DYLOTT curling program!

DYLOTT curling program to break down barriers for BIPOC Canadians

Curling Canada is putting its support as subject experts into a new program to advance youth leadership skills amongst a demographic that is traditionally not targeted by the sport.

Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow Today (DYLOTT), participants in the MLSE Foundation Change the Game Campaign, are a Black youth-focused leadership group geared towards changing the career trajectory of Black youth and designs programs to address barriers to social inclusion in employment, education and broader social contexts.

The organization received a grant from the MLSE Foundation for programs that use sport and recreation to advance physical health, mental health, academic achievement and work readiness. 

“It is through this unique experience-based early intervention learning program that we see the opportunity to introduce the sport of curling to Black youth, and the Change the Game Campaign is our launchpad. Introducing the game of curling in particular to girls breaks down barriers of access to opportunity, inclusion and belonging while creating space for the evolution of championing what girls in sports can be and do!” says Candies Kotchapaw, Founder and Executive Director of DYLOTT and the #LeadLikeAGirl program.

This month, the first cohort of 20 girls aged 6-17 from the Toronto-area will learn about the skills and strategies needed to play the sport, while receiving on-ice and off-ice adaptable learnings for life-skills and leadership development . Curling Canada will provide instructors/mentors for the program to develop on-ice skills, explore off-ice careers in curling and share how the skills and strategy needed in curling can be transferred into real-life situations. Just like a skip calling the game, these young participants will learn how to plan ahead and think strategically about achieving their goals.

MLSE will fund the program for three years, allowing the program to develop over time and further explore introducing curling to Black communities. 

“We’re thrilled to continue working with DYLOTT on these exciting new endeavours. Having initiatives such as the Change the Game campaign are creating more on- and off-ice opportunities for youth across Canada,” said Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson. “This kind of program is invaluable to curling, and it fosters opportunities for growth, diversity and inclusivity across all levels of the sport.”

DYLOTT and Curling Canada have worked together before, and this new program continues that ongoing relationship. During Curling Day in Canada 2021, the organizations hosted a virtual information/Q&A session for youth in DYLOTT’s programming about the sport with women involved with the sport both on and off the ice.

Curling Canada