Over 700 Youngsters attended the big KidsPlay Sports Day at BC Place Stadium on Monday after two years because of the pandemic. Students from schools on Vancouver’s eastside, Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford got a chance to set foot onto the field at BC Place Stadium and meet the likes of Vancouver Whitecaps great and club ambassador Carl Valentine.  “Our goal is to build a long lasting relationship with youth at a young age so that a sense of community, safety and integrity become well entrenched values, “says Kal Dosanjh, Founder of Kids Play. “Developing these relationships early are critical to steering youth to make positive life choices. Sports and this event in particular, is a fantastic way to build that bridge.”

By Muskaan Dhillon

VANCOUVER – Over 700 Youngsters attended the big KidsPlay Sports Day at BC Place Stadium on Monday after two years because of the pandemic.

Students from schools on Vancouver’s eastside, Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford got a chance to set foot onto the field at BC Place Stadium and meet the likes of Vancouver Whitecaps great and club ambassador Carl Valentine 

“We are proud to be involved in the Kids Play Foundation Super Soccer Tournament at our team’s home stadium, BC Place,” said Valentine. “This great event helps foster a love of the game for many kids in BC.”

In cooperation with elementary schools in Vancouver, Surrey, Langley and Abbotsford, there were over 60 teams and 700 youth on the same pitch where the Vancouver Whitecaps play. The goal of this round robin soccer tournament is to engage inner city youth by providing a unique experience, which in turn leads to developing a connection with youth at a young age and encouraging positive mentorship.

“Our goal is to build a long lasting relationship with youth at a young age so that a sense of community, safety and integrity become well entrenched values, “says Kal Dosanjh, Founder of Kids Play. “Developing these relationships early are critical to steering youth to make positive life choices. Sports and this event in particular, is a fantastic way to build that bridge.”

“For these youth, sports will provide a sense of community, great friendships, and opportunities to participate in unique experiences,” Dosanjh added.

KidsPlay Foundation was founded by Law Enforcement Officer Dosanjh with an aim to keep B.C. kids away from the life of crime through its various sports programs.

KidsPlay believes it takes a village to raise a child, and we are that village. Having served over 75,000 youth and distributed thousands in scholarships over the course of 7 years, KidsPlay Foundation has been a significant impact on the youth of British Columbia.