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September 30, 2023
Building Healthy Communities through the Beautiful Game
Edmundston, New Brunswick — September 30, 2023 — A small English school in Northwestern New Brunswick has found success using soccer to provide a sense of belonging to youth from around the globe. In the past two years the school has almost doubled its size to over 340 students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. “The growth is largely newcomers” said Julie Michaud, Principal of Saint Mary’s Academy – a school in New Brunswick’s Anglophone West School District, “and many had been asking for a soccer team.” After a 15-year hiatus, soccer has ignited the passion of players, boys and girls, from grades 6 through 12. Athletic Director and Phys-Ed teacher, Carleigh Bailey noted, “We had interest from younger grades, but really didn’t know how deep the desire to play was and we were limited with resources. We hope to offer more for our younger students in the near future.”
What has attracted such a large population growth? Edmundston is nestled on the border of Quebec and Maine, it has a bilingual population and is a small city with all the services of larger centers. The City of Edmundston has a worker assigned to helping newcomers, additionally Saint Mary’s Academy’s, Bethany Toner, an English Additional Language Teacher, works closely with newcomer students and families to assist in integration into the community environment.
So how did the soccer program come into play? Ms. Toner was the catalyst. “Over the last year in this role, newcomers were asking about soccer regularly. I had a few discussions in the school and one of our staff members said they could get a coach. I started the process before school start by calling the interested potential players, searching for funds, and building the team.” The City was quick to facilitate practice and game field access, Soccer Edmundston, the local soccer club, provided a set of uniforms and access to some practice equipment. Acadian Timber provided a donation to help the team with player equipment and travel. She added “I don’t think anyone realizes how tight resources are for newcomers. We have supplied soccer shoes, socks and shin pads for many players. We try to coordinate transportation for players that need to attend after school practices and games. It’s been a team effort but the smiles on the players faces WOW. Just wow.”
Soccer New Brunswick has contributed through their Newcomers program to help with player needs as well. SNB Membership and Community Services Manager, Charles Owusu Asamoah, has indicated that Soccer New Brunswick is pleased to support such community efforts and will pick up in the spring with an event for newcomers to the region.
The soccer team has 20 players from grades 6 to 12 in an “A Class” school playing in a varsity league against “AA Class” schools. The 20 players, boys and girls, represent 12 nations. “Soccer appears to be the universal language” as Ms. Toner commented when she took a couple of the players to see the pitch used for practice and home games for the first time, “That is the most words two of our most quiet newcomers have ever spoken!” When students are given something they feel passionate about barriers break down, obstructions are removed. They will communicate. This has given many a sense of belonging, of acceptance, of home. “We have players from Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Japan, Madagascar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and Sudan and a coach with Ukrainian roots.” This is one multi-cultural team.
The Saint Mary’s Academy 12-Nation team has created a buzz at the school. According to Coach Bailey, “We don’t have to win any games to realize we’re having a winning season. Taking the first team picture was very emotional. They just want to play.”
With New Brunswick needing newcomers to augment the population and contribute to our workforce, “Soccer New Brunswick realizes that this global sport can make kids happy, in turn making parents happy and perhaps anchoring families in our communities” said Kevin Topolniski, who co-coaches the team and happens to be President of Soccer New Brunswick. The Province has helped SoccerNB develop programs that welcome newcomers and Saint Mary’s Academy is one of several community-based programs that is benefitting. “It’s impacting to see players get their first soccer shoes, first uniform and play in a structured game for the first time.” Saint Mary’s Academy has played a pivotal role in welcoming and integrating newcomers into the community. This educational institution has embraced the power of soccer to bridge cultural gaps and foster a sense of belonging among its diverse student body.
The 12-Nation team have two more league games, in case you want to see them in action. Tuesday, Oct 3 in Florenceville they face CNHS at 4:30 PM. The following Thursday, October 12 also at 4:30 PM, they play AJ Savoie High School in St. Quentin.
So what’s the future? “With more than 30 nations represented at this small school, we think the 12-Nation Team will likely have to change the nickname”, according to Julie Michaud, “Wouldn’t that be great?”
