The director of KidSport Tri-Cities says the need for its service is growing as the organization gears up for its annual spring sale of used sporting equipment.
Chris Wilson said 25 per cent more families in the Tri-Cities accessed funding to help pay registration fees for their kids’ sports endeavours last year than in 2023.
He said the combination of a struggling economy and increasing costs for sports associations are putting youth sports financially out of reach for more families.
“Playing sports is becoming more expensive,” said Wilson. “Sports is becoming a little more of a year-round commitment, kids are expected to do stuff in the off-season.”
The spring sporting equipment sale, that occurs March 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Riverside Secondary School in Port Coquitlam (2215 Reeve St.) is a major source of the funding KidSports Tri-Cities needs to help bridge that growing gap.
Wilson said the spring event is usually about lacrosse gear and bikes, as people prepare for the change of sporting seasons.
