The Cape Breton West Bears girls softball program has seen steady growth in recent years, and Sport Nova Scotia has been there to lend a helping hand. 

With registration in Cape Breton West, which draws from a player base primarily from Port Hood, Judique and Mabou, on the rise, the need existed for players to be outfitted with and use the proper equipment. The Bears program fielded teams from the under-7 to under-15 divisions this summer and overall enrolment was up from 60 in 2023 to 90 in 2024.

“It’s very much a grassroots initiative,” said Erin MacEachen, the treasurer for the program. “We rely a lot on getting the word out through local schools and community groups. Some of our girls play hockey during the winter, too, so if they hear that someone from their hockey team also plays softball during the summer, maybe they show some interest in joining that as well, just so they can have fun with their friends.”

The Bears applied for assistance from the Sport Fund, whose aim is to support quality, sustainable programming, either by providing funds to help organizations create new programs, or to expand and/or enhance existing programs to provide more opportunities for Nova Scotians to take part in sport. They received a grant from the fund for training balls, bats, helmets and catchers gear and were able to keep registration costs down as a result, making it more affordable for kids to play. 

“The girls were very excited to get the new equipment,” said MacEachen. “It really makes a difference to have that available to them in that it helps them feel part of a team and give them that little boost of confidence and pride and excitement. And as a parent, it’s certainly reassuring to know that your child is doing something she likes to do in a safe environment.

“From the cost side, it’s also a real help because being in a rural area, our teams have to travel a fair distance to play games. We’ve gone to Sydney, Stellarton, Antigonish and Cole Harbour for games and that’s a big expense for a small organization like ours, so anything we can do to make that manageable is a real help.”

MacEachen said the organization hopes it will continue to grow next season, with a goal being to offer more instruction and clinics in addition to the usual games and practices.

“We take it year by year,” said MacEachen. “It was great to see the interest that we had this year and the feedback we’ve received has been very positive. We’re fortunate to have a good group of coaches and an executive and it’s made the whole experience for the players and the parents very positive. And being able to take advantage of things like the Sport Fund to help shape that experience is something we really appreciate.”