Photo: Sport Assist team & athletes

1,000+

Total Kids Helped

60+

Total Sponsors Per Year

50+

Volunteers Per Year

$1.2M

Total Dollars Raised

SportAssist was built on a simple belief: no child should have to give up the sport they love because of financial barriers.

Based in Langford, British Columbia, SportAssist is committed to keeping sport affordable and accessible for youth in our community. Our goal is to help ensure that any child who wants to participate in organized sport has the means, support, and opportunity to do so.

SportAssist was founded in 2007 by Gerry and Kristin St. Cyr after a moment that left a lasting impact. While operating City Centre Park, Gerry noticed a young hockey player walking down the road carrying his equipment bag. After seeing him several times following drop-in hockey, Gerry stopped to speak with him and learned that the boy could only afford the occasional drop-in session. He wanted to play on a league team, but the cost made it impossible.

That conversation opened Gerry’s eyes to a bigger issue. He began noticing other kids stepping away from sports they clearly still loved. In many cases, the reason was not lack of passion, talent, or commitment. It was simply financial.

Determined to make a difference, Gerry reached out to Langford Mayor Stu Young, who immediately understood the need and stepped forward to help. With a $2,500 donation from the Mayor’s annual charity golf tournament, SportAssist began its mission to help keep local kids in the game.

Just three months later, SportAssist hosted its first fundraising golf tournament at Bear Mountain. The event brought together 144 golfers, more than 30 sponsors, and raised $20,000 to support youth sport in the community. Since then, the annual SportAssist golf tournament has grown into a much-anticipated event throughout the Western communities and remains the organization’s leading source of funding.

In its fifth year, SportAssist became a registered non-profit society, supported by a dedicated board of directors committed to growing the organization and helping even more young athletes. As SportAssist continues to evolve, our goals remain focused on expanding the number of youth we are able to support and strengthening the community partnerships that make this work possible.

Since its beginning, SportAssist has been proud to help hundreds of local children continue playing the sports they love. Every child we support is a reminder of why this organization exists: to give young people the chance to belong, compete, grow, and experience the joy of sport.

Our motto continues to guide everything we do: Let No Child Be Left on the Sidelines.

What Drives Us

What sport gives every child

Confidence

Trying, competing, and improving builds belief in what kids are capable of.

Friendship

Teammates become friends, and the locker room becomes a second home.

Teamwork

Kids learn to work together, communicate, and support one another.

Belonging

Every child deserves to feel like part of the team — on and off the field.

Leadership

Meet the Board

Sport Assist is guided by a volunteer board of directors from the Langford and Westshore community.

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Gerry St Cyr

Founder & President

Gerry St. Cyr has carried a lifelong passion for sport, beginning his journey in team sports at just five years old. From an early age, he learned the importance of dedication, teamwork, perseverance, and hard work — values that have shaped not only his athletic career, but every part of his life.

Gerry went on to play professional ice hockey and roller hockey for nine years and has coached at every level of the game, including serving for three years as Head Coach of Team Canada’s Roller Hockey team. For 25 years, he also owned and operated Performance Plus Hockey School, where he helped young players learn the game of hockey while building confidence, discipline, and a strong work ethic.

Today, Gerry continues to coach youth hockey, teaching kids the value of hard work, dedication, teamwork, and believing in themselves. Through decades of playing, coaching, mentoring, and working with young athletes, Gerry has seen firsthand how powerful sport can be in helping children develop confidence, friendships, leadership skills, and a true sense of belonging.

For the past 20 years, Gerry has also been the Owner and Operator of City Centre Park, Langford Lanes Bowling Alley, and City Centre Grille. He believes that when children are given the opportunity to participate, grow, and thrive, the entire community becomes stronger.

Gerry is proud to support Sport Assist’s mission of helping ensure that every child in the community has access to the same opportunities, life lessons, and joy that sport gave him growing up.

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Kristin St Cyr

Treasurer

Kristin St. Cyr has always believed in the power of community and the difference people can make when they come together to support one another. Having grown up in a small, close-knit community, Kristin saw firsthand how kindness, generosity, and shared purpose can create lasting impact in people’s lives.

A proud Langford resident, Kristin currently serves as the Manager of Finance and Administration at City Centre Park. In her role as Treasurer for Sport Assist, she brings strong organizational and financial experience, along with a genuine passion for helping local youth access opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. Kristin believes every child deserves the chance to experience the confidence, friendships, teamwork, and personal growth that come from participating in organized sport. She is proud to be part of a program that helps remove financial barriers and gives more children in the community the opportunity to play, belong, and succeed.

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Wendy Hobbs

Director

Wendy Hobbs is a proud parent of three, a grandmother, and a longtime supporter of youth and families in the Westshore community. Having lived in the Westshore for more than 35 years, Wendy has deep roots in the community and understands the important role that sport plays in bringing families together and helping children grow.

Her own children were actively involved in local sports, including Westshore athletics and Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey, giving Wendy firsthand appreciation for the confidence, friendships, and life lessons children gain through sport.

Wendy currently works as an insurance advisor and has demonstrated her commitment to youth through more than 18 years of service on the SD62 Board of Education. She has also been actively involved with several community boards and advisory committees, including West Shore Parks & Recreation, Langford’s Planning and Zoning Committee, and the Westshore Chamber of Commerce.

Wendy strongly believes it takes a community to raise a child. Through Sport Assist, she is proud to help give children the opportunity to participate in sport and give parents the joy and pride of watching their child play, grow, and feel included.

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Kyle Douglas

Director

Kyle Douglas developed a love for sport at a young age, beginning as a competitive hockey and baseball player before going on to compete provincially in volleyball and basketball. His athletic journey also gave him the opportunity to participate in national tournaments and experience the dedication, teamwork, and resilience required to compete at a high level.

Now a Langford resident for nearly five years, Kyle continues to carry sport as an important part of his life. Today, he finds great joy in watching his daughters become involved in competitive athletics and is passionate about supporting local sport in any way he can.

As Branch Manager of the Island Savings Westshore Branch, Kyle credits much of his personal and professional success to the lessons he learned through youth sport — leadership, teamwork, discipline, accountability, and drive.

Kyle is proud to support Sport Assist because he understands the lasting impact sport can have on a child’s life. He believes every young person deserves the chance to participate, build confidence, and experience the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a team.

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Ian Taylor

Director

As Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association, Ian Taylor has seen firsthand the meaningful impact Sport Assist has on local families and communities. Through Sport Assist’s generosity and support, many children have been able to stay on the ice and continue playing the sport they love during challenging times.

Ian has always believed that every child deserves the opportunity to participate in organized sport. He understands that sport offers much more than competition — it gives children a place to belong, a chance to be part of a team, and an opportunity to learn valuable lessons about effort, sportsmanship, resilience, and pride.

Through his work in minor hockey, Ian has witnessed how powerful it can be when a child is given the chance to play, grow, and feel included. He believes organized sport helps children develop life skills that stay with them far beyond the game. Ian is proud to be part of Sport Assist and its mission to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent children from experiencing the lifelong benefits of sport.

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Jason Kahl

Director

Jason Kahl is the Managing Broker of JKS Realty & Property Management and brings more than 30 years of experience in residential, commercial, and property management real estate throughout Greater Victoria. Over the years, he has held leadership roles within the Victoria real estate community and has remained committed to supporting organizations that strengthen local families, youth, and the broader community.

A lifelong supporter of athletics and community initiatives, Jason believes sport plays an important role in helping young people build character. Through sport, children learn leadership, discipline, confidence, teamwork, commitment, and resilience — values that positively influence who they become both on and off the field. Jason is proud to support Sport Assist because he believes every child should have the opportunity to participate, feel included, and experience the growth that comes from being part of a team. His commitment to the organization reflects his belief that strong communities are built by investing in children and giving them the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

Help us keep more kids in the game

Sponsor an athlete, volunteer, or ask about funding assistance.