written by Stefan Salegio
