Public school students from Newmarket and Aurora schools took to the cricket pitch Friday as part of a local cultural initiative to foster safe and inclusive play.
Wellington Public School in Aurora hosted the cricket tournament organized by Culture Bridge Initiatives (CBI) for five teams — two from Alexander Muir Public School in Newmarket, one from Regency Acres Public School in Aurora, and two from Wellington.
The round robin tournament, was held in the school gymnasium because the field was too wet for safe play, was the culmination of the past year’s CBI cricket program in six elementary and high schools in Aurora and Newmarket, according to CBI founder and Newmarket resident Ranji Singh.
The Regency Acres Griffins took first place, the Wellington Wolverines second, and Alexander Muir third.
Cricket, once Canada’s national sport, is now the fastest growing sport in North America, Singh said.
It is the second largest spectator sport in the world, after soccer, and is played around the globe thanks to the British Empire.
Though cricket is famous for its multi-day Test Matches, CBI teaches a version that is age appropriate and adapted for indoor (winter) play.
In October 2018, CBI received a $262,400 grant over 36 months to assist with staffing and equipment costs for the youth cricket program. Participating schools receive a complete set of cricket gear.
Culture Bridge Initiatives was originally founded in 2011 as the Ranji Singh Foundation and rebranded in 2017. CBI seeks to foster community awareness among residents and strives to stimulate local solutions for engagement, according to Singh.
From 2010 to 2018, CBI was noted for its annual production of the Culture Bridge Festival (formerly Caribbean & South Asian Showcase), a celebration of cultural diversity. Currently CBI is engaged in introducing cricket to area schools as a means of fostering active lifestyles through programs that are safe, inclusive and fair.
