Youth Soccer Festival: Uniting the Community through Sport

We will again host our annual Youth Soccer Festival on Saturday, August 17, 2024 from 5 pm to 9:30 pm.  The event takes place in partnership with the Collingwood Community Policing Centre.

This free event for children from kindergarten to 7th grade is in the Renfrew-Collingwood area of East Vancouver at a school site with support from the Vancouver School Board.

According to 2021 Statistics Canada Census data, Renfrew-Collingwood has the highest number of visible minorities in Vancouver and lower than average incomes compared to almost all other areas of Vancouver.

The “Youth Soccer Festival” provides a unique opportunity for children of diverse backgrounds to come together and be introduced to soccer.  The event starts with drills and then children are split into teams.  Last year, we successfully enrolled about 40 children in this friendly tournament, providing most of them with their first and only opportunity to participate in a sports tournament.  This event engages the entire community.  The tournament concludes with a festival including a youth rock band performance and a community-wide outdoor movie night.  Last year this event drew over 200 people, was attended by elected representatives, and was covered by Global TV.

Beyond the field, the event seeks to build connections among participants, encouraging teamwork and mutual respect.

We are once again asking for support, emphasizing the collective role we play in creating an enriching experience for our children, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a love for sports that transcends differences.