Created by
Erica Wiebe ? KidSport Ambassador
Confidence, resilience, problem solving: Some of the most important life skills we want to pass onto our children are best learned on a soccer field, hockey rink or, in Olympian Erica Wiebe?s case, in a wrestling ring. Sadly, one in three Canadian families can?t afford organized sports. To help get kids in the game, Dairyland has teamed up with KidSport, a national non-profit organization that removes the barrier of registration costs through granting opportunities.

We spoke with KidSport ambassador and Olympic gold medallist Erica Wiebe about how sport has changed her life and why she believes that every child deserves a chance to get in the game.
Why is KidSport so valuable to Canadian communities" Wiebe: Sport is the perfect vehicle to acquire valuable life skills. I think it?s incredibly important that all children have access to sports in order to acquire those skills. KidSport bridges the gap, granting opportunities for children of all backgrounds to get involved in sport and play. I worked specifically with them to try and close the gender gap in sport and to ensure that grants are distributed equally between boys and girls.

 
Were you active in sports as a child"
Wiebe: Yes, very active! Recreational soccer was probably my first love but I also had lots of informal experiences like hiking, biking with friends and playing with boys.

 
You mention playing with boys. How has being a woman shaped your ...