To our Sport for Life champions,
It’s time to take empowered action.
During our 2022 Sport for Life Canadian Summit, keynote Aisha Saintiche encouraged delegates to “stir up some good trouble” like legendary civil rights activist John Lewis. Discussions were had all over the country about how we can rethink, reconnect, and reimagine the quality sport and physical literacy ecosystem, and it’s never been more clear that the time for decisive and transformative action is now.
In this eNewsletter, you can read a profile of retired quality sport expert Vicki Harber, and hear her thoughts about the successes and failures of the current system. We also have a piece about Jana Headrick, a Canadian hockey player who started a league for Indigenous girls and women, and a story about the upcoming National Health and Fitness Day. Finally, we have links to two surveys that will help determine the future of quality sport in this country.
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Despite the fact that hockey has traditionally been an expensive sport that lacks diversity, Jana Headrick is dedicated to creating positive experiences for Indigenous girls.
That’s why she founded a hockey program in the Greater Fredericton area on the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq and Peskotomuhkati peoples. She explains that to create positive experiences for Indigenous girls within sport, sport organizations must "help make them feel important and allow them to express themselves for who they are."
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Dr. Vicki Harber doesn’t mince words.
The retired Olympic rower and exercise reproductive endocrinologist has been working within the Canadian sport system for much of her career, with a focus on multisport and the female athlete. For decades she’s been one of the leading voices championing the implementation of the Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity framework within sport organizations, and she’s well-known as the author of The Female Athlete Perspective.
But she didn’t get where she is today by biting her tongue, and she’s not shy about letting people know how she feels the system is currently failing its athletes.
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Ten communities, four keynotes, and hundreds of delegates.
The 2022 Sport for Life Canadian Summit was held on May 11 and 12, and representatives from all sectors came together to reflect, reconnect and reimagine the future of the quality sport and physical literacy ecosystem.
The event was simultaneously held in Victoria, New Westminster, Prince George, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Chatham-Kent, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Lanaudière.
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It’s time for us to get moving again.
For the past two years, Canadians have struggled through a pandemic that kept many isolated and sedentary. This has only exacerbated the existing inactivity crisis, which is leading to a rise in preventable illnesses. But now that COVID-19 appears to be largely behind us, National Health and Fitness Day (NHFD) is ready and roaring to go.
"We have many lessons from the pandemic and one is the benefits of activity for coping with stress and building strong physical and mental health. It is essential for all ages! Now is the time to get up, get out in the beautiful outdoors and be active,” said former Senator Nancy Greene Raine, who has been involved with the annual event since its inception.
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Between April and June 2022, SIRC continuing to engage with Canadians coast to coast to coast to help inform the Canada Sport Policy (2023-2033).
At this time, SIRC would like to invite you to:
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In partnership with Project Play, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is deploying a nationwide State of Play survey of youth sport in Canada to better understand the current challenges and opportunities facing youth access to quality sport.
Jumpstart is excited about this effort, but needs your help to share the survey with your child and youth participants in order to elevate their voices and experiences. As a benefit to your organization, we have built a system that will give you access to YOUR organization’s data. Our colleagues at Project Play will be providing virtual workshops in the Fall on how to use your data to improve your programming and outreach.
As a first step, register your organization online:
Access code: StateofPlayCanadaYouth
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Si vous voulez consulter nos infolettres en français, cliquez ici.
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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. |
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