Monthly Archives:April 2026

Across the South Slave, there are so many ideas waiting to happen. A tournament in a school gym. A weekend camp that brings youth from different communities together. A few days of learning, playing, and connecting through sport. These moments do not always start big, but they grow into something meaningful. The Regional Youth Sport Events (RYSE) Program is one of those opportunities that helps turn ideas into reality.

It is designed to support communities in creating experiences for youth, experiences that go beyond the game itself. It is about participation, confidence, and building connections. It is about making sure that young people have access to sport, no matter where they live. Through this program, organizations, schools, and communities can access funding to help bring events to life. Travel, accommodations, facility rentals, and equipment can all be supported, removing some of the barriers that often stand in the way .

What stands out most is not just the funding. It is the intention.

RYSE is about creating opportunities for youth to come together. To meet others from different communities. To learn new skills. To feel part of something bigger. Events must involve more than one community, encouraging connections that reach beyond local boundaries .

In the North, these moments matter. They are not just about sport. They are about belonging. About confidence. About creating spaces where youth feel supported and inspired to try, to grow, and to stay active. And often, it starts with someone saying, “What if we try this?” If you have an idea, this is the time. Whether it is a small gathering or a larger event, the impact can be lasting. Not because everything is perfect, but because people come together to make it happen.

The application deadline is May 15, 2026.

Maybe this is the moment to take that first step. To start a conversation. To reach out to a neighbouring community. To create something that brings youth together. Because in the end, it is not just about the event. It is about what it creates.

Table Tennis North was proud to bring another TT4ALL Regional Youth Sporting Event to the Sahtu, creating opportunities for youth across the region to connect, move, and play.

Over the course of the week, we had the chance to engage with more than 100 youth, from Junior Kindergarten to high school students. Each day looked a little different, but the energy stayed the same, curiosity, excitement, and a willingness to try something new.

With the youngest participants, it started with balloons, simple activities focused on movement, coordination, and fun. Laughter filled the space as kids explored the game in their own way. As the week progressed, that same energy carried into more structured play, leading all the way to a tournament with the older students. Different stages, different approaches, but all part of the same journey.

This is what TT4ALL is about. Meeting youth where they are, creating space for them to explore, and building confidence through movement and play.

Beyond the week itself, an important part of this initiative is what comes next. Equipment has been left in the community to support continued programming, ensuring that the tables stay active and the opportunities continue long after the visit.

A big thank you to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs for their support in making this event possible. Your commitment to youth and community programming across the North continues to create meaningful opportunities.

Thank you as well to NT School Sports for joining the week and supporting the initiative. Working together strengthens the impact and helps create a more connected pathway for youth across the territory.

Another great TT4ALL event in the Sahtu, and another reminder that sometimes the most meaningful moments are the simple ones, a balloon in the air, a first rally, a shared laugh across the table.

This is how it grows.

Table Tennis North is inviting Team NT athletes to express their interest in participating in the 2026 Canadian Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Championships will take place in July 2026:

• Senior Championships: July 17–19
• Junior Championships: July 19–23   

These events bring together athletes from across the country and provide a great opportunity to compete at a national level, gain experience, and represent the Northwest Territories.

The Junior Championships will include multiple age categories (U11, U13, U15, U17 optional, and U19), with athletes able to compete in up to two age groups in singles events  .

The official entry deadline for provinces and territories is May 31, 2026  , so we are asking athletes to let us know early if they are interested.

If you would like to participate, please email info@tabletennisnorth.ca by April 22nd.

This will help us plan entries, support, and logistics for Team NT.

We look forward to seeing our athletes take the next step and represent the North on the national stage.

#TableTennisNorth #WeAreAllTeamNT

The 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse brought together athletes from across the North, and Team NT’s Table Tennis athletes proudly represented their communities.

Team NT Roster

U18 Boys

• Giordano Dacorte, Yellowknife
• Cooper White, Yellowknife

U15 Girls

• Kathleen Cai, Yellowknife
• Karissa Sadowick, Yellowknife

U15 Boys

• Kaleb Sabourin, Fort Providence
• Calin Landry, Fort Providence

Coaches

• Akiko Iwase, Yellowknife
• Neilson Vandell, Fort Providence

Results

Team NT returned home with an impressive four medals, highlighting both individual and team success:

🥈 Silver Medals

• Girls U15 Singles – Kathleen Cai
• Girls U15 Doubles – Kathleen Cai & Karissa Sadowick
• Mixed U15 Doubles – Karissa Sadowick & Calin Landry

🥉 Bronze Medal

• Mixed U15 Team – Kathleen Cai & Kaleb Sabourin

Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thank you to our coaches, Akiko Iwase and Neilson Vandell, for their time and dedication in supporting our athletes throughout the Games. We also recognize the support of families, communities, officials, and volunteers who helped make this experience possible.

#WeAreAllTeamNT

Welcome to our Arctic Winter Games hub for Team NT Table Tennis. This is your place to follow our athletes as they take on Whitehorse 2026, representing their communities, their families, and the North with pride.

From schedules and results to live streaming and team information, everything you need to stay connected is right here. Thank you for being part of the journey, on and off the table.

#WeAreAllTeamNT

Schedule

Results

Events

Live Stream – Catch all the action! We have partnered with Home Team Network so you can stream our events live. Check back on March 8th. Broadcasting will begin with the Opening Ceremony at 7:30pm.

U18 Boys
Giordano Dacorte, Yellowknife
Cooper White, Yellowknife

U15 Girls
Kathleen Cai, Yellowknife
Karissa Sadowick, Yellowknife

U15 Boys
Kaleb Sabourin, Fort Providence
Calin Landry, Fort Providence

Coaches
Akiko Iwase, Yellowknife
Neilson Vandell, Fort Providence

2026 Arctic Winter Games
Website: https://www.awg2026.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitehorse2026
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitehorse2026/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whitehorse2026

Team NT
Website: https://www.sportnorth.com/teamnt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoTeamNT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goteamnt

Table Tennis North had a fantastic week at the NWT Teachers’ Conference, sharing movement, laughter, and new ideas with educators from across the territory.

Canadian National Team athlete Ivy Liao joined us as a special guest, bringing her experience, passion, and warmth to every session. As an Aerobic Table Tennis ambassador, Ivy introduced teachers to the concept of combining music, movement, and table tennis in a way that is accessible, inclusive, and fun for all ages. Team NT table tennis athlete Kathleen Cia was also part of the team, supporting each session and helping demonstrate drills and activities throughout the conference.

Together, they helped lead both practical and inspiring sessions that went far beyond simply hitting a ball back and forth.

In addition to the Aerobic Table Tennis workshops, we hosted a community coach course for participants. Teachers had the chance to move through a progression of activities, starting with balloons to build confidence and coordination, then transitioning to table tennis balls and paddles. The focus was on eye hand coordination, fundamental movement skills, simple technical foundations, and creative ways to introduce table tennis in school settings.

The room was filled with smiles as educators experienced firsthand how table tennis can support physical literacy, teamwork, focus, and fun. From playful balloon rallies to more structured skill development, participants left with practical tools they can bring back to their schools and communities.

It was especially powerful to see Ivy and Kathleen share their personal stories and experiences in sport. For many teachers, hearing from a Canadian National Team athlete and a Northern Team NT athlete in the same space reinforced what is possible when opportunity, mentorship, and community come together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked questions, picked up a paddle, and stepped outside their comfort zone. When teachers move, learn, and feel confident, students benefit.

And this week, there was a lot of movement, learning, and smiling happening across the gym floor.

When Canadian National Team athlete Ivy Liao stepped off the plane in Yellowknife around 2 a.m., she was welcomed by something she had never felt before. The cold was immediate and intense. “My first experience stepping out of the plane, I noticed this odd feeling in my nose,” she shared with a smile. “Now I know it was the moisture freezing. It was a very cold welcome to Yellowknife.”

But what stayed with her most was not the temperature. It was the people. “A line that I’ve been saying is that it’s such a cold place, but such a warm community,” Ivy said. “I’ve had the best time here so far and I’m very grateful.”

Ivy, a Pan Am Games medalist from Vancouver, British Columbia and a member of the Canadian National Women’s Table Tennis Team, is visiting the Northwest Territories to support more than just Team NT’s preparation for the Arctic Winter Games. Her days have been filled with training sessions, school visits, and community outreach, sharing the sport of Table Tennis with youth and communities across the region.

Her message is simple and powerful. “Table Tennis has so many benefits, from physical literacy to mental health, to learning strategy, making friends, and giving back to the community,” she explained. “It has really changed my life, and I’m so grateful to be able to come here and share this sport so that others can experience those benefits too.”

In every gym she walks into, that passion shows. Whether she is working with athletes preparing for competition or introducing the sport to students for the very first time, the focus is on connection, confidence, and joy. It is about creating spaces where people feel welcome to try, to move, and to belong.

Her visit is also a reminder that none of this happens alone. Ivy was quick to recognize the many people who make these opportunities possible. “The athletes and coaches are incredible and they’re the stars of the show,” she said. “But there’s so much going on behind the scenes. School administrators providing spaces to train, people organizing funding and logistics, and the whole community supporting Team NT. That’s what makes it all possible, we are all Team NT.”

A special thank you goes to the Mackenzie Recreation Association for their support in helping make this visit happen. Their commitment to outreach, partnerships, and opportunities for youth continues to open doors across the region, allowing moments like these to reach communities, schools, and young athletes who may be discovering sport for the first time.

Over the past days, Ivy has embraced every part of the experience. She has stepped into classrooms and gyms, spoken with students, supported training sessions, and taken the time to connect with anyone who approaches her. In doing so, she has become part of the community, even if just for a short time.

“I think we are all Team NT,” she said. “I was welcomed in right away, even though it’s my first time here.” And that is what this visit is really about. Not just preparing for the Arctic Winter Games, but building relationships, sharing experiences, and creating opportunities for young people to see what is possible.

In every school, every practice, and every conversation, the impact is already being felt. A National Team athlete bringing her story north. Communities opening their doors and hearts in return. A two way exchange built on curiosity, kindness, and a shared belief in the power of sport.

Sometimes recognition comes in unexpected ways.

During a statement at the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly marking National Girls and Women in Sport Day, Minister of Education Caitlin Cleveland spoke about the importance of sport in building confidence, resilience, and opportunity for girls and women across the Territory. In the middle of her remarks, she added a line that quickly made its way through the table tennis community:

“Join the ping-pong team, but watch out for Fort Providence.”

It was lighthearted. It was funny. And it landed exactly where it needed to.

For those involved in Table Tennis in the NWT, especially in Fort Providence, that brief mention was more than a joke. It was a moment of recognition. A signal that the work happening in small gyms and community spaces is being noticed, even in places where sport is usually discussed at a much higher level.

The Fort Providence Table Tennis Club has grown steadily over the past few years, built on consistency, community support, and a welcoming environment where participation matters as much as performance. Athletes of different ages and experience levels train together, learn together, and compete with pride, carrying their community with them whenever they travel.

Table Tennis in the Northwest Territories often flies under the radar. It doesn’t need large facilities or expensive equipment. What it needs are people willing to set up tables, open doors, and create space for others to try. That simplicity has allowed the sport to grow in schools and communities across the Territory, offering an accessible pathway into movement, competition, and confidence.

Hearing Table Tennis referenced on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, especially with a nod to Fort Providence, mattered. Not because of status or credit, but because recognition validates effort. It tells athletes, coaches, and volunteers that what they are building locally has value beyond the walls of the gym.

It also reflects something deeper about sport in the North. Success isn’t only measured by medals or rankings. It’s measured by participation, belonging, and the quiet pride that comes from showing up week after week. A passing comment can reinforce that culture just as much as a formal announcement.

National Girls and Women in Sport Day is about celebrating opportunity and progress. For Table Tennis North, that moment served as a reminder that small communities can make a big impression, and that sport done with care, consistency, and heart does not go unnoticed.

So yes, we smiled. And yes, we’ll take the warning too. Because if there’s one thing Table Tennis in Fort Providence has shown, it’s that when the North picks up a paddle, it’s worth paying attention.

With less than 50 days until the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Team NT’s Table Tennis athletes and alternates had the chance to connect with Canadian National Team athlete Ivy Liao in a virtual mentorship session focused on preparation, mindset, and what it means to compete on a big stage.

Ivy opened the session by introducing herself and sharing recent updates from her season, including the national team schedule and the road toward upcoming international events. She spoke honestly about the realities of being a high performance athlete, from travel demands to limited resources, and reminded everyone that sport is also about connection. In her words, some of the most meaningful moments at tournaments come from the friendships and experiences that happen off the table.

Naming the feelings that come with big events

A major focus of the conversation was the emotional side of competition. Ivy invited athletes to reflect on what they are feeling as the Games get closer, excitement, nerves, intimidation, pride, and everything in between. She shared that these emotions are normal, even for experienced athletes, and that learning how to manage them is part of becoming a stronger competitor.

Ivy drew from her own experiences at major multisport events, including the Canada Games, Pan American Games, and World University Games. She spoke about the unique energy of these events, competing in new environments, performing in front of unfamiliar audiences, and being surrounded by athletes from many different sports. She also shared a memorable story of an athlete who still spoke about their Arctic Winter Games experience decades later, a reminder that these moments stay with people for life.

Process goals, not pressure

As the session moved toward practical preparation, Ivy emphasized the importance of focusing on what athletes can control. Rather than putting all attention on outcomes, she encouraged Team NT to set clear process goals, small, realistic actions that athletes can work on every day.

That includes preparation across multiple areas:

• Physical readiness, including fitness, recovery, sleep, hydration
• Technical and tactical focus, including strengths, weaknesses, and game plans
• Mental preparation, including managing nerves and staying grounded in routines

The message was simple and powerful. Big events bring noise and attention, but athletes perform best when they stay connected to their own habits, routines, and controllable actions.

Ivy is coming North

The session also confirmed exciting next steps. Ivy will travel to the Northwest Territories in mid February to work with Team NT in person for more than a week, including joining the first weekend session with the team and coaches. Athletes were encouraged to prepare specific technical and tactical questions ahead of her visit so they can get targeted coaching and feedback while she is here.

A strong example of mentorship in action

This mentorship session was a reminder of what makes Arctic Winter Games preparation so special. It is not only about training, it is about learning how to handle pressure, building confidence, and growing as athletes and humans.

Team NT is grateful to Ivy Liao for sharing her time, experience, and encouragement. The countdown continues, and this is the part of the journey where preparation becomes belief.

There is something special about wearing your territory on your sleeve. The pride, the connection, the sense of belonging. When you pull on Team NT colours, you are not just wearing apparel, you are carrying the spirit of the North with you.

The #WeAreAllTeamNT store is officially back open and ready for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.

This is your chance to gear up, show your support, and stand proudly behind our athletes as they prepare to represent the Northwest Territories on the Arctic Winter Games stage.

From parents and grandparents to coaches, volunteers, friends, and fans, Team NT is built by a community that believes in its youth. Every cheer from the stands, every clap after a hard fought match, every moment of encouragement matters. This store is about celebrating that collective spirit. Whether you are heading to Whitehorse or cheering from home, your support travels with our team.

There is also an option for bulk orders, making it easy for teams, schools, clubs, families, and workplaces to show their Team NT pride together.

The store will be open until January 28, 2026, so be sure to get your order in before it closes. Shop the store here: https://store.vbsapparel.ca/arctic_games_trials_store_jan26/shop/home

More information on the #weareallteamnt campaign: https://tabletennisnorth.ca/weareallteamnt/ 

Let’s fill the stands with our colours. Let’s make Whitehorse feel the power of the Northwest Territories. Let’s show our athletes that they never skate, run, shoot, or compete alone. Because when one of us wears Team NT, we all do. #WeAreAllTeamNT