As a part of Inclusion Week, April 13-16, NC’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team and Campus Recreation hosted its third annual boccia at both the Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The events took place over two days across both campuses – Welland on Wednesday and NOTL on Thursday – allowing students and employees from each campus to participate and emphasize inclusivity.
For Brooke Pasco, NC’s Workplace EDI Specialist, this was a chance for students and employees to come together and learn about accessible and inclusive sport.
“There are few sports as truly accessible as boccia, so if there was one sport to include in Inclusion Week and speak to the values it represents, it’s boccia,” said Pasco. “It was a great opportunity to have some fun, make some connections, continue to build upon the College community and enhance our students’ sense of belonging.”
While many people are familiar with bocce, boccia is its indoor companion, harnessing the best of bocce in a different element. While both bocce and boccia revolve around getting your balls closest to the white jack at the centre of the field of play, bocce features harder balls on outdoor surfaces like grass, whereas boccia features softer leather balls on surfaces such as a hardwood court.
Jenna Wilson, NC’s Campus Recreation Coordinator, spoke about the benefits of boccia that made it the perfect sport for Inclusion Week and an easy answer when approached about collaborating on an event.
“What makes it unique is its adaptability,” said Wilson. “As an official Paralympic sport, it can be played standing or seated and with or without assistive equipment like ramps. By removing barriers to participation, boccia enables a wide range of individuals to engage in meaningful competition and recreation. The more accessible we make sport, the more everyone benefits.”
Autumn Brown and her classmates in the CICE program attend Inclusion Week boccia at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus.
While the unique versatility of boccia has made it a standout sport for inclusion, Wilson also touched on why it works.
“Research consistently shows that recreation and physical activity support not only physical health, but also mental well-being, social connection, and overall student success,” she said. “Initiatives like Inclusion Week and activities like boccia help build the community and experience the value of movement and play in a way that is welcoming to all.”
Autumn Brown, a level two student in the CICE program that participated in Thursday’s event, was already acquainted with boccia. Her familiarity, combined with sharing the experience with her peers, made her thrilled to partake.
“I remember playing boccia in high school and having a lot of fun,” Brown said. “Reliving that memory was great, but to do it alongside my friends made it even better. I enjoyed it a lot.”
While the action on the court drew smiles across the hardwood, Pasco made sure to highlight what makes Inclusion Week so great.
“It’s about the opportunity to engage and learn,” she said. “We’re always looking for chances to build upon the NC community and enhance the well-being of our community members. We’ve hosted Inclusion Week boccia three times now because of how it has embodied the message we are trying to send. The relationship growth and community building around it has made it an Inclusion Week staple.”
