July 9th – The 21st Annual VPD Free Youth Soccer Camp was put on this year by the Vancouver Police Soccer and Service Club with the generous support of the Vancouver Police Foundation. Foundation Executive Director Valerie MacLean remarked that “the funding provided by the Vancouver Police Foundation is made possible by the unprecedented and groundbreaking success the Foundation has had with its new membership initiative this year, showing the overwhelming support of the generous individuals who are so proud of and so committed to the Vancouver Police Department.”

Nearly 140 kids, aged 6 to 10, participated in the camp, along with another 30 kids, aged 11 to 17, attending as assistant coaches as part of the youth mentoring related to the camp. Many of these assistant coaches took part in the camp when they were younger.

This year the Vancouver Whitecaps once again provided a head coach to oversee the 25-30 police coaches each day at the camp. They also had team members attend the camp to provide a demonstration for the children and an opportunity to receive autographs. Vancouver Whitecaps Captain Martin Nash along with Men`s and Women`s Whitecaps team Keepers Jay Nolly and Siobhan Chamberlain and Defender Emily Zurrer joined the kids to share their soccer tips.

During the four-day camp, the children were treated to appearances by the VPD Motorcycle Drill Team, the Mounted Squad and the Dog Squad. The children also received a personal safety presentation from a member of School Liaison during the camp, Cst Paul Taylor.

Today on the final day of the camp, there will be a World Cup-type mini-competition with the campers that will wind up with certificate presentations to the 10 year old graduates, as well as to the assistant coaches. The children will enjoy refreshments, muffins and fresh fruit to end the camp.

This year the VPD camp is supported by the Whitecaps Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart®, who have partnered to provide a professional coach to oversee the 25-30 police coaches each day at the camp. In addition, every child who attends the camp will receive a ticket to a Vancouver Whitecaps FC match.Whitecaps team members will provide a demonstration for the children and an opportunity to receive autographs. The Whitecaps Foundation is a federally registered charity that is working to help create the fittest generation of BC youth by 2020. Through fundraising, community alliances and strategic partnerships, the Whitecaps Foundation is supporting the development of active lifestyles, healthy eating and teamwork in young people throughout the province. CanadianTire Jumpstart® is a community-based charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids aged 4 to 18 participate in organized sports and recreation. National in scope but local in focus, Canadian Tire Jumpstart is delivered through a Canadian-wide network of local chapters, made up of a variety of community leaders committed to helping kids get active.