Knowledge Nuggets

Today is World Sleep Day. Are Canadians getting enough sleep? According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 1 in 2 adults have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep; 1 in 5 adults do not find their sleep refreshing; and 1 in 3 adults have difficulty staying awake during waking hours. Find out more...

In these days of doping scandals, athletes can find themselves wondering about the other athletes lining up beside them. Canadian weightlifter Christine Girard, awarded medals from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games in December 2018, advises athletes to stay true to their values, work hard, and trust in the system. Learn more about her journey...

Gender Equity is key to achieving a world class sport system – research shows that organizations with the most gender diversity outperform those with the least. Research conducted by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) shows that the overall number of women on boards is trending up,...

A values-based approach to sport supports the development of “communities of character” where athletes, coaches, officials, parents and other stakeholders work together to create a welcoming, safe, athlete-centred environment. Learn more about values-based sport and creating communities of character in the SIRCuit.

Does your organization have an idea to improve sport participation in Canada? Sport Canada’s Innovation Initiative provides funding to deliver and test innovative program approaches to engage women and girls, LGBTQ2+ communities, persons with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada. Click here for more information.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, CAAWS released its new Women in Sport Leadership Snapshot. The evidence is clear – organizations with gender diverse boards are more effective. Within sport, 47% of national sport organizations (NSOs) and multisport service organizations (MSOs) have a documented commitment to a gender equitable board, yet 93% indicated intentions to...

Thinking about making some changes to your diet now that Health Canada has released an updated Food Guide? Plant-based and vegetarian diets offer many health benefits including the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. This article from the Dietitians of Canada offers tips and meal options for well-planned vegetarian eating.

What started as a practice drill between two brothers, grew into the rule that transformed the sport of curling. Learn more about the Free Guard Zone rule in today’s SIRC Blog.

A review of the evidence shows unstructured play improves physical health and gross motor skills, fun and creativity, social health and team work, resilience and risk management skills, mental and emotional health, and learning and attention at school. Learn more in this infographic.

Research from the University of Manitoba revealed locker rooms, unfamiliar environments, and unknown sports officials can create unsafe spaces for trans athletes. The creation and enforcement of comprehensive trans inclusion policies, education about the participation of trans athletes, and efforts to eliminate transphobia, are all necessary to create a safe and inclusive sport system for...