For immediate release
Sport Nova Scotia Expands Pilot Program to Cape Breton Region
Sport Nova Scotia's new Community Sport Development Coordinators. From left, Dean Morley (Cape Breton Region), Stephanie Spencer (Highland Region), Nicole Larade (South Shore Region), Andrew Ling (Halifax Region).
SYDNEY, NS (Friday, November 4, 2011) – Identifying and strengthening sustainable sport opportunities in the Cape Breton region is the mission of a recently expanded community sport development program from Sport Nova Scotia in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.
“Increased engagement in sport, particularly among young people, has so many benefits at the individual and community levels,” says Jamie Ferguson, CEO of Sport Nova Scotia. “Studies have shown that participation in organized sport contributes to crime prevention, poverty reduction, academic achievement, and building capacity in communities. We see this program as a great opportunity to get more people participating and reaping all of those benefits.”
Originally launched in the Annapolis Valley in August 2010, the program’s recent expansion now includes coordinators in each of Cape Breton, South Shore, Central, and Highland regions.
This has created a new opportunity for Dean Morley who was hired as the Community Sport Development Coordinator. Working from his base in the Health and Wellness office in Sydney, Dean is partnering with community sport organizations, schools and community groups island-wide.
Larry Maxwell is the Cape Breton Regional Representative with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. “We are pleased to partner with Sport Nova Scotia in support of creating more opportunities around sport and building on what currently exists at the community level. This newly created position will allow for a more strategic and integrated approach. Dean will be key in identifying the needs of sport groups and linking them to provincial resources and funding opportunities.”
Dean has an extensive background as a competitive athlete and recreation professional with a Bachelor of Arts and Community Studies degree from the Cape Breton University. He is currently completing a Master’s of Science in Sport Leadership through Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. He previously held the position as the Director of Coaching and Player Development with Soccer Cape Breton for four years and has been the assistant coach for the nationally ranked CBU men’s soccer program since 2007.
“I am passionate about sport and coach development and look forward to working with sports groups across Cape Breton to build capacity and achieve sustainability throughout the region,” he says.
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For more information, please contact:
Carolyn Townsend
Director, Public Relations & Communications
Sport Nova Scotia
5516 Spring Garden Rd, 4th floor
Halifax, NS B3J 1G6
Tel: (902) 425-5450 ext 321
Cell: (902) 830-7227
e-mail: ctownsend@sportnovascotia.ca