The transformative power of sport: Insights from two Canadian Olympic rowers
Reflecting on my life’s journey, I’m profoundly struck by the transformative impact that sport has had on every facet of my life. The journey from a young sport enthusiast to an elite performer was marked by various challenges and triumphs, each contributing to the mosaic of experiences that define my character today. In this article,…
Beyond the scoreboard: Sport’s role in climate action
In recent years public awareness and concern about climate change have significantly increased. Organizations are increasingly acknowledging and addressing the direct link between their operations and climate change, embracing initiatives from paper straws to carbon offsets. However, as climate impacts intensify globally, and with both governments and corporations falling short of making sufficient progress on…
Partnering in the pursuit of putting people first
The objectives haven’t changed. The pathway in endeavouring to reach them, though, most certainly has. The aim is in the name. Pursuit. Pursuit in providing improved, impactful coaching and technical assistance to Canadian high-performance athletes. In increasing investment, both financial and in on-the-ground ways, into those individuals entrusted with shaping sport in this country. In…
Sport integrity: Why is it worth protecting?
Sports fans are all intimately familiar with the rules of their favourite sports: what’s allowed, and what will get you penalized. Many are less familiar with the behind-the-scenes rules that protect athletes and the integrity of sport itself. Why protect the integrity of sport? When the outcome of an event is predetermined by competition manipulation…
Team Canada athletes share the best advice they’ve received
All athletes know that participating in sport is a learning process, no matter what level you play at. We asked some of Team Canada’s top athletes across a variety of sports for the best advice they’d ever been given–and almost all of the answers apply not only to sport, but to life. Here’s what they…
Smooth sailing: The evolution of adaptive equipment in the sport
Brian Cuerrier of Belleville, ON uses the windlass to race at the Quebec Cup regatta in Pointe Claire Quebec with companion Emilie Léonard in 2015. Photo: Luka Bartulovic Innovations in sailing technology A slick white hull cuts through the salt waters just outside the Northwest Arm, a narrow inlet off Halifax, Nova Scotia. The 16-foot…
Mentorship in Para sport: The value of experiential coach learning
Coach mentoring in Para sport In many ways, coaching athletes with and without disabilities is comparable as their training, dedication, and motivation to succeed are the same. However, there are contextual differences that make coaching in the Para sport setting unique. For example, it is important for coaches to have a strong understanding of specialized…
Understanding the capacity of national sport organizations (NSOs) for gender equity: Recommendations for NSO Leaders and Policy Directors
As leaders of amateur sport in Canada, national sport organizations (NSOs) are tasked with addressing gender equity and increased engagement of women and girls. NSO leaders may focus their efforts through new policies, initiatives or programs, but their ability to successfully develop and implement these new ideas is dependent on their organization’s capacity to do…
Shifting the narrative: Empowering parents and fostering understanding of their roles in the youth sport system
Parents as promoters of positive youth sport experiences One of the key social agents within the youth sport environment is the parent. They are commonly called upon to facilitate critical components of youth sport participation, such as providing material (registration and travel fees, equipment purchases, volunteerism) and emotional support like encouragement and feedback for athletes…
Ski like a girl: Researchers reveal hidden histories of women in Nordic sport
From a U of A varsity ski club to the Canadian Birkebeiner and the Olympics, women have always been part of the landscape of winter sport. When Lyndsay Conrad dove into her archival research on early 20th-century ski history in Alberta, she found women were missing in the standard narratives, yet leap out in old…