There will be a couple of Aboriginal apprentices working the Saskatchewan Summer Games later this month — and it is hoped they will take what they learn and turn it into a career.
It is called the Aboriginal Apprentice Coach Program, and it is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan.
The apprentices will be hooked up with mentors and wlill learn the ropes at the Saskatchewan Summer Games that begin July 29th in Meadow Lake.
The executive director of the Coaches Association of Saskatchewan, Mark Bracken, is excited about the program:
“Hopefully, this will lead, or be a stepping stone, to new opportunities for these coaches to get involved in either the Aboriginal sport games, or the sport-specific or mainstream sport opportunities to coach into the future.”
Two Aboriginal apprentice coaches have been selected.
Alvera Hatch of La Loche will coach volleyball, while Christoper Laplante from Regina will be coaching the sport of canoe/kayak.
About 2,000 athletes compete at the Saskatchewan Summer Games.