CAAWS Newsletter

We believe education is key to creating a more inclusive and welcoming sport system. CAAWS LGBTQI2S Project Lead Jennifer Birch-Jones recently presented at Egale Canada’s First Identities Conference, where she shared the latest Canadian research and recommendations on how to expand LGBTQI2S inclusion in sport, which you can read by clicking here.
Display your LGBTQI2S Safe Space poster with pride!

The Manitoba Girls Football Association – the world’s first full-contact girl’s football league – will hold their championships on June 28th. The MGFA gives their athletes the opportunity to play in a girls-only league where they can prepare, compete, and improve with one another in a girl-centred environment. This summer league takes place in the lead-up to afall season where girls and boys teams play against one another. 

Saskatchewan has recently followed suit with their first ever midget girl’s tackle football game, a concept that’s beginning to gain traction across Canada.

To all the fathers who are doing their part to support women and girls’ participation and leadership in sport, we thank you!

You have an important role to playin the movement for gender equity in sport.
Educate yourself on
“What Men Can Do!”

Dumêla From Botswana!

This past May, CAAWS CEO Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, with CAC’s Isabelle Cayer, had the pleasure of presenting the Female Coach Mentorship Model at the 7th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport in Gaborone, Botswana.

The conference gathered over 1000 international leaders in sport and physical activity, including fellow Canadians Nancy Lee, Guylaine Demers and Kathleen Giguere, to connect, share and collaborate to advance equity and inclusion at all levels of sport globally, as well as identify parallels and working solutions back home.

The University of Portsmouth recently conducted the UK’s first study on the influence of breasts on sport and exercise participation in school-aged girls  and reported the following:

To help combat the drop-out rate of girls from sport due to issues like this, the university has developed a lesson plan and materials for coaches, schools, and teachers wanting to share these findings and learning outcomes to their female students. 
Get the resources here!

Despite being one of the fastest growing populations in Canada, women aged 55-70+ are not well understood and supported to participate in sport and physical activity. We’ve been working to change that by providing practicalguidance and resources for program leaders to create opportunities with their needs in mind.  

Find videos, infographics, how-tos and more on our updated website!

CAAWS Board Member and Executive Director of MLSE LaunchPad, Tanya Mruck, for being recognized by 5 to Watch for her remarkable leadership in sport.

Emma-Jayne Wilson for receiving the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award for her contributions to the sport of horse racing–the first woman to receive the award since 2004.

Marielle Thompson for her induction to the BC Sports Hall of Fame.

Mary Beth Bowie, Kristan Burley, Anna Stammberger, and Margaret (Peggy) Gallant for their induction to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.

Sami Jo Small for her promotion from goalie to GM of the Toronto Furies CWHL hockey team.