New program supports safer youth sport across New Brunswick 

WorkSafeNB is proud to announce the first recipients of its PlaySafeNB grant program, an initiative designed to help youth sports organisations create safer and more positive experiences for young athletes across New Brunswick. WorkSafeNB’s PlaySafeNB awarded $10,000 in grants in 2026. 

The 2026 PlaySafeNB recipients are: 

  • Fredericton Fusion Basketball Association 
  • Association des P’tits Maniacs de Kent-Sud 

Selected from more than 80 applicants, each organisation will receive $5,000 of funding to support projects that strengthen physical and psychological safety in sport, helping youth play, learn and grow in safer environments. 

“Through PlaySafeNB, we’re supporting practical, community-led solutions that make sports safer for young New Brunswickers,” said Tim Petersen, President and Chief Executive Officer of WorkSafeNB. “Lessons learned on the court, field or ice stay with us. They shape character. With PlaySafeNB we’re reaching kids through sport to cultivate a safety mindset for life.” 

Fredericton Fusion Basketball Association plans to invest their grant in equipment, training and mental health supports that will benefit hundreds of young athletes. 

“Youth sport should be a place where young people feel supported, confident and safe to learn and grow,” said Benjamin Kennedy, board member, Fredericton Fusion Basketball Association. “This funding allows us to enhance how we train, support and care for our athletes so they can focus on developing their skills and enjoying the game.” 

Association des P’tits Maniacs de Kent-Sud will use the funding to purchase new, safer soccer training and game equipment, helping more than 500 youth participate in the sport in a safer environment.  

“This support will make a meaningful difference for families in our community, said Josette Allain-Jallait, president responsable des sports interscolaires école Clément-Cormier. “It helps us ensure more young players can participate fully and confidently, with access to better equipment and a stronger overall experience in the sport.” 

  

PlaySafeNB was developed from a successful WorkSafeNB employee idea on how to reinvest WorkSafeNB’s performance refund in New Brunswick communities. 

WorkSafeNB’s performance refund is issued when the organisation achieves strong financial results, returning surplus funds to eligible employers in the province. Over the last two years WorkSafeNB has returned more than $230 million to New Brunswick employers.  

Through PlaySafeNB, WorkSafeNB chose to reinvest a portion of its own refund into a grant program that supports safer community sport and helps build a culture of safety from an early age.  

PlaySafeNB is a grant program offering up to $5,000 per organisation to support projects that address safety risks in youth sport. In 2026, funding was made available to encourage community-led initiatives that improve safety where young people live, play and compete.   

The program reflects WorkSafeNB’s commitment to making New Brunswick the safest place to work by fostering a culture of safety from an early age. 

Applications for the next PlaySafeNB grants will be released in early 2027.