SIRC articles provide evidence-based and actionable insights from sport researchers, athletes, coaches, sport organizations and thought leaders to advance sport in Canada.
Cirque du Soleil: Bridging the gap between athletes and artists
Cirque du Soleil is renowned for its breathtaking performances, combining artistry, athleticism, and storytelling to create unparalleled spectacles. But how does this world-class organization find and transform its talent? André Lachance, Senior Director Casting and Artist Contract Management at Cirque du Soleil, shared insights into the fascinating process of talent acquisition and development, where elite…
The “aggregation of marginal gains” has become such a catchphrase that people have stopped questioning what it means. Science is meant to question, not to follow, and to look for the truth where it otherwise might be missed. What are...
Having and keeping enough qualified officials is a challenge for many sport organizations. Could we retain them by asking them to do more? It may seem counter-intuitive, but research into the challenges faced by sport officials and what motivates them...
Interest in cycle commuting is growing. According to the 2016 census, the number of cycle commuters in Canada increased by 61.6% between 1996 and 2016 (87.9% in census metropolitan areas, those with a population of 100,000 or more) (Statistics Canada,...
June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated annually since 1996. It is intended as a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. National...
While professional teams and leagues have teams of media relations and social media professionals dedicated to maintaining a presence for their fans year-round, most amateur sport organizations have one or two individuals who handle communications and marketing off the sides...
In sport, data is commonly used to asses and improve an athlete or team’s performance; however, the usage of membership data to inform decision-making at the National, Provincial/Territorial or club level is still relatively unexplored. Membership data can be program...
In entrepreneurial circles, there’s a well-known book entitled “E-myth Revisited” by Michael Gerber in which a startling statistic is shared. Of the roughly one million new businesses that open in the United States every year, only 4% of those businesses...
2018 is an exciting year with four major international sporting events on the calendar: the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Arctic Winter Games. These events are embraced by those with a love for sport, including the...
Community sport organizations (CSOs) are a central thread in the fabric of Canadian society, providing a meaningful place for people to play, compete, volunteer, coach, and interact with others who may share their interests and values. As a foundation of...
In his teens, Eric Mihalovic was a promising young hockey player. He was tough, a solid player with good hands. “I don’t think we even called the first one a concussion,” he said. “I was hit and my head bounced...
