We are thrilled to share that Dina Bell‑Laroche, Integral Coach and Partner at Sport Law, has been honoured with the 2025 Brock University Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing her commitment to a values-based approach to leading, coaching and competing in sport.
The award was presented on Sunday, September 21 during a special ceremony at Brock University, where Dina—unable to attend in person—delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech via video. Her message emphasized the importance of values-driven leadership and the power of compassion in shaping a more humanistic sport culture.
Dina holds a Master’s degree in Sport Management from Brock University, where her academic research focused on how National Sport Organizations can more intentionally use their values to enhance meaningful performance and increase accountability. This academic foundation continues to inform her work as a professional leadership coach, facilitator, and strategic advisor.
Over her career spanning more than three decades, Dina has provided strategic leadership and integral coaching support to dozens of national, provincial and community sport organizations. In the early part of her career, Dina had the privilege of working with Equestrian Canada, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the True Sport Secretariat, helping to foster ethical leadership practices, grounded in shared values.
She is widely recognized for her expertise in values-based leadership, systems thinking, and cultural transformation. In recent years, Dina has deepened her focus on the intersection of grief and leadership through her Grief Unleashed work—an initiative designed to help individuals and organizations navigate loss with compassion and courage. As the first Certified Thanatologist working within the sport sector, she continues to pursue formal studies in grief and loss to further foster a person-centered approach to sport.
“Working in sport from playground to podium continues to bring me deep joy. From coaching children in my community to organizing True Sport Play Days, I have witnessed firsthand the power of sport to connect people towards a higher purpose. I have also had the deep privilege of working alongside some of the most devoted, sincere and brilliant legal and leadership minds at Sport Law. Doing meaningful work on behalf of our sport community is why I continue to serve,” shared Bell-Laroche.
Dina’s recognition by her alma mater is a testament to the deep impact she has had—and continues to have—on sport and community in Canada. We at Sport Law are incredibly proud of her and look forward to the continued wisdom and leadership she brings to our team and to the broader sport sector.
Congratulations, Dina!