Belonging in marginalized populations

Organized sports can serve as a powerful conduit for fostering feelings of belonging in marginalized populations, such as individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Looking back to go forward: 50 years of Canadian women’s sport

U SPORTS 2020 Swimming Championships at Saanich Commonwealth Place, Victoria, BC, February 2020 (Photo: U SPORTS) Looking back over the last 50 years of women’s sport in Canada, it’s amazing how we have progressed to bring equity, stability, and opportunity, not necessarily in all aspects of sport, but certainly in many. For example, 50 years…

Women in sport

In trying to strive to create more inclusive spaces for everyone, one piece that is still missing is equality in sport media representation. With over 90 percent of Canadian sports media coverage being focused on men’s sport the Government of Canada has committed to reaching gender equity in sport. This SIRC article has a collection…

International Day of the Girl

Creating a positive social environment that intentionally fosters a sense of belonging is integral to the retention of girls in sport and physical activity. This resource is designed for coaches who are ready to intentionally support equitable sport.  She Belongs offers practical recommendations to create social connection and better engage girls in the Learn to…

Creating welcoming, equitable spaces for new Canadians in sport

Sport can help to promote physical and mental health, build social connections and support integration into Canadian communities among newcomers to Canada. However, research shows that newcomers face unique barriers to sport participation, including cost, transportation, language, access to information, racism and religious or cultural considerations. In this article, newcomers in participant, parent, and coaching…

Gender inequality in coaching soccer

Recently there has been significant growth in participation rates from women playing football. Given that there has been increased participation, why is it that men still hold around 80% of coaching positions in the European Women’s Football league? This article explores the possible reasons and causes behind the lack of women coaching.

Safe sport for equity-deserving athletes

Research shows that demographic groups including athletes with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+ athletes are disproportionately affected by maltreatment in sport. This is why researchers are advocating for more organizations to become educated on topics like racism, ableism and sexism in their sport, and incorporate them into Safe Sport initiatives.

Protecting the accessibility of school sport

The financial cost of sport participation is frequently cited as a barrier to access for low-income families in Canada. School sport is often the most accessible form of sport programming, however schools are increasingly adopting pay-to-play models that restrict access. Canadian researchers conducted a study to understand the extent to which school sport supports low-income…

Behind the spectacle: Participatory action research, and the impacts of a world-class arena and entertainment district on the urban poor in downtown Edmonton

Project summary  The project was designed to explore the impacts of a new, $613.7-million, publicly-financed arena development (Rogers Place, the home of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers) in downtown Edmonton on inner city community members, many of who are experiencing homelessness and are disproportionately Indigenous.  Our research uncovered a deficient Community Benefits Agreement (CBA),…

Cultivating inclusive sport environments for 2SLGBTQ+ participants

The Rainbow Resource Centre has compiled a resource kit for sport organizations seeking to create inclusive and welcoming environments for 2SLGBTQ+ participants. Some of the recommendations include collaborating with 2SLGBTQ+ organizations, considering how language is used in your sporting space, and ensuring that employees are offered inclusivity training.