Use double quotes to find documents that include the exact phrase: "aerodynamic AND testing"

April 23, 2024 – (Ottawa, ON) The latest episode of Sportopia: Conversations about healthy, human sport, titled “Fostering Inclusive Sport Environments”, is now available. Listen as we share insights and enhance the legal and leadership knowledge of sport leaders. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music. You can also listen on our website.

This week, hosts Dina Bell-Laroche and Steve Indig, are joined by Sport Law Team Member Mel Knox. Mel is a lawyer at Sport Law and former soccer player for the Panama Women’s National Team. Mel has spent time in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean supporting human rights development. She has a passion for fostering environments of inclusion, collaboration and togetherness. Steve, Dina and Mel, discuss the importance of fostering spaces of belonging, through practices such as inclusive language and understanding the concept of intersectionality.

Click here to listen to Episode 31: Fostering Inclusive Sport Environments

The podcast is meant to answer burning questions from sport leaders, so we are inviting listeners to share ideas for future topics and to ask questions you’d like for us to tackle. Listen and submit questions and
comments via email and social media (@sportlawca) to have your say in conversations about healthy, human sport!

For all the updates be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social
media
!

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About Sport Law

Sport Law has been providing strategic insight to the Canadian sport community since 1992. We offer a full range of consulting, leadership coaching, and legal services. We are accessible, affordable, highly skilled, and bring experience and common sense to every project. Our vision is to elevate sport. To learn more about us please visit www.sportlaw.ca.

Ottawa, ON – The City of Ottawa is ready to welcome 335 teams, 4500 athletes and team officials, as well as the families of the players aged 13 and 15 from across the province who will be competing for volleyball supremacy at the 2024 Ontario Volleyball Association’s Ontario Championships

“Introducing the Ontario Championships to the City of Ottawa for the first time since the inception of the festival style event, in 2008, fills us with excitement,” says Alishia Lidums, Director of Volleyball Operations, Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA). “This marks a significant milestone as we expand our reach and bring OVA teams to a new experience in a different area of the province. The City of Ottawa offers a fresh perspective and a vibrant energy that we can’t wait to explore. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Ottawa Tourism and the City of Ottawa for their warm welcome and unwavering support as we embark on this exciting journey.”

Taking place each April, the Ontario Championships are the largest youth amateur volleyball event in the Nation. Locally, teams will compete at the EY Centre in Ottawa. There will be 2 events hosted over 6 days of competition: 

Along with showcasing the thousands of high-caliber athletes who participate in the event, the Ontario Championships provide substantial economic benefits for the city. The economic impact for the 2022 Ontario Championships – held at RIM Park in Waterloo, ON – was about $6.9 million per weekend, or $28 million to Waterloo Region for the entire event.  Fast forward to 2024, OVA teams have secured almost 9500 hotel rooms for the 6 days of competition and will be looking forward to taking in the sights and sounds of Canada’s Capital city during their multi-day stay in Ottawa. 

“Hosting the Ontario Volleyball Championships in Ottawa brings social, economic, and legacy benefits to our city,” says President & CEO Michael Crockatt. “While these young athletes are modelling an active lifestyle, team spirit and sportsmanship for other aspiring athletes to see, our city will be showcasing all it has to offer to them and their families, coaches, and travel support team during our beautiful spring season. This brings considerable economic benefit as these visitors stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and get out to Ottawa’s many attractions while here. We wish them all a fantastic 2024 event!”

Fans wishing to witness the action are welcome to cheer on the athletes at the EY Centre.  Admission is free. 

About the Ontario Volleyball Association 

The Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) is a non-profit athlete-centered provincial sports association providing leadership in the growth, development, and delivery of indoor, beach and sitting volleyball in Ontario.

It is our vision to provide a fun, safe and rewarding environment through a commitment to Volleyball for Life. To that end, the OVA engages with the community to support athletes through quality service and by offering a safe sport experience. The OVA supports the holistic development of athletes by providing a clear and comprehensive development pathway for all stages and abilities. Further, the OVA strives to inspire Clubs, coaches and referees with continuous learning and improvement opportunities.

For more information and interviews please contact:

George Huffman
Communication Coordinator
ghuffman@ontariovolleyball.org  

(TORONTO, ON. April 16, 2024) The 2024 Canadian National Blind Hockey Team traveled to St-Louis April 12 – 14 2024 to compete against the USA Blind Hockey Team in the fifth International Blind Ice Hockey Series. Team Canada is now celebrating their 5th consecutive win in this series as they continue to bring gold home to our nation!

The International Blind Ice Hockey series is a best of 3 series that Canada and the USA Blind Hockey teams have hosted since the inaugural event in 2018. Over this weekend, Canada lead the score board with over 30 goals: Game 1: 13 – 2, Game 2: 7 – 1 and Game 3: 13 – 3.

Team Canada features 20 players and six rookies making their Team Canada debut including the youngest player ever to be named to the team (Dante Giammarioli, age 15 from Edmonton). The team is
made up of players from across Canada from Vancouver, BC to St John’s, Newfoundland. 

Although this is a rivalry, it’s crucial for the two countries to work together to grow the Para sport of Blind Hockey. Currently only Canada and the USA have national teams, however there are now Blind Ice Hockey programs in England, Finland, Sweden, and Russia with the goal of founding a World Championships for the sport and establishing a pathway to the Paralympics.

“From the returning players to the rookies who played for the first time, the work ethic is unmatched across the board – that was some of the best Blind Hockey I’ve witnessed from our Canadian team,” explains GM Luca DeMontis. “All the Blind Hockey players who took part in this year’s International Series have incredible talent and this team is going to take this Para sport to the next level.”

The Para sport of Blind Hockey is played by athletes who are blind or partially sighted who have approximately 10% vision or less.  The sport uses an adapted puck that makes noise and is larger than a traditional puck.

The tournament was broadcasted online, and videos are available on this YouTube Channel. For more information please visit: www.canadianblindhockey.com

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More information:

Mel Carrey
melcarrey@blindicehockey.com
(416) 526- 8114

Ottawa, ON, April 17, 2024 – The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), a leading organization in coach education and development nationwide, proudly announces a new partnership with MONDO for the National Sport Organizations (NSO) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Grants Program.  

The CAC is dedicated to providing opportunities for coaches through grants to NSOs that develop and implement programs to support coaches in one or more of the CAC’s Priority Groups, which include women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and people who identify with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The primary objective of the NSO EDI Grant Program is to increase the diversity of the coaching population in Canada and ensure that sports environments are inclusive and accessible. 

MONDO is an internationally renowned company with over 75 years in sports flooring. The company brings a wealth of expertise and a dedication to pushing the boundaries of athletic performance. MONDO’s goal is to redefine every sports standard with a commitment to engineering specialized, high-performance flooring solutions for athletes. 

“We are thrilled to join forces with MONDO to increase opportunities for diversity and equity in coaching and for coaches. Both organizations understand the intrinsic value of creating a workforce that is reflective of all Canadians and produces role models for young girls and boys throughout Canada,” says Lorraine Lafrenière, Chief Executive Officer of the Coaching Association of Canada. 

“Our partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada for the NSO EDI Grant Program will significantly impact coaching diversity and inclusion in Canada. We look forward to working with the CAC to break barriers and create inclusive sports environments nationwide, and to making a difference in the lives of the CAC’s Priority Groups,” said Latasha Pittman, Director, Brand & Marketing, MONDO. 

This three-year partnership will increase the support available to NSO EDI initiatives and create opportunities for coaches across Canada. 

About the Coaching Association of Canada 

The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. For more information, please visit www.coach.ca, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

About MONDO 

MONDO is the global leader in the track and field and indoor sports flooring market, with more than 1,100 of the company’s track surfaces installed worldwide. Hundreds of prestigious track and field competitions have been held on MONDO track surfaces globally, and athletes have set more than 350 world records on the company’s track surfaces. 

A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, MONDO sells its environmentally sustainable flooring in more than 196 countries through MONDO-owned manufacturing companies in Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and China. For news updates, visit mondoworldwide.com and the MONDO press room, and follow the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). 

For Media inquiries:  

Selma Baaziz 
Manager, Marketing & Communications 
Coaching Association of Canada 
Sbaaziz@coach.ca  

For Sponsorship Inquiries: 

Evelyn Anderson 
Associate Director, Marketing and Corporate Partnerships 
Coaching Association of Canada 
eanderson@coach.ca  

For more information about the NSO EDI Grant program: 

Frances Priest
Manager, Sport Safety  
Coaching Association of Canada 
fpriest@coach.ca

Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif call for session proposals are now open!

Interested in presenting at SLS24? To submit a presentation for consideration, please complete this short application by May 24.

About the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference

The Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference is Canada’s largest conference for coaches, researchers, and sport executives and administrators. Since the return to in-person in 2022, the event continues to increase participation while respecting personal safety, offering learning, professional development, networking and celebration with the leaders of the sport, business, and education communities in Canada.

Theme of the 2024 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference:

Amplifying Voices

Join us at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference as we focus on the importance of amplifying voices across the sport community. Through gaining a deeper understanding of the perspectives of others, we can create more inclusive and safe spaces. We invite sport leaders to shift their focus towards improvement and growth, by gaining insights through wisdom from diverse narratives.

The 2024 Petro-Canada Sport Leadership sportif conference is an opportunity for us to:

Through insightful discussions, collaborative endeavours, and sharing experiences, we aim to nurture a community of resilient and enlightened leaders who can create supportive environments where individual voices can thrive. Together, let us create an environment where inclusion is at the forefront of our journey toward excellence for the future of the sport system in Canada.

At SLS24, delegates are not only encouraged but empowered to explore and share their stories, experiences, and insights, empowering one another to be catalysts for collective change in sports and beyond. Together, we can showcase the beneficial nature of change, creating a brighter and more inclusive future for sports in Canada.

April 16, 2024 – The Canadian sport system continues to evolve to ensure that its practices, rules, and programs reflect a values-based approach. While we know we have far to go, the growing team at Sport Law is here to support participants at all levels by ensuring they have the required knowledge to lead, manage, coach, and compete in a manner that meets legal requirements and ethical imperatives. 

To fulfill our ongoing commitment to provide exceptional legal and leadership support to sport organizations and leaders, Sport Law is thrilled to announce that we have expanded to include four new Team Members. “We are so pleased to welcome two experienced lawyers that will add their legal knowledge and commitment to assist our clients with sport safety and governance matters, including ensuring Ontario-based sport organizations are compliant with ONCA,” shared Partner, Steven Indig. “In addition, we are so proud to welcome an Accounting Software Specialist to support our clients growing financial and bookkeeping needs as well as a returning law student to support our expanding administrative, social media and communications.”

Olivia Pope, is a lawyer, hailing from Calgary AB, with experience in corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations. Olivia will assist with matters related to the impending ONCA deadline, governance matters, amalgamations, among other legal issues in the Canadian Sport Community. Read her full bio here.

Mike Fleurantin is a bilingual lawyer from Ottawa, with a history of advocating for his clients. At the beginning of his career, Mike worked for legal clinics across Ontario, and later went on to be a personal injury lawyer. Most recently Mike worked as insurance defense counsel for TD Bank, managing complex claims and contract negotiations. Read his full bio here and read his first blog here

Suzanne Gipp is an Accounting Software Specialist, who brings over a decade of diverse experience in bookkeeping and accounting. Suzanne has joined Sport Law to provide exceptional accounting support to our clients with the goal of improving efficiencies, reducing costs, and supporting ethical practice. She enjoys collaborating with individuals, enhancing their financial skills, and helping businesses thrive through sound financial practices. Read her full bio here.

Val Koch is a second-year law student that joined Sport Law as an Intern in 2022. Val holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and she completed the post-graduate program in Sport Business Management at Durham College. Val is currently enrolled in the Juris Doctor program at Western University. In her role at Sport Law, Val provides research, HR, and governance support to clients, in addition to serving as the organization’s social media specialist. Read her full bio here.

“We are thrilled to welcome a diverse pool of passionate, committed, and talented professionals, who care about making a positive difference within the Canadian sport system. They are dedicated to supporting our valued clients with their expertise, experience and skills,” shared Partner, Dina Bell-Laroche.

For all the updates be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media!

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About Sport Law

Sport Law has been providing strategic insight to the Canadian sport community since 1992. We offer a full range of HR consulting, leadership coaching, governance support and legal and financial services to the Canadian sport community. We are accessible, affordable, highly skilled, and bring experience and common sense to every project. Our vision is to elevate sport. To learn more about us please visit www.sportlaw.ca or contact us at hello@sportlaw.ca

Calgary, Alta. (April 14, 2024) — Canada struck gold twice today at the FIS Ski Cross Junior World Championships in Idre Fjäll (SWE). Emeline Bennett (Whistler, BC) repeated her gold medal performance
to become the first Canadian to twice be crowned ski cross Junior World Champion. Kaleb Barnum (Fernie, BC) competing in his first Junior Worlds, took gold on the men’s side, with teammate Nicholas Katrusiak (Whistler, BC) taking silver.

Racing in her third Junior Worlds, Bennett the reigning Junior World Champion, won each of her heats today to capture gold.

“I was a little nervous coming in,” said Bennett. “It’s definitely a bigger track than last year but we had a lot of time on it and I started to feel pretty comfortable. I really wasn’t sure it was going to happen though. I was dead last at one point in the semis but used the draft at the bottom to make up some places. I’ve very happy with the result.”

Barnum, competing in the opposite bracket from fellow Canadian Katrusiak, won each of his four heats to take gold.

“It feels pretty sweet,” said a smiling Barnum. “It was a super exciting day and it was a good time racing Nick (teammate Katrusiak) in the finals with us coming from opposite sides of the bracket. It was fast racing today on a big track with a great drag strip at the bottom.”

Katrusiak, racing in this third Junior Worlds took silver today improving from 19th in 2022 and 9th
in 2023, won each of his heats before settling for second in the finals.

“It feels really good,” said Katrusiak. “I put in a lot of work this past year and it feels good to have it all come together. Kleb (teammate Barnum) and I had a fun battle in the finals and it was a really good day for the team.”

The 2024 Junior World team, supported by Sporting Life, will look to continue their success with the team event tomorrow, Monday April 15. To see the full schedule please click here and a live stream can be found here.

Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website, across our social media accounts and
subscribe to our newsletter.

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For more information or media inquiries please contact: 

Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org

About Alpine Canada 

Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.

Calgary, Alta. (March 22. 2024) — Alpine Canada announced today the six athletes selected to represent
Canada at the FIS Ski Cross Junior World Championships next month in Idre Fjäll (SWE).

The 2024 Junior World team, supported by Sporting Life, is led by three athletes returning from the 2023 Junior World team. Emeline Bennett (Whistler, BC) will be defending her World Junior title after winning last year in Passo San Pellegrino (ITA). Also returning are Konnor Kimball (Edmonton, AB) who won the small final at last year’s Junior Worlds, and Nicholas Katrusiak (Whistler, BC) who combined with Bennett to finish second in the team event.

“I am very happy for this group of athletes and I’m excited for them to have the opportunity to compete against the world’s best,” said Dave Ellis, Alpine Canada’s High-Performance Director, Ski Cross. “Some
of this group experienced this event last year and that should help the whole team embrace the competition. A huge congrats to the families, friends and clubs behind the success of these young athletes.”

The 2024 Junior Worlds team is made up of three men and three women who qualified for the team through a selection criteria that considers world ranking, world ranking by age, as well as performance in
the Nor-Am Series.

Canada’s 2024 Ski Cross Junior Worlds Team

Women (Name (YOB), Hometown, PTSO*, Home Ski Club)

Emeline Bennett (2003), Whistler, BC Alpine, ACA NextGen Team
Kael Oberlander (2007), Big Qhite, BC Alpine, Okanagan Ski Club
Maren Vincent (2005), Galahad, Alberta Alpine, NASA/Evolve Ski Club

Men (Name (YOB), Hometown, PTSO*, Home Ski Club)

Kaleb Barnum (2004), Fernie, BC Alpine, NASA/Evolve Ski Club
Konnor Kimball (2003), Edmonton, Alberta Alpine, NASA/Evolve Ski Club
Nicholas Katrusiak (2004), Whistler, BC Alpine, ACA NextGen Team

* PTSO – Provincial / Territorial Sport Organization 

Staff:

Coaches: Stanley Hayer and Kya Fairley
Ski Technicians: Zach Flynn and Nejc Vrhovni
Physiotherapist: Cam Gant

“Congratulations to all the skiers who will represent Canada during the Ski Cross World Juniors” said Frederick Lecoq, Chief Marketing Officer of Sporting Life. ” We’re proud to support their journey to the world’s biggest ski stage.” 

The FIS Ski Cross Junior World Championships take place April 14 and 15 in Idre Fjäll (SWE). To see
the full schedule please click here.

Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website, across our social media accounts and
subscribe to our newsletter.

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For more information or media inquiries please contact:  

Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org

About Alpine Canada

Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.

TORONTO – April 12, 2024 – The Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO) in partnership with Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One), have introduced an all-new essential resource aimed at tackling hazing in sport. Launching today, the Hazing Prevention Playbook for Coaches is a ground-breaking resource to help address a pervasive issue across all age groups and sports in Canada.

“Having dedicated over 25 years to researching hazing across Canadian sport, I’ve seen firsthand the damaging effects it continues to have on athletes and teams of all ages,” said Dr. Jay Johnson, a leading Canadian researcher on hazing from the University of Manitoba. The athletes in his ground-breaking 2018 study indicated that nearly 100 percent of all high school students have both an awareness of and an expectation to be hazed. What are often described as harmless traditions can take on subtle or more overtly violent forms, potentially leaving lasting permanent psychological and physical impacts.

The Hazing Prevention Playbook is a comprehensive guide that squarely addresses the vital role coaches play in recognizing and preventing hazing activities. It equips coaches with actionable strategies to create
positive team cultures and dispels the misconception that hazing is an acceptable part of team building.

“Hazing is something a lot of coaches try to avoid dealing with and it’s common to hear that it’s a rite of passage acting as a test of an athlete’s commitment to the team,” said Stephanie Sutton, a youth coach for over 30 years. “These activities are humiliating, degrading and abusive which is truly the opposite of what sport and physical activity provide. By creating new traditions that foster a positive culture, we’ve eliminated hazing from our team. This new resource greatly enhances a coach’s role in uniting and
empowering every individual.”

The resource was created in response to the findings of the 2023 Ontario Coaching Report, which recently revealed that 33 per cent of coaches are aware of hazing within their own club or organization, with a
staggering 82 per cent of those aware saying it is an acceptable part of team building.

“Team building is important and there are ways to do it that are fun, and not endangering the wellbeing of athletes,” said Jeremy Cross, Executive Director, CAO. “As the architects of a culture that is safe and
inclusive, coaches have a crucial role to play in being aware of instances of hazing and then being the catalyst to more positive team building strategies.”

The Hazing Prevention resource marks the beginning of a broader initiative by CAO and Hydro One to tackle these unsafe practices. The next installment of the Ontario Coaching Report, due in late 2024, will delve deeper into team culture, how coaches are creating positive sport experiences and examine activities like hazing and safety. These initiatives underscore a commitment to eradicating hazing from sport by empowering coaches with tools that prioritize the well-being of all participants across Ontario.

“By prioritizing safe spaces that embrace all team members,” said Dr. Johnson. “We not only foster a positive environment but also lay the foundation for success both on and off the field.”

Coaches can access the new resource for free online at safesport101.coachesontario.ca. Safe Sport 101 is a partnership between Hydro One and CAO dedicated to giving coaches the tools they need to make sport safe, fun, and inclusive for all. It includes a virtual hub that offers coaches additional free safety resources including an eight-part eLearning series and community grants.

About the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO)

The Coaches Association of Ontario is an independent, non-profit organization that supports coaches from community to high performance across all sports in Ontario. Providing coach development, funding opportunities, and events that support, recognize and represent all coaches across the province.
For more information, please visit www.coachesontario.ca, follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram.

Footnotes:

Dr. jay johnson, University of Manitoba

johnson, j., Holman, M., Chin, J., Guerrero, M. & M.A. Signer. (2018). An examination of hazing in Canadian intercollegiate sports. Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, 12(2), p. 144-159. 

April 09, 2024 – Volleyball Canada supports the recent launch of the Abuse-Free Sport National Registry as another tool to enhance sport safety in Canada.

“We were very encouraged that the National Registry was launched and view this as another important step to improve sport safety in Canada,” said Mark Eckert, Volleyball Canada’s President and CEO.

“We are very proud that our provincial and territorial partners are aligned with Volleyball Canada, allowing all our 70,000-plus members to access this system if their provincial sport governing body does not already have a system in place. The fact that we have a number of cases listed is an indication that the system is working to investigate and sanction the small minority of individuals who abuse their positions in our sport.”

Volleyball Canada (VC) and its PTAs are aligned on Safe Sport policies and signed on to Abuse-Free Sport together. Therefore, all of VC’s 70,000 plus members are eligible to submit complaints through Abuse-Free Sport if their PSO does not already have a complaint management process in place. This contrasts with many other NSOs that are only signed on at the National (and National Teams) level.

As a result of being an early signatory, and one which includes its membership, Volleyball Canada has several cases either completed or in the process of being investigated. This is an indication that the volleyball community is aware of the reporting system and is active in launching complaints when appropriate.

“Volleyball Canada shares its updated list of sanctioned members, including historical cases, with its partners, and we have long called for this National Registry that is vetted and meets Canadian privacy standards,” said Eckert. “While there is still much work to do in the area of safe sport, we are pleased with this additional measure that will help our participants enjoy the sport they love in a safe environment.”

For more information on Safe Sport, see our web site: https://volleyball.ca/en/about/safe-sport

Did you know?

Abuse-Free Sport, formally known as the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), is responsible to administer the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) using trauma-informed processes that are compassionate, efficient and provide fairness, respect and equity to all parties involved.

OSIC operates as an independent division of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).

For more information, including on how to report an incident, see this site: https://sportintegritycommissioner.ca/

Media Contact:

Jackie Skender
jskender@volleyball.ca