Did you know there are people and organizations working every day to grow the sport of shooting in Canada? Let’s take a look at what’s already being done and what else we can do.
What is already being done?
Meet Rick. He is the founder and president of the Canadian Rimfire Precision Series (CRPS), co-founder of Project Mapleseed, and a Canadian who truly cares about growing this great sport.
What makes Rick and what he is doing special is that he has created opportunities for regular Canadians interested in shooting sports, like you and me, to be able to learn and compete without the huge costs and commitments that generally come with firearms competitions.
Canadian Rimfire Precision Series
The CRPS is quite possibly one of Canada’s fastest growing sports and has been, as Rick says, a “runaway success” since its inception.
Although the CRPS introduces people who already shoot to competition, it may not necessarily be drawing new people to the world of firearms. That’s where Project Mapleseed comes in.
Project Mapleseed
This 100% volunteer-run non-profit training program focuses on teaching traditional rifle marksmanship.
The goal is to introduce current and, more importantly, future firearm enthusiasts to essential safety and marksmanship skills. They also share the important role of firearms in Canadian history with the hope of encouraging these individuals to help preserve firearms heritage and freedoms in Canada.
This past year, Project Mapleseed used the generous donation of rifles and ammunition from partners like CGS to get people who didn’t have their own firearm out to the range to experience the sport of shooting for the first time. Now, that’s action.
What can we do to help?
- Volunteer: If every member of our community dedicated even one day to volunteering, it would have a massive impact on organizations like Project Mapleseed.
- Bring a Friend: People bringing outsiders in and showing them our great community helps grow it. Taking someone new to the range for a day can have a lasting impact.
- Donate: Like Project Mapleseed, most organizations that promote the sport of shooting are non-profit and rely on donations and sponsorships for things like marketing, firearms, ammunition, targets, and so on. The more resources they have to work with, the further they can extend their reach.
- Share: Share your knowledge, passion, and the history of shooting sports in Canada.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and the same goes for raising the profile of our sport. It’s on every single one of us to contribute in some way to growing our community. Together, we are stronger.
So, let’s start with something simple. Visit CRPS or Project Mapleseed on social media, and share what these organizations are doing with your friends.
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As always, have fun and shoot responsibly!
