Happy International Women’s Day! Although we celebrate the recognition and achievements of women all year round, this day is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the work your organization has been doing to build more equitable sport and to use this day to continue your gender equity educational journey.

Join us and CBC Sports for our International Women’s Day live panel discussion at 12:15pm ET today hosted by Andi Petrillo on Facebook Live and YouTube. Guest speakers include Josette Lafleur, Signa Butler, Madeline Schizas and Renée Sonnenberg.

Access (and share) these additional gender equity resources with your networks this International Women’s Day:

• Utilize the Gender Equity in Coaching Framework and Self-Assessment tool to improve conditions for women in coaching by identifying the factors that can be changed within your organization.
• Access our Gender Equity LENS module, which, in addition to defining foundational concepts, provides a practical model for bringing a gender lens to the work you do in sport – in whatever role you play.
• Understanding the importance of intersectionality and unconscious bias is important in advancing gender equity in sport because one solution may not work for ALL women and girls. If we do not acknowledge this, we risk building more barriers to true equity.
• Understand the lived experiences of Canadian women and girls that are from BIPOC communities and to identify the best practices for addressing the barriers they face to sport participation.
• Learn how to create safe and respectful environments for girls to participate in sport and physical activity with the Keeping Girls in Sport e-module, for coaches and activity leaders.
• She Belongs offers practical recommendations to create social connection and better engage girls in the Learn to Train and Train to Train stages of the Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity Framework (LTD).

It’s also an exciting time for Team Canada fans as the 2022 Beijing Paralympics have begun! Some athletes to keep an eye out for:

• Ina Forest – a resident of Spallumcheen, BC is competing in their fourth Paralympic Games. As one of the world’s most decorated wheelchair curlers (Inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 2016), Forest is back once again looking to add more medals to their impressive count (2 gold, 1 bronze).
• Mollie Jepsen – a native of West Vancouver is in their second Paralympic Games. Jespen already has four medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze) under their belt in Para Alpine.
• Natalie Wilkie – from Salmon Arm, BC, is also competing in their second Paralympic Games. Wilkie, who will be participating in Para Nordic has captured three medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze) at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games. For a full list of athletes heading to the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, click here. CBC.ca will be streaming all Paralympic coverage.

For a full list of athletes heading to the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, click here.

CBC.ca will be streaming all Paralympic coverage.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities 

• We’ve partnered with the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) for the 4-part Engaging Girls and Women in Sport Mini Series. The final session, Connecting mind and movement: How to create sport environments that support mental health, is taking place Thursday, March 24th at 1:00pm ET. In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. Through research and lived experience, the webinar will explore the challenges contributing to women and girls’ mental health in a sport context. Our panel will bring athlete, coach and clinician perspectives to share best practices for creating sport environments that support mental health and foster holistic wellness. Register here. 

Organizational Updates:

• Canadian Women & Sport releases a yearly “Snapshot” of gender diversity in sport leadership, reflecting gender composition at the board and senior staff level. This Snapshot is based on a survey of Canadian National Sport Organizations (NSOs) and Multisport Service Organizations (MSOs). Compared to 2019, after the government commitment was announced, the percentage of women holding board seats has jumped by 5 points. That means 45 more women are at the table than three years ago. Canadian Women & Sport celebrates the momentum in the sector. But we also must acknowledge that this progress has been the result of years of organizations laying the foundation for change, which can easily be upset if we lose attention and energy. Check out the 2022 Women in Sport Leadership Snapshot. 
• Join a powerful group of facilitators and consultants and help deepen our impact. Canadian Women & Sport is building a team of Program Facilitators and Program Consultants who will become an extension of our organization, help deliver our programming and expand our impact. Are you our next Program Facilitator or Program Consultant? Program Consultants – As a Program Consultant you will coach and support sport leaders and senior leadership teams looking to advance gender equity in their organizations. This role is client-facing and you will work collaboratively with senior sport leaders to problem-solve, dissect complex issues and implement organizational changes. Program Facilitators – As a Program Facilitator you will work with front line sport leaders and grassroot sport organizations and their teams to facilitate workshops and programs. Applications for both roles will open in April. Want to learn more? Sign up to be notified when applications open.

Gender Equity Initiatives From Our Friends:

• Are you an Arab living in Ontario that is 18 years or older? Do you have a passion for empowering Arabs and their well-being through nutrition and physical activity? If you answered yes to both of these questions, you may be eligible to participate in the CAN HEAL study, the first of its kind in #Canada. The CAN HEAL project focuses on #food security, #nutritious culturally appropriate diets, and physical activity opportunities to promote resilience and well-being of Arabs and other immigrants. Interested in participating? Please fill out the screening form https://buff.ly/3Cg19JU.
• NextGEN/NextSTEP is pleased to share a new conference designed to help young athletes plan their pathway in sport. This conference will address topics that will help young athletes (girls) understand their pathway in sport. Topics include Safe Sport, Mental and Physical Health, Moving Away from Home, If I Knew Then, What I Know Now, and many more. Speakers include Olympians, Sport Executives, and top Coaches. This conference will also feature a facilitated Athlete Action Planning workshop so every attending athlete will leave with a plan to achieve their personal goals. Learn more at www.nextgennextstep.com.  

Have a gender equity initiative you want to share? Click here.

Thanks for reading!