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Inclusion Must Be Intentional

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “inclusion” is the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. True inclusion involves authentic and empowered participation and a true sense of belonging for all participants. However, if we want to be successful with inclusion, we must intentionally plan for it –…

Gender-based Violence in Sport

Coaches can play an important role in teaching athletes about healthy relationships in and through sport. The Coaching Association of Canada is leading a new project to build the capacity of coaches and other sport system stakeholders to help prevent and address gender-based and teen dating violence. To learn about the project and complete coach and athlete…

IDAHOT 2019

Like many sport organizations across Canada, the Canada Games Council (CGC) has recognized inclusion as a core value within its strategic plan, but what does that really mean in practice? To recognize International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, today’s SIRC blog focuses on how the CGC put this value into practice to ensure the…

Putting “Inclusion” into Practice for our LGBTQI2S Community

LGBTQ mascot

Like many sport organizations across Canada, the Canada Games Council (CGC) has recognized inclusion as a core value within its strategic plan, but what does that really mean in practice? For the CGC, inclusion includes policies, procedures and programs focused on opportunities for: Women Indigenous individuals Minority populations Individuals with physical disabilities Individuals with intellectual…

Safe sport: transgender

Research from the University of Manitoba revealed locker rooms, unfamiliar environments, and unknown sports officials can create unsafe spaces for trans athletes. The creation and enforcement of comprehensive trans inclusion policies, education about the participation of trans athletes, and efforts to eliminate transphobia, are all necessary to create a safe and inclusive sport system for…

Appeal to CAS

This week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will hear a scheduled five-day appeal in the case of two-time Olympic 800m champion Castor Semenya. Semenya is appealing a ruling by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that will impose limits on testosterone levels for female athletes with differences of sexual development. The case…

Transgender Barriers to Participation

Research from the University of Manitoba reveals a number of important issues relating to the participation of trans athletes, including a lack of awareness about current inclusion policies, uncertainty and skepticism relating to the science behind current regulations, and persisting transphobia amongst athletes, coaches and decision makers. Unfortunately, the burden of educating stakeholders and advocating…

Why Transgender Eligibility Policies Aren’t Enough

Sprinters at the beginning of a race

In releasing its transgender inclusion policy in September 2018, U Sports joined an ever-increasing list of organizations, from the community to international levels, that have implemented policies to regulate the inclusion of athletes who identify as transgender. Organizations with trans inclusion policies include, but are not limited to, school divisions (e.g. the Toronto District School…

Leading the Way: Working with LGBTQI2S Athletes and Coaches

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) is held annually on May 17th to celebrate sexual and gender diversity. This year’s global theme is “Alliances for Solidarity” which is appropriate for our work in Canada to make sport more welcoming for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex…

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