Resilience Through Adaptation: How Sport Organizations Responded During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Directions from public health organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered the sport sector, causing many sport decision makers to reconsider what their organization does and how they do it. Although the full scope of the short- and long-term impacts are yet to be seen, some organizations have not survived. Others have used this period…

Reducing Vulnerability to Fraud in Sport Organizations

Community sport clubs in Canada can be vulnerable to financial fraud, where someone uses their position for personal gain by deliberately misusing an organisation’s resources or assets. According to our research, recently featured in a CBC Sports investigation, the impact of fraud can be deep and last for years, regardless of the amount of money…

Five Recommendations to Authentically Engage Newcomers in Sport

Events of 2020 provided a catalyst for sport administrators and community leaders to more directly consider how to create inclusive sport and physical activity opportunities for underrepresented communities (e.g., ethno-racial minorities, LGBTQ2S communities, persons with disabilities). One community receiving increasing attention is newcomers to Canada. Research shows that individuals who have recently immigrated to Canada…

Understanding barriers to sport in Hamilton, ON

Project summary This study uses a random group of adults in Hamilton, ON to determine what barriers to sport are preventing adults from being active through sport. The research using data from a questionnaire that was part of a larger study called the Hamilton Active Living Study or HALStudy. This questionnaire data was used to…

Crises require “all hands on deck”

Developing a response to crises like COVID-19 pandemic requires “all hands on deck.” To help develop their return to sport strategies, the Rocky Point Sailing Association reached out to founding members who were in their 70s and 80s, and recruited new leaders from amongst their membership. This helped ensure they had diverse perspectives and experience…

Community parasport – The experiences of female youth

The upcoming Tokyo Paralympics will be an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Canadian Paralympians. However, without strong development pathways, young Canadians may not have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. An important first step along any development pathway is a positive introduction to sport through grassroots community programs. There is a persisting gap…

Social responsibility of CSOs

Giving Tuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering, harnessing the potential of social media and the generosity of people to bring about real change in their communities. Research on the social responsibility activities of community sport organizations (CSOs) discovered members who are aware of the good things their CSO does beyond their sport…

Navigating COVID-19: A Community Sport Perspective

In the winter of 2020, the Rocky Point Sailing Association (RPSA) in Port Moody, BC was preparing for the upcoming season. RPSA is primarily run by volunteers and employs ten seasonal full-time staff who deliver long-term athlete development (LTAD) programming to more than 600 participants annually. When the COVID-19 pandemic was announced, summer programs were…

Exploring social support, sport participation, and rural women’s health using Photovoice

Project Summary Research Objectives: Conclusions: See Results Research methods Study participants used the photovoice method which includes picture taking with cameras, recording in log books, and group interviews. Participants first participated in a Research Orientation session, then took relevant photos and recorded in logbooks for two weeks, following which the log books were retrieved and…

Building Capacity in Community Sport Organizations

Community sport organizations (CSOs) occupy an important place in our communities by providing sport and recreation opportunities for all ages, as well as serving a wider social role within our communities (see, for example, Taking Action: Community Sport Organizations and Social Responsibility by Misener, 2018). Previous research has pointed to the challenges these organizations face,…