RA Centre – The Recreation Association of the Public Service of Canada (also known as the RA or RA Centre), a local not-for-profit, is thrilled to announce the first two of many sport organizations committed to joining the exciting House of Sport – Canadian Fencing Federation and Taekwondo Canada. The House of Sport, an innovative first of its kind design in Canada, will offer National (NSO) and Multi-Sport (MSO) organizations the opportunity to house their national offices in a feature rich environment designed for collaboration, innovation and leveraging efficiencies.

The Canadian Fencing Federation is a non-profit, amateur sports association and is the national governing body of fencing. It includes ten provincial fencing associations, which in turn represent over two hundred local clubs from coast to coast in Canada. Its mandate is to establish, develop and support fencing in Canada and to represent Canada on the international scene.

“By joining the House of Sport project, the Canadian Fencing Federation will be able to access shared resources and support to help grow our sport,” explains Executive Director Caroline Sharp. “Our Association and sport continues to grow. As an Olympic sport and with a national coach already working out of the RA Centre, we are delighted to be able to join the House of Sport.”

Meanwhile Taekwondo Canada moved their offices back to the City of Ottawa in 2016 after re-locating to Toronto many years ago. Taekwondo Canada is responsible for the sport and maintaining international partnerships on behalf of athletes and the provinces.

“Once we made the decision to return to Ottawa, we needed to find a location that could offer a wide range of support for our sport,” Darlene MacDonald, Taekwondo Canada Executive Director shares. “The RA Centre and the House of Sport will provide an exciting opportunity for us to establish an administrative home base that is like nothing in the country. We believe that the services and support in the House of Sport will provide us with a solid base to grow our sport.”

The House of Sport will offer organizations an open concept community, but also support them with a wide range of services, and meeting rooms, leveraging economies of scale to drive down costs. This is on top of the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organizations and access health and wellness opportunities for staff members.

“We look forward to welcoming the Canadian Fencing Federation and Taekwondo Canada to the House of Sport. These organizations share the desire to develop administrative excellence and reduce costs, which can be re-directed back into the sport through coaching, athletes or at the grassroots levels,” offers Tosha Rhodenizer, RA Chief Executive Officer. “Over the next few weeks we plan on releasing information on additional sport organizations that will joining the House of Sport initiative.”

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Contact Information

Recreation Association of the Public Service of Canada (RA):

Bryan R. Merrett

Director, Partnership and Engagement

Telephone: 613-897-6162

Email: bmerrett@racentre.com

About the RA

A member supported not-for-profit organization; the Recreation Association of the Public Service of Canada (best known as the RA or RA Centre) operates a multi-sport, recreation and leisure facility conveniently located in the heart of Ottawa. With a deep and quality laden line-up of fitness programs, sports leagues designed for adults, summer camps for children and youth and clubs for all ages, the RA is an environment that values fun, respect and excellence. RA members celebrate in a social atmosphere with a new story created each day. Supporting these stories is the ability for members and the public to access services from the RA’s Events and Conference team offering quality food and beverages. With a proud legacy of community engagement that embodies a clear passion for excellence in sport, the RA has much to offer the sport community. For additional design information on the House of Sport please visit our project page at www.houseofsport.ca.

About the Canadian Fencing Federation

Fencing is a modern and exciting sport, often described as trying to play chess while running the 100-metre dash! It’s hard to believe that this thoroughly sophisticated sport has emerged from the serious and deadly combat practiced by the Trois Mousquetaires.

Fencing is truly an Olympic sport, having been involved since the first modern Olympics took place in Athens in 1896. In addition, Fencing holds the distinguished honour of being one of only four sports which have participated in every modern Olympic Games since their inauguration.

Canadian fencing dates back to 1816 when Maître Girard opened the first fencing school in Montréal. The first Canadian Championships were held in 1902.

It was not until the announcement of the 1976 Olympics and incorporation of the Canadian Fencing Federation in 1971, that the Federal Government provided financial assistance to develop elite athletes for the Montréal Olympiad, providing the stimulus for Canadian fencers to steadily improve their performance on the international scene.

Taekwondo Canada

Taekwondo Canada is the National Sport Federation in Canada recognized by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU), Sport Canada and Canadian Olympic Committee. Together with its membership and partners, Taekwondo Canada promotes the growth and development of Taekwondo in Canada for all its athletes, officials, coaches and participants to achieve their greatest potential. In honoring tradition, Taekwondo Canada leads the development of the sport to enable excellence and build champions.