Five Minutes With… ·
Five Minutes With Stonebridge Community Association
Stonebridge Community Association · Community association, Stonebridge
Stonebridge Community Association shared how its Just for Fun soccer program brings families together at W.C. Levesque Fields, and why its partnership with Atlético Ottawa has become part of the neighbourhood's soccer calendar.
How does the Just for Fun soccer program at W.C. Levesque Fields help build a sports habit for families in Stonebridge?
“Our Just for Fun soccer program has been running for over 10 years and brings together the community on a once-a-week basis from late May to the end of June. We typically have between 80 and 120 kids, from age 3 to 11, with 15 to 25 coaches, and a handful of volunteers from the Stonebridge Community Association. Our first goal is fun. We stress that our program offers the children of the community the chance to learn and play soccer in a low-cost, low-pressure environment. We focus on socialization and interaction as much as skill development. After every session, we hand out freezies, and at the end of the last session, we have a pizza party for everyone involved. It's a great community engagement event that also builds skills and love of sport.”
What does an Atlético Ottawa match day mean for the neighbourhood soccer community here?
“We've had a partnership with Atletico Ottawa for a couple of years, and our second Match Day will be happening in September. In our first Match Day in 2025, we had over 20 participants from the Stonebridge community take part. We recognized the interest in the Just for Fun program could be used as an indicator for broader interest in soccer-related activities and worked with the team at Atletico Ottawa to develop this opportunity. A funny story: we had chosen the original Match Day date for 2026 in March, and as the World Cup progressed, it happened to land on the day and near the time Canada was playing Morocco in the Round of 16, so we pushed it back to September to make sure our community members could watch the game with their families.”
What's something about Barrhaven only a local would know?
“That there is incredible diversity in cuisine available. From Vietnamese to Indian to Greek, to small sandwich shops and amazing little cafes, there is something for everyone.”
Your favourite Barrhaven spot?
“Tough call: the Stonebridge Trail is a free and fun walk that I highly recommend for families and nature lovers. A couple of cafes that come to mind are Cafe Cristal on Kennevale Drive and Carmelito's on Longfields. Cafe Cristal's London Fog teas are incredible, and the cookies and cannolis at Carmelito's are excellent.”
Who in Barrhaven should we talk to next?
“The folks in charge of the Half Moon Bay Community Association.”
This interview was conducted in writing through the Bugle’s interview form; answers lightly edited for length and clarity.