WINNIPEG, Man. — Sport offers young people more than the opportunity to play a game. It builds confidence, teaches life skills and creates meaningful connections through fun and engaging physical activity.
With that shared purpose, First Tee – Prairies has collaborated for a second year with local partner Garden City Community Centre to deliver a dedicated First Tee program for youth from the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS).
HEROS is a national volunteer-driven charity that empowers marginalized youth and teaches life skills through hockey while removing financial barriers to the sport. Garden City Community Centre supports organizations like HEROS and First Tee – Prairies by providing accessible, inclusive recreation spaces for the surrounding community.
The collaboration began in 2025 and is led by First Tee coach Ken Chomyn, who has volunteered with HEROS since the organization expanded to Winnipeg. After attending an international HEROS hockey camp in Belfast, Ireland, in August 2024, Chomyn worked with HEROS founder Norm Flynn and executive director Kevin Hodgson to launch a First Tee program for participants in the spring following the hockey season.
Today, the First Tee program serves two groups. Eight youth in the HEROS after-school program take part in a six-week session at Garden City Community Centre on Tuesday evenings, while 10 participants in the SuperHEROS program for youth with cognitive or physical disabilities attend adapted sessions on Saturday mornings.
Alongside golf skills, participants learn First Tee’s Nine Core Values while reinforcing HEROS’ four guiding behaviours: listening, respect, discipline and having fun. Through team-based activities, participants practice collaboration and communication.
“I believe our youth should have access to programs that provide learning, care and fun — the First Tee program does that,” said Chomyn. “I’m grateful that, as a young person, I had access to great teachers and programs, and I’m glad I can pay that forward today.”
Parents, caregivers and teachers are encouraged to attend sessions, giving families the opportunity to celebrate participants’ progress and see the lasting impact of the program firsthand.
Following two successful seasons, First Tee – Prairies hopes to expand the partnership by introducing dedicated on-course programming for HEROS participants in the future.