The ideal candidate has strong project management skills, excellent communication skills both written and verbal, and is comfortable managing and connecting relationships across a variety of organization types. They are competent in bringing an intersectional lens to their work, reflecting diversity, equity and inclusion. The Regional Consultant represents Canadian Women & Sport in the province of Nova Scotia, working closely in collaboration with marketing and communications and program development to localize its work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Engage and serve Nova Scotia SPAR organizations and leaders

• Develop a strategic action plan for Canadian Women & Sport to support Nova Scotia organizations, aligned with government priorities and Canadian Women & Sport’s strategic and operational plans
• Create and adapt national content as needed to provide customized support to Nova Scotia SPAR organizations and leaders
• Deliver training and presentations to Nova Scotia individuals and organizations
• Initiate direct engagement with system stakeholders to offer defined program support and consulting that advances gender equity in Nova Scotia
• Work with partners to develop measurement and evaluation strategies for gender equity activities in SPAR
• Manage resources, ensuring equitable allocation among stakeholders and appropriate limits
• Produce annual report on activities and outcomes

Coordinate system actors for women and sport provincially, with national linkages

• Collaborate with YWCA Halifax LEAD Coordinator – Sport and Recreation Inclusion to establish shared objectives, priorities for each organization and how the two roles will support each other
• Partner with YWCA Halifax to maintain a database of provincial stakeholders and gender equity champions
• Facilitate connections between existing women and sport networks, organizations, and work in the province
• Participate in and support existing female leadership networks and gender equity collectives in Nova Scotia
• Connect learning at national level with opportunities for provincial stakeholders
• Advise on shared messaging among system actors for women and girls in SPAR in Nova Scotia
• Represent Canadian Women & Sport at Nova Scotia events and conferences
• Serve as primary point of contact and relationship manager for day-to-day collaboration with Government of Nova Scotia

Proactively seek opportunities for additional funding in the province for projects

• Provide recommendations to organizations looking for deeper engagement with Canadian Women & Sport
• Collaborate with organizations to complete third-party funding applications
• Identify other prospective funders of Canadian Women & Sport’s activities in Nova Scotia and support outreach and engagement of prospects
• Lead Canadian Women & Sport relationship management of provincial funders
• Work with Government and key funders to establish gender equitable eligibility requirements for funding activities

Represent needs of Nova Scotia within Canadian Women & Sport and the organization’s national work

• Gather insights from Nova Scotia SPAR stakeholders to inform planning and decisions for activities within Nova Scotia and to inform national activities
• Contribute to achievement of national targets by creating opportunities for implementation in Nova Scotia
• Provide Nova Scotia-specific adaptations to Canadian Women & Sport activities as deemed appropriate
• Carry out measurement and evaluation of Canadian Women & Sport activities in the province, including analysis and reporting internally on key learnings

Other duties as required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience applying an intersectional gender equity lens, including specific understanding of anti-oppression and accessibility principles and their applications.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design and deliver high quality, results-focused initiatives that meet organizational and funder expectations
• Ability to connect national and regional priorities
• Skilled at stakeholder engagement, participatory approaches, and relationship management
• Skilled at persuasive communication, including the ability to design and deliver interactive sessions to educate and engage, both virtually and in-person
• Experience working or volunteering in the Canadian sport and physical activity system, specifically within the province of Nova Scotia, is an asset.
• Experience working with digital tools such as CRMs (Salesforce specifically), Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, Zoom, and Submittable or equivalents.
• Bilingualism (French-English) is a strong asset.

Details

• This is a full-time permanent position with opportunity for flexible hours.
• Salary range is $65,000-$70,000 plus comprehensive health benefits.
• This position reports to the Director of Marketing, who is based currently in Toronto, Ontario.
• This position will reside in Nova Scotia, with expectation that the successful candidate will largely work from a home office.

We provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Deadline to apply is Sunday, January 9, 2022. Candidates should submit their cover letter and resume on Submittable: https://cws.submittable.com/submit/210917/manager-gender-equity-consulting-nova-scotia-2021

The post Job Posting: Regional Consultant Based in Nova Scotia appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Just like that, 2021 is almost at an end. 

What a year it has been! Between the 2021 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the success of Canadian women across multiple sports, and the momentum we continue to see to from sport organizations looking build more inclusive sport in Canada has made this year a busy one! Check out some of the learnings we’ve produced this year. 

Have a gender equity initiative or event that you would like to share? Fill out the following form and it could be featured in our upcoming newsletter(s).  

COVID Alert: Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport 

The key finding from the study shows that 1 in 4 Canadian girls (aged 6-18) who participated in sport at least weekly prior to COVID-19 are not committed to returning to sport once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Read the report to learn how you can help change these statistics. 

Gender Equity in Coaching  

Current coaching data indicates that women are under-represented as coaches both nationally and internationally. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) to establish the Gender Equity in Coaching Framework and Self-Assessment tool to identify the key areas for organizational change to improve the conditions for women in coaching.  

Using Gender Equity as a Tool to Combat Gender-Based Violence in Sport 

Although research has not investigated the explicit relationship between gender equity and GBV in sport, research outside of sport reveals two perspectives – women as change agents and the power paradox. Learn ways to reduce gender-based violence through gender equity in our new tool. 

Winning Plays: The Gender Equity Playbook Report

This report highlights key learnings, triumphs, challenges and visions for growth that can be used to inform policies, investments, and actions broadly in the sport system. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the commitment to real and impactful change by the Playbook organizations.

The Sporting Experiences of BIPOC Women & Girls in Canada 

This resource is useful to sport leaders and organizations to 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. Check out the webinar recording. 

Maximizing the Impact of Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Training 

Trainings are a vital first step to affecting change. But like many of us, your learning may come to an end when the training ends. Understand how to EAT your learning to make the most of your online learning and engage in meaningful and lasting learning opportunities with this resource. 

We want to wish all our supporters, partners, and your families meaningful moments of rest and joy as we enter a new chapter. Thank you for supporting us and for being agents of change. We’ll see you in 2022 to continue the fight for gender equity.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities:

• We’ve partnered with the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) to deliver the Engaging Girls and Women in Sport Mini Series. In this webinar you’ll hear from academic experts and sport practitioners on the importance of data collection and evaluation; where to look for and find data, tips for mining data for insights and how to leverage data to improve your programs. Register now for the event on Wednesday, December 15 at 1:00pm ET.
• Our Gender Equity LENS e-learning module is always available to help you and your organization access the information and tools you need to act on your commitment to inclusion and make policy and program decisions that better serve women and girls in sport. Access the module now.  

Organizational Updates:

• We are looking for a Regional Consultant based in Nova Scotia to exclusively serve Nova Scotia sport, physical activity and recreation (SPAR) providers and assist them in the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the FPTSC Working Group on Women and Girls in Sport report and Nova Scotia’s priorities and strategies related to Gender Equity. Deadline to apply is Friday, January 7, 2022. Click here for more details and to apply now.
• The Canadian Women & Sport office is closed for the holiday season starting December 24th until January 3rd, 2022. Correspondence will resume on January 4th when the office reopens. 
• Looking for ways to support Canadian Women & Sport? Visit our new Support Us page on our website to help continue the fight for gender equity.  

Gender Equity Initiatives From Our Friends:

• Commonwealth Sport Canada – Sport with Social Purpose, has designed an internship program for up & coming women high performance coaches. Supplying them the opportunity to access leadership development featuring women trailblazers in Canadian sport, valuable national and international coaching experience and developing a strong and sustainable network of support. To learn more about the Commonwealth Women Coach Internship Program (WCIP), visit their webpage. 
• Commonwealth Sport Canada is providing enhancements to their Sportworks Program: Sport for Newcomers Initiative Pilot 2. Enhancement Activities during the pilot will include involving newcomer girls in the design, delivery and evaluation of sport programs. This will be offered by engaging newcomer girls (who have taken part in sport and who have yet to take part in sport) and finding enhancements to sport programming offered to align with the needs and interests of newcomer girls more specifically. This will be completed in partnership with local partners through in-depth consultations at the onset of the pilot to learn more about newcomer girl experiences, barriers and suggestions for sport programming which is of interest and meets the unique needs of participants. For more information on the project, please visit their website. 

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

Thanks for reading! 

The post December Newsletter: Recapping the 2021 Chapter: Learnings to take into the New Year appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Coaches are the most visible and influential leaders in sport, but unfortunately, we know that women are under-represented in coaching roles (Canadian Women & Sport, The Rally Report, (2020).  

We’ve partnered with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) to combat this issue by creating the Gender Equity in Coaching Framework and Self-Assessment Tool which helps organizations to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. The new interactive tools will provide organizations with the resources they need to cultivate a more equitable coaching landscape within their communities. To learn more and to access the tools, visit our Gender Equity in Coaching webpage.  

Check out our latest blog post about the current state of women coaches in the Canadian sport system! Learn where women coaches currently stand in community and high-performance sport and what impacts girls’ participation in physical activity has on these statistics.  

Hold November 23 at 12pm ET in your calendar for an upcoming webinar to learn more about Gender Equity in Coaching. Stay tuned to our social for more details. 

Upcoming Opportunities to Apply for:

• FINAL CALL for Game On applications. We’re looking for 15 sport and physical activity organizations from across Canada to deliver this program designed to foster leadership skills and increase participants’ motivation to be physically active by supporting coaches to create safer, more inclusive, and more engaging sport and physical activity experiences for girls. Interested organizations will provide coaches that will sign on to receive training and then deliver the full 8-week program virtually or in-person to girls in their club aged 14-18. Successful organizations will receive professional development resources, financial support (honourarium), swag package, networking opportunities, and more! Applications close TOMORROW, Friday November 5th at 11:59PM ET. Apply now!  
• Call for partners: Sport for Life, in partnership with Canadian Women & Sport, are looking for three local sport organizations (LSOs) or community-based organizations who are keen to engage and empower self-identifying racialized and/or newcomer women, girls, trans women, trans girls, and femmes through quality sport opportunities. All local sport organizations or community-based organizations or groups are eligible to participate in this initiative. Selected organizations will receive $8,000 to compensate for the time spent reviewing and sharing feedback on the resources provided by Sport for Life and Canadian Women & Sport and designing and delivering an initiative with support from the resources and mentorship. The application deadline is November 10, 2021, 11:59 pm EST. Click here to learn more.

Upcoming Learning Opportunities:

• We’ve partnered with the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association to deliver a six-part interactive workshop series that will provide recreation and sport leaders with practical information on how to get and keep adult women active. In each 90-minute session, participants will learn about what motivates women to participate, and how to apply strategies to increase the participation of adult women in active living programs. Each presentation will highlight unique programs as case studies and feature regional guest speakers with expertise in leading successful recreation and sport programs for women. Visit our website for more information on the six workshops. 
• We’ve partnered with the Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC) to deliver the Engaging Girls and Women in Sport Mini Series. Did you know 1 in 4 Canadian girls are not committed to returning to sport after the pandemic? (COVID Alert: Pandemic Impact on Girls in Sport). That means over 350,000 girls could end up sitting on the sidelines in the post-COVID-19 world. Part 1: Getting Girls Back in the Game will look at the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls in sport. Panelists will explore research on the current situation and share strategies to help girls feel comfortable and confident to get back into the game. This webinar will take place on Wednesday, November 17th at 1:00pm ET. Register now. 
• Our Resources page on our website contains a wealth of learning opportunities for the sport sector. Did you know that women performance athletes are 2X more likely to face maltreatment in sport and report more harmful resulting health outcomes? Learn how gender equity may help to reduce gender-based violence in sport. Download our infographic.

Organizational Updates:

• We’ve concluded our Board of Directors election and are excited to welcome Lara Rooke, Senior Program Advisor, International Visits and Protocol at the Government of Canada to the board. Rooke brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from 18 years as a public servant across several roles. Rooke joins Canadian Women & Sport alongside, Natalie Marcuzzi—a Young Director with FORA: Network for Change’s Girls on Boards program. Marcuzzi works in capital markets at RBC and brings a strong athlete lens to the board as a recent player with the Toronto 6. We are delighted to welcome Marcuzzi to the board for a one-year term in an ex-officio capacity to support her development as a leader in sport. Read the release for details. 

Gender Equity Initiatives From Our Friends:

• Fast and Female is running their 8th Virtual Summit Series across Canada. The 2021 Virtual Summit Series will be a 5-session program hosted over 5 weeks (every Saturday, from November 13 until December 11) focused on physical activity, hearing from their REAL (Relatable, Empowering, Active Leaders) Role Models, interactive workshops, and more! Participants will enjoy high-quality time with role models. This series is targeted for girls (8-14 years old) and leaders-in-training (15-18 years old). Registration closes November 10th at 11:59pm ET. If you have questions, please e-mail [email protected].  
• Girls & Women in Motion has officially opened their Pen Pal Mentor program through their 2021 WISE Grant Funding. The Pen Pal Mentor Program will pair girls, ages 10-16, with women mentors/role models, aged 20+, from the General Toronto Area (GTA) for a 6-month period to allow girls to see a future for themselves within sport. This FREE program is still looking for 12 girls aged 10-16 that live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to be mentees. For more information to share with those in your community, please click HERE. Registration can be found HERE. 

Have a gender equity initiative or event that you would like to share? Fill out the following form and it could be featured in our upcoming newsletter(s).

Thanks for reading! 

The post November Newsletter: Helping Develop More Women Coaches appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Tokyo 2020 was a summer of triumph for Canadian women athletes. Over 60 percent of the 371 Canadian Olympians and 75 percent of the Canadian medal winners in Tokyo identified as women or gender diverse.¹ However, women made up only 16 percent of the 131 Canadian coaches that participated._² Although Canadian women athletes are being represented on the world stage, women coaches are still being left out of play.

At the college and university level, women are not fairing much better with only 26 percent of women head coaches leading women’s teams and a dismal three percent of women head coaches leading men’s teams in the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) and U SPORTS.⁷ At the grassroots level in Canada, it is estimated only 34 percent of coaches are women.³ The data is clear – women are underrepresented in coaching at all levels of sport in Canada. An important question to consider is why?

Barriers to coaching

Societal and institutional systems are at the root of the barriers women experience in coaching. There are multiple intersecting and complex factors that can impede women’s coaching careers. Women coaches are impacted personally and professionally by stereotypes, discrimination and gendered organizational cultures that favour advancement opportunities for men. These barriers increase when leaders and organizations believe women must take responsibility for navigating and overcoming these barriers rather than recognizing the system is broken and must change.

For example, blame-the-women narratives focus on the individual rather than the very real social and organizational barriers that deter or exclude women from coaching.⁴ The following table provides common examples.

Compounded with double standards (i.e., holding women coaches to a higher or different standard than men, paying women less than men with comparable experience, providing less resources and support to women coaches, etc.) blame-the-women narratives continue to entrench and uphold an inequitable sport system.⁴

Changing the system to change the game

Although helping women navigate the system is a crucial step in increasing representation in coaching, more work needs to be focused on improving organizations and the sport system to ensure sustainable change. The onus needs to be on organizations to oppose the status quo, check assumptions and biases and actively advance gender equity in coaching. A foundation for this work to be successful is having organizations cultivate a culture where diversity and inclusion are valued and lived every day compared to having one-off diversity and inclusion initiatives.⁵

Five actions organizations can take:

1. Create and promote clear credible coaching pathways with support for women at each career stage. ⁵

For women to progress within coaching, pathways need to be visible with clear coach development opportunities. These opportunities should reflect learning cultures and not just series of qualifications used to assess the current competence of coaches. Coaching courses should not just be assessments and gatekeeping to coach at the next level but rather should be learning and development opportunities.⁵ Support must also extend beyond completing coach education courses and qualifications. Organizations should map out their own processes for supporting coaches through their NSO or PSO coach development streams.

2. Implement recruitment, hiring and retention policies that explicitly seek out women

Organizations can take the lead by committing to hiring and promoting women coaches by setting clear targets for the number of women coaching at every level within the organization. Make sure to include timelines and check-ins to achieve the defined goals. Build and reach out to diverse networks and develop a succession list of talented women to fill coaching roles. ⁶ Involve women coaches and leaders in the recruiting and hiring process and commit to building a diverse candidate pool. To retain coaches, organizations should be flexible to meet the diverse needs of women coaches and ensure coaches are being compensated commensurate with skill level.⁴ Offering long-term contracts can also help create stable work conditions.

3. Challenge and remove stereotypes and bias that discriminate against women

Our brains group people based on things we know or assume about them, like age, gender, skin colour, income, ability or education. Our brains use these groupings to make judgements without us even knowing it. This is called unconscious bias. If we don’t intentionally identify our unconscious bias, we run the risk that our biases impact our decision making, which could lead to unfairness against groups of individuals and harm our pursuits to improve inclusion. A first step to counter our unconscious bias is to learn more about different types so that you can actively counter your unconscious bias. For example, unconscious gender bias that associates men with leadership can influence decision makers to choose men over women or other gender diverse individuals for coaching roles. Here are some types of bias and how you can counteract them:

4. Actively help women build relationships within your organization and the sport system through mentorship and sponsorship

Organizations need to move beyond getting more women coaches in the door and make sure once arrived, the organization is providing active support and guidance for coaches to develop and progress. As women are not often part of the “boys’ club” that continues to be pervasive throughout the Canadian

sport system, mentorship and sponsorship are key processes to ensure women gain a valuable and supportive network of colleagues and opportunities.

“It must extend to a culture of sponsorship within daily interactions and a positive management style by those who manage coaches and tutors. Sponsorship has an explicit aim of advancement through exposure to opportunities and relationships to improve the promotion and capability of coaches and tutors. It is again, grounded in a basic assumption of the value of women in these roles rather than just simply another strategy or initiative.” ⁵ – Norman, Rankin-Wright & Allison (2018)

5. Complete the Gender Equity in Coaching Self-Assessment Tool to identify areas of best-practice and growth in your organization

The Gender Equity in Coaching Framework focuses on key factors within an organization’s control, guiding sport leaders to meaningful and sustainable changes that will improve the outcome for women in coaching. These include:

Complete the Gender Equity in Coaching Self-Assessment Tool to determine your organization’s areas of strength and potential areas of improvement to advance gender equity in coaching.

We’re here to help! To work with Canadian Women & Sport to improve support for women coaches and build better gender equity in your organization, contact us at [email protected].

The post Stepping up to get more women into the game: What organizations can do to support women in coaching appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

This interactive 6-part series, in partnership with the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, will provide recreation and sport leaders with practical information on how to get and keep adult women active. The presenters will highlight the diversity of adult women and their many intersecting identities with specific considerations provided to engage women 55+, new mothers, Indigenous women and newcomer women.

In each 90-minute session, participants will learn about what motivates women to participate, and how to apply strategies to increase the participation of adult women in active living programs. Each presentation will highlight unique programs as case studies and feature regional guest speakers with expertise in leading successful recreation and sport programs for women. This workshop series has been made possible by the Government of Canada.

See details and registration below.

Session 1: New Ideas to Get Moving

Tue, November 16, 2021 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM EST | Presented in English

Guest speakers for this session

Shelley Callaghan will provide information on adult women in Canada and highlight what we have found works well to engage women in active living.

Bree Thorlakson, Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association and Sandy Ward, Indigenous Women Outdoors will present on how effective partnerships can encourage more women to get involved in Mountain biking.

With a growing interest in pickleball among women, Karen Rust (President) Pickleball Canada, Bryna Kopelow (Board Member) Pickleball Canada and Beverly DeHaitre, Victoria Regional Pickleball Association will providing information and examples of how programs can be developed to be more inclusive and welcoming.

This session is presented by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, in partnership with Canadian Women & Sport and BC Recreation and Parks Association.

Session 2: Établir des liens sociaux

jeu., 18 novembre 2021 | 12:00 – 13:30 EST | Presented in French

Présentateurs

Françoise Uwamariya fournira des informations sur les femmes adultes au Canada et soulignera ce que nous avons trouvé qui fonctionne bien pour engager les femmes dans la vie active.

Pauline Kamugisha de la Fédération du sport francophone de l’Alberta présentera ElleBouge 55+, une campagne qui vise à encourager les femmes à devenir plus actives physiquement. La présentation mettra en vedette des femmes francophones de 55+ qui ont surmonté leur peur d’être jugées et ont trouvé leur propre façon de faire de l’activité physique.

Dominique Perrault de Femmes-Relais Saint-Michel présentera un programme d’activité physique pour les femmes nouvellement arrivées et partagera comment le programme les a aidées à rencontrer des amis et à créer des réseaux pour maintenir un mode de vie actif.

Cette séance est présentée par l’Association canadienne des parcs et loisirs, en partenariat avec Femmes et sport au Canada et l’Association québécoise du loisir municipal.

Session 3: Ideas to Engage Your Community

Wed, December 8, 2021 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST | Presented in English

Guest Presenters

Shelley Callaghan will provide information on adult women in Canada and highlight what we have found works well to engage women in active living.

Valerie Fitzpatrick from Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI (IRSA) will explore the benefits of their women’s dance and fitness program as well as their experience coordinating with local partners to get the entire community active together through Fresh Air Fun Events.

Sally O’Neill and Lilly Selvaraj will dive into their Ladies Only Trail Building Weekend and Active Pictou County’s Welcome Winter Project highlighting the importance of partnerships and personal connections in getting and keeping women active.

This session is presented by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, in partnership with Canadian Women & Sport, Recreation NB, Recreation Nova Scotia, Recreation NL, and Recreation PEI.

Session 4: Creating Opportunities for Wellness

Tue, January 18, 2022 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST | Presented in English

Details coming soon!

Session 5: Inclusive & Welcoming Programs

Thu, February 3, 2022 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST | Presented in English

Details coming soon!

Session 6: Flexible Programs for Max. Participation

Tue, February 8, 2022 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST | Presented in English

Details coming soon!

The post Engaging Women in Active Living: Workshop Series appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Coaches are the most visible and influential leaders in sport. They shape the day-to-day lived experiences of participants and influence the growth and development of sport. Current coaching data indicates that women are under-represented as coaches both nationally and internationally. 

The Coaching Association of Canada reported that of individuals who identified taking a National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) course and recorded it within the Locker (a dedicated online tracking system) in 2019 only 34% were women, compared to 66% men and 0.1% another gender (Canadian Women & Sport, The Rally Report, (2020)). To learn more about the current landscape of coaching in Canada, check out  Canadian Women & Sport’s latest blog post. 

To increase the number of women in coaching, the new Gender Equity in Coaching tools will support sport leaders at all levels of the system to improve conditions for women coaches.  

The Gender Equity in Coaching Framework focuses on factors within an organization’s control, guiding sport leaders to meaningful and sustainable changes that will improve the outcomes for women in coaching, while the Gender Equity in Coaching Self-Assessment Tool determines an organization’s areas of strength and opportunities for improvement, by offering evidence-based recommendations to advance gender equity in coaching via an online platform. 

“Advancing gender equity in coaching is a priority for the Coaching Association of Canada. Through our collaborative work to develop this new assessment tool we can further support organizations across Canada to determine the areas that they are already succeeding in, and the steps they need to take to achieve a more equitable coaching landscape.” 

Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO, Coaching Association of Canada

“The evidence is clear: more women coaching at every level will positively impact engagement of girls and women and improve everyone’s experience, regardless of gender. There’s no better time to launch this framework and new tool to help increase inclusion of women in coaching and leadership positions within sport. We’ve listened carefully to sport organizations, who have told us that increasing the number of women coaching in their sport is a top priority. We are proud to work with the Coaching Association of Canada to provide these new solutions.” 

Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO, Canadian Women & Sport

To access the Gender Equity Self-Assessment Tool, please click here. 

Visit the Gender Equity in Coaching landing page.

Canadian Women and Sport and the Coaching Association of Canada will also be hosting a free Gender Equity in Coaching Webinar on November 23^rd, 2021, as an opportunity for the community to learn how to use the framework and self-assessment tool. 

These resources and opportunities are available for free and have been made possible thanks to support from Sport Canada. We are grateful for their continued commitment to expanding opportunities for women in coaching. 

About the Coaching Association of Canada 
The Coaching Association of Canada unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its programs, the CAC empowers coaches with knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches. 

Contact: 

Natasha Cyrille, [email protected], Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Canadian Women & Sport 

Anick Michel, [email protected], Manager, Marketing and Communications, Coaching Association of Canada,  

The post Canadian Women & Sport and the Coaching Association of Canada Release New Tools for Advancing Gender Equity in Coaching appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Rooke brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from 18 years as a public servant across several roles. Her expertise with stakeholder engagement and decision making within government will enhance Canadian Women & Sport’s effectiveness in fostering relationships with governments at all levels. Governments are essential partners in the process of system change benefiting all women and girls in sport. Rooke also brings to the board a deep personal history with sport as an athlete, coach, and sports administrator.

Rooke joins Canadian Women & Sport alongside, Natalie Marcuzzi—a Young Director with FORA: Network for Change’s Girls on Boards program. Marcuzzi works in capital markets at RBC and brings a strong athlete lens to the board as a recent player with the Toronto 6. We are delighted to welcome Marcuzzi to the board for a one-year term in an ex-officio capacity to support her development as a leader in sport. The organization is excited to build on its commitments to empower leaders and are looking forward to benefiting significantly from Natalie’s contributions.

With new board members stepping in, the organization bids farewell to Rebecca Shanks, who has served excellently for three terms. Over these six years, Shanks helped to shape a strong new strategic direction for the organization. As a member of the Marketing & Revenue Generation Committee, Shanks was crucial to the new brand launched in 2020. She also led the renewal and diversification of our board as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

“I’m thrilled to have Lara and Natalie bring their skills and experience to the board as we lean into the organization’s new strategic plan. I want to thank Rebecca for her tremendous contributions that have helped to modernize the organization and position it for greater impact. We wish her the best in her next chapter. Even with the continued challenges of COVID-19, we are enthusiastic about the potential of the women and sport movement and are committed to leading with a strong and, diverse board.”

Tanya Mruck, Chair of the board

For complete bios of all members of the Canadian Women & Sport Board of Directors, please visit our webpage.

The post Canadian Women & Sport Welcomes Newest Additions to its Board of Directors appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Prior to COVID- 19, as many as 62% of Canadian girls were not participating in any kind of sport and physical activity across adolescence (Canadian Women & Sport, The Rally Report, (2020)). Now, 1 in 4 Canadian girls who were previously physically active are not committed to returning to sport post-COVID (Canadian Women & Sport, COVID Alert Study, 2021). Not only do girls who leave sport prematurely miss out on the full benefits of their participation, but this also limits the pool of potential future women coaches and sport leaders who would help to boost representation of women in leadership and to engage and retain the next generation of girls in sport (Canadian Women & Sport, Actively Engaging, 2012). Through 8 weekly sessions, Game On combines girl-centered programming with leadership training opportunities to increase participants’ perceived value of sport, social connection, and leadership skills. These factors are key to helping keep girls in sport (Canadian Women & Sport, Actively Engaging, 2012).  

After the conclusion of two successful pilots, sport leaders observed that their participants’ relationships as teammates and friends grew stronger and their understanding of the positive role sport can play in their lives increased: 

“The girls seem to be a lot closer as a team and working together. It’s not just their little cliques, there’s a lot more bonding that I can see.” 

“Our participants gained a greater appreciation for what sport has given to them.” 

“I can see a difference that [participants] are more confident and not focusing so much on comparing themselves with each other but it’s more about their own development.” 

Game On is for girls ages 14-18 and can be delivered: 

• in-person, virtually or in a hybrid format, and; 
• as a stand-alone program or the activities can be layered-on to existing sport programming to best meet the needs of your organization.  

Organization Commitments: 

• Recruit a minimum of 10 participants aged 14-18 and two sport leaders;  
• Sport leaders must attend one 90-minute virtual training session: 
  • Option 1: Tuesday, December 7^th at 12:00pm ET   
  • Option 2: Thursday, December 9^th at 7:00pm ET 

• Sport leaders to complete pre- and post-program evaluations; 
• Participants to complete pre- and post-program evaluations; and 
• Organizations must commit to completing the delivery of Game On by no later than March 13^th, 2022. 

• The benefits of participating: 

Participating organizations will gain the following: 

• Keep Girls Engaged in Sport – This program will provide an opportunity to continue to engage with girls in a meaningful way to help your organization and participants recover and come back stronger. As a result, 88% of the participants reported that the program increased their desire and ability to be a leader in sport.  

• Build Knowledge and Competency – Sport leaders will gain access to training and guidance to better understand the needs and motivations of girls to keep them involved in sport. 
• Professional Development – Free licenses of the Keeping Girls in Sport e-module provided to participating sport leaders.  
• 1-to-1 Support – Canadian Women & Sport staff will provide up to 2 hours of 1-to-1 support to the sport leaders delivering Game On.  
• Financial support – Participating organizations will receive $1000 honorarium to support activities associated with the program. 
• Program Materials: 
  • Coaches: hard copies of the program materials and Canadian Women & Sport swag  
  • Participants: workbooks, Canadian Women & Sport swag, and Certificates of Completion 

• Networking Opportunities – Opportunities to share and learn with other organizations from across the country will be provided.  

Program Timeline: 

• October 18^th – November 5^th, 2021 – Application portal is open 
• December 7^th-9^th, 2021 – Coach training and participant recruitment (1 90-minute training) 
• March 13^th, 2022 – Program delivery and evaluation completion deadline  

Interested in participating?  

Deadline for submissions is Friday, November 5th, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET. 

Please contact Vanessa Wallace, Program Coordinator at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

Acknowledgements: 

Game On was first piloted in partnership with MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment) Launchpad in 2019.  This project is funded by the Government of Canada. 

The post Call for Sport and Physical Activity Organizations to Deliver Game On Leadership Program appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

With the support of Sport Canada, the 2022 WISE Fund will again grant 45 organizations $2500 to advance gender equity in Canadian sport.

Applications for the 2022 grant will open on Tuesday, October 12th and close on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021. To learn more about the criteria of the grant, visit our WISE Fund Application Process page.

WISE Fund 2022 quick facts:

• A minimum of 60% of grant funding will go toward organizations/initiatives directly serving women and girls from underrepresented communities.
• Sport organizations, community organizations, university/college sport programs, schools, and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.
• Canadian Women & Sport will be offering 15-minute consultation calls at select times between September 27th and October 29th to support applicants with any specific questions related to the eligibility of their initiative.
• Recipients will be announced in late January 2022 and are required to spend grant funding by March 31, 2023 Please read our 2022 Application Guide for more information.

We’ve opened our 15-minute virtual consultation with our staff to help answer any questions about your application or the process. To sign up for a slot, click here.

Download our 2022 Application Guide here!

To get inspired and learn more about previous WISE Fund-supported initiatives, check out our case studies on:

• How Ontario Basketball showcased women leading the way for young girls;
• How Northwest Territories Soccer built role models for girls by breaking down barriers for women to become top-level coaches;
• How Judo Canada held their first-ever Women’s Summit to fight for gender equity;
• How Storm Selects helped Indigenous girls reconnect to their roots through lacrosse;
• How Coach New Brunswick launched a support network for women in coaching.

The post 2022 WISE Fund Criteria and Timeline Announced appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.

Canadian Women & Sport has a jam-packed month of opportunities available to sport and physical activity organizations! 

The most notable? Our 2022 WISE Fund Grant opens TODAY! A lack of funding dedicated to creating equitable opportunities for women and girls to participate and lead in the sport system is a barrier to achieving gender equity in Canada. Since 2004, Canadian Women & Sport has awarded over $300,000 in grants through our WISE Fund to leaders and organizations across Canada to help address this gap. 

With the support of Sport Canada, the 2022 WISE Fund will grant 45 organizations $2500 to advance gender equity in Canadian sport – helping us deepen our gender equity work with sport organizations, which is a key priority within our strategic plan.

To learn more about who should apply and how, visit the Application Process page or download the 2022 Application Guide. Have more questions? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions or contact Program Coordinator, Vanessa Wallace at [email protected]. We’ve opened our 15-minute virtual consultation with our staff to help answer any questions about your application or the process. To sign up for a slot, click here. 
 

Applications are open from October 12th until November 2nd at 11:59pm ET. 

What’s happening at Canadian Women & Sport in October?

• Our Game On Leadership Program will be accepting applications from October 18th until November 5th, 2021. The Game On program combines training for coaches on the essentials of girl-centered sport and a leadership development program for the girls in sport. Interested organizations will provide coaches that will sign on to receive training and then deliver the full 8-week program virtually or in-person to girls in their club aged 14-18. Details and our application portal will be made available Monday, October 18th via our website.
  • NOTE: Organizations can apply for BOTH the 2022 WISE Fund Grant and the Game On program if they are able to meet the requirements.  
  • To learn more about the Game On program, click here. 

• Coaches are the most visible and influential leaders in sport, but unfortunately, we know that women are under-represented in coaching roles (Canadian Women & Sport, The Rally Report, (2020). We’ve partnered with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) to combat this issue by creating new resources to help organizations identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. The new interactive tools will be made available in October 2021 and will provide organizations with the resources they need to cultivate a more equitable coaching landscape within their communities. 

• We’re hiring! We’re looking for a Program Manager (Parental Leave Coverage) to manage multi-year programs, work deeply with sport and physical activity organizations and leaders to build knowledge, shift attitudes and develop competencies for gender equity. This position will be for a duration of 20 months (December 2021 – July 2023) with the possibility of extension, to backfill a parental leave. The ideal candidate has considerable program management experience including program development and implementation with extensive experience with facilitation and relationship management. Deadline to apply is Friday, October 29, 2021. Candidates should submit their cover letter and resume on Submittable to the attention of Stephanie Talsma, Programs Director. Questions about the position? Contact [email protected]. 

• The GTA Same Game Challenge organizations have been selected. The Same Game Challenge helps sport and physical activity organizations to build their capacity to create equitable and inclusive opportunities, leading to greater engagement of women and girls in their programming. To learn more about the program, view the release. We would like to thank Nike Canada for funding this project. 

• The National Same Game organizations have also been selected! This Challenge will incorporate 18 sport and physical activity organizations from around the country to also build their capacity to create equitable and inclusive opportunities, bettering engagement of women and girls in their programming. Read the release to learn more. We would like to thank Sport Canada for funding this project. 

While you’re here…

• Is your organization working on/delivering gender equity initiatives to women and girls in your community? We want to hear about it and share your work with others! Submit your initiatives on our website where it may then be featured in our monthly newsletter. 
• Our Gender Equity LENS e-learning module gives you the information and tools you need to act on your commitment to gender equity, helping you make policy and program decisions to better serve women and girls in your sport. Take the training today and earn NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) PD points up completion! 
• Visit our Resources and Learning Opportunities pages for access to workshops, webinars, reports, research, and infographics to continue your gender equity journey. 

Thanks for reading!

The post October Newsletter: NEW Opportunities Available to Bring Your Gender Equity Vision to Life appeared first on Canadian Women & Sport.