“It means the world that he can go.” Teacher Laura Palomino of Morse Street Public School is speaking of one of the students in her class. The student, who resides at a local shelter, is now enrolled for one of the Chess Institute of Canada (CIC)’s ‘Chess to Life’ programs at her school, thanks to her efforts, and a subsidy program offered by CIC.
Morse serves a wide range of students from many backgrounds, including some facing challenging circumstances. One of Palomino’s students, who attended an early session of the chess program on a drop-in basis, quickly became enamoured of chess and wanted to continue. The standard program fees, however, were out of reach.
Palomino contacted the Chess Institute, where administrator Nathan Hoang was happy to arrange a full subsidy for the student – something the Chess Institute does regularly for students in shelters. “He was so happy, and felt so special to be able to go,” Palomino says. “Being able to do special programs like chess is so empowering and does so much to make kids feel like they’re part of the school.”
Being able to support students isn’t just important to students – it can also mean a lot for their teachers. “Being able to say ‘yes’ is very powerful,” Palomino explains. “I spent a lot of time – and sometimes, my own money – to make sure these kids don’t feel othered. Educators want to help, but they also have limited resources.”
“Chess is for everyone, and we are more than happy to provide youth living in shelters with full access to our chess programs when there’s strong interest and an existing program at their school,” says Matt Shepherd, Executive Director of the Chess Institute of Canada.
“The kinds of life skills you can learn through chess – including STEM and future skills related aptitudes such as logic, critical thinking, and analysis – are of tremendous benefit to kids who don’t have some of the same privileges as children from other backgrounds. What youth can learn through chess can also give them a leg up for their entire lives.”
Chess can also be a way to break through social and economic barriers. “Even modest skills in the game mean you can enter tournaments, attend events, and play people of all ages, economic backgrounds, and cultures as equals,” explains Nathan Hoang, Customer Service and Instructor Lead at the Chess Institute of Canada. “Over the board, it doesn’t matter where you come from, or how much money your family has: players meet as equals, make friends, and bond over their shared love of the game.”
Supported by donations, the Chess Institute of Canada strives to support students as much as possible through pay-what-you-can programs and, in some cases, full subsidies for students in circumstances such as shelters. Teachers and parents of students where CIC is running a program that are aware of a child in need can reach out to admin@chessinstitute.ca about the program. Schools who are interested in bringing CIC programming to their students can contact outreach@chessinstitute.ca to find out more about what the organization offers.
