SIRC’s 2022 year in review
December 21, 2022
As the year comes to a close, the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) is reflecting on some of its key projects, publications and events over the course of 2022. Here are some of the key highlights:
SIRC played a key role in the Canadian Sport Policy (CSP) renewal process throughout 2022. The CSP sets the direction regarding sport for governments, institutions and organizations for a 10-year period. Much has changed since the last CSP was published in 2012, and SIRC has worked to ensure that the values and priorities of Canadians are reflected in the updated policy. SIRC hosted 14 jurisdictional sessions in all provinces and territories to reach the national sport community and 10 targeted sessions to reach key stakeholder groups. We also developed a national survey available to all Canadians. Throughout the CSP renewal process, over 5000 Canadians voiced their perspectives.- SIRC worked with Health Canada to develop an e-learning module and educational resources focused on air quality and outdoor sport safety. The module will be accompanied by a policy guide to help sport organizations develop air quality policies to protect sport participants. Coaches and other sport leaders will be able to access this new training opportunity via The Locker in the new year. Stay tuned!
- SIRC worked with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to spotlight the experiences of Para athletes who transfer from one sport to another, or compete in multiple sports, as they seek to streamline a formal transfer process.
- Our literature reviews on topics including the impact of major games, youth sport participation trends, climate change’s impact on winter sport participation, and extreme heat risk and sport, provided foundational information to key sport organizations to inform their policies and practices.
- Over the past year, SIRC has provided valuable research and evaluation services to provincial, territorial and national sport partners. From Golf Ontario and Table Tennis North to Ringette Canada, Wheelchair Basketball Canada, and Sport for Life, SIRC connects the sport sector with the data and tools to answer important questions and optimize impact.
- SIRC has taken on an educational leadership role regarding the management and prevention of concussions in sport. To build confidence amongst Canadians that concussion safety in sport is a priority and to encourage safely returning or participating in sport, SIRC worked together with Sport Canada to promote awareness of Concussion Week and build on last year’s Concussion Week momentum.
The Sport Canada Research Initiative Conference (SCRI) was a resounding success. The conference featured 50+ poster presenters, 4 research plenaries and 3 driving change spotlights from the sport sector, as well as a panel discussion regarding the shortage of match officials. Alex Chiet of Sport New Zealand served as the keynote speaker. The conference was so interesting, we even had some non-human audience members! Video recordings of the conference proceedings are forthcoming in the new year.- SIRC published 43 blogs and 15 SIRCuit articles in 2022. Our editions of the SIRCuit were themed on mental health, inclusive sport policies and practices and trending topics in sport.
Top blogs of 2022
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Top SIRCuit articles of 2022
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Top content by topic
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Top videos of 2022
1. Connecting mind and movement: How to create sport environments that support mental health
2. Engaging Black Community Coaches
3. Data – Why you need it & How to collect it
If you would like to engage SIRC’s services for a research project, please contact our head of Research and Innovation, Veronica Allan, at vallan@sirc.ca.
If you have an idea you would like to pitch to SIRC, please contact our Content Specialist, Caela Fenton, at cfenton@sirc.ca.
About the Author(s)
Caela Fenton, Ph.D., is a content specialist at SIRC. In this role she calls on her experience as a researcher within cultural studies of sport, and as a sports journalist, to help make sport and physical culture research accessible to a broad audience.
The information presented in SIRC blogs and SIRCuit articles is accurate and reliable as of the date of publication. Developments that occur after the date of publication may impact the current accuracy of the information presented in a previously published blog or article.