fbpx
Login

Author: athletescan

Willson elected President, AthletesCAN Board appoints 2021-22 Officers

Posted on by athletescan

Willson elected President, AthletesCAN Board appoints 2021-22 Officers

January 5, 2022

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is proud to announce the appointment of former artistic swimmer Erin Willson as the new President of its Board of Directors.

Willson, who becomes the 15th president of the organization, represented Canada for seven years on the national artistic swimming team. Her presidential election follows in the footsteps of fellow artistic swimmer Claire Carver-Dias, who held the position from 2006-08. 

Willson’s athletic career was highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the London 2012 Olympics.  Since her retirement, she has completed a Masters at the University of Toronto, focusing specifically on abuse in sport and is currently pursuing a PhD on the same topic.

“As a fierce advocate for the athlete voice in all aspects of my life, I am honoured to be named the next President of AthletesCAN,” said Willson, who is in her second year on the Board, and recently opened up on her experiences facing critical safe sport issues during her time with the national team. “Often silenced, athletes are the stakeholder in the sport environment that have the greatest ability to create change when given the proper platform. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is the impact and power of amplifying their stories.”

Through her education and personal experience, Willson is passionate about ensuring athletes have a safe and inclusive environment while pursuing performance excellence. She has also gained expertise in collecting, analyzing, interpreting and translating data to relevant stakeholders – a key aspect of AthletesCAN’s new Strategic Plan – and worked to build integral relationships within the Canadian sport system, including with the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and Canadian Women & Sport.

Willson will lead the officers of the Board for the 2021-22 fiscal year, including new secretary Celina Toth (Diving), along with re-elected Vice President Bo Hedges (Wheelchair Basketball) and Treasurer Rob Law (Lawn Bowls), who also returns for a second term.  

“I am excited to return to the executive this year, and support Erin as our new President. She is an amazing ambassador for athletes’ rights and I look forward to working with her,” said Hedges, who has served on the AthletesCAN Board since 2017. “With our new Strategic Plan in place, there are many initiatives AthletesCAN can move forward with that will help us better understand and echo the voices of Canadian athletes.”

The executive election follows the announcement of the 2021-22 Board of Directors in November. For full biographies of the 2021-22 AthletesCAN Board of Directors, click here.

For the complete history of past AthletesCAN Presidents and Chairs, click here.

About AthletesCAN

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world.  As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.

For more information, please contact: 

Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications & Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
Phone: 613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected] 

Bujold, Dunfee, Paquin, Heil, women’s soccer team honoured at 44th Canadian Sport Awards

Posted on by athletescan

Bujold, Dunfee, Paquin, Heil, women’s soccer team honoured at 44th Canadian Sport Awards

December 15, 2021

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, unveiled Wednesday the winners of the 44th Canadian Sport Awards.

Boxer Mandy Bujold was honoured with the AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award, race walker Evan Dunfee took home the True Sport Award, rugby player Karen Paquin received the #AthleteVoice Award for Rep of the Year and freestyle skier Jennifer Heil was named the winner of the Bruce Kidd Leadership Award. In addition, the Canadian women’s soccer team’s triumph at the Tokyo Olympics was crowned with the People’s Choice Award for Most Viral Moment of the Year.

The winners were revealed in a live virtual broadcast on AthletesCAN’s digital channels, capping off a historic national campaign celebrating this year’s finalists held from Dec. 7-14.

As part of a restructuring that began last year with the retirement of performance-based recognitions, the CSAs have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of our members.

For the CSA recipient history, dating back to the creation of the event in 1972, click here.

Credit: AIBA Boxing

AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award: Many Bujold, Boxing

Two-time Olympian Mandy Bujold won a landmark and precedent-setting case against the International Olympic Committee for withholding her Tokyo 2020 Olympic-qualification rights. Bujold, who ranked No. 8 in the world prior to becoming a new mother in November 2018, was successful in her battle for gender equity – asserting the revised selection period for competition results fell during her maternity leave and that she should be assessed on her prior performances and be allowed to compete.

Credit: COC

True Sport Award: Evan Dunfee, Athletics (Race Walk)

Dunfee won the bronze medal in the 50 km racewalk at the Tokyo 2020 Games, in what proved to be a moment of redemption. The two-time Olympian demonstrated true sportsmanship four years earlier in Rio, when he elected not to protest his fourth-place finish, after being bumped off stride by the eventual bronze medalist from Japan – who was initially disqualified, then later reinstated – in the closing stages of the race. Choosing to maintain his integrity and accept the decision, Dunfee was rewarded in July with his own come-from-behind triumph this past summer, capturing Canada’s first Olympic race walking medal in nearly three decades.  

Credit: Rugby Canada

#AthleteVoice Award - Rep of the Year: Karen Paquin, Rugby

Paquin and the national women’s rugby sevens team made a statement prior to opening competition at Tokyo 2020. The two-time Olympian led her teammates in speaking out on important issues before beginning their quest for a medal, including reporting on an unsafe environment under their former coach, advocating for racial equality, social justice and reconciliation with Canada’s Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities.

Credit: COC

Bruce Kidd Leadership Award: Jennifer Heil, Freestyle Skiing

Heil called on the Canadian government to address safe sport gaps in the Canadian sport system. The three-time Olympian and fellow Canadian national team athletes wrote a letter to the Minister of Heritage, addressing the need for improved protection for victims who come forward and the changes needed to better protect them. On top of this, Heil has served as a ambassador to the Canada Games activity challenge that is providing schools with resources to help students build foundational physical skills early on fostering a life-long love for sport in the next generation.

Credit: COC

People's Choice Award - Most Viral Moment of the Year: Canada's women's soccer team

Julia Grosso scored the winning goal as Canada defeated Sweden 3-2 on penalty kicks for its first-ever Olympic gold in women’s soccer. The Olympic triumph came after back-to-back bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

About AthletesCAN

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world.  As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.

For more information, please contact: 

Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications & Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
Phone: 613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected] 

44th Canadian Sport Awards: Bruce Kidd Leadership Award

Posted on by athletescan

44th Canadian Sport Awards: Bruce Kidd Leadership Award

December 14, 2021

TORONTO – The 44th Canadian Sport Awards have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of Canada’s national team athletes.

Following an exciting return to sport over the course of 2021, AthletesCAN will unveil the finalists for each award from Dec. 7-14, culminating in live virtual broadcast announcing the winners on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

Bruce Kidd Leadership Award

The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award is presented annually to a retired national team athlete, sport leader, or organization, who has provided meaningful contributions to the betterment of sport as a leader, advocate, change agent, or builder. This award highlights the groundbreaking work that contributed to the betterment of sport through inspirational leadership, innovative practices, and/or positive influence on the Canadian sport sector. The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award is named in honour of 1968 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Bruce Kidd, who has made enormous contributions to Canada’s sporting community as an athlete, advocate, author, historian, and academic.

Canada Basketball, Mad Love Campaign

On International Women’s Day, Canada Basketball launched Mad Love, a cross-channel awareness campaign, to inspire and rally Canadians together for female athletes in basketball and beyond. The campaign featured letters written members of the Senior Women’s National Team that change Canadians’ perceptions of girls’ and women’s basketball in the leadup to the Tokyo 2020 Games. In addition, there is a donation matching program up to $120,000 to invest in programming specific to the next generation of female basketball players, coaches and officials.

Joe Cecchini, Skeleton

Cecchini has grown the sport of skeleton at the development-level significantly during the pandemic. The 2018 Olympian with Italy, former Canadian national team athlete and current coach managed to safely train over 30 current athletes in Whistler, B.C., start a new recruiting and training program, lead an Alberta recruitment tour and spearheaded a project to change the minimum age to try the sport to seven from 14.

Jayna  Hefford, Hockey

Hefford served as Operations consultant for the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA), representing the best players in the world, including members of the Canadian National Team. Since 2019, the five-time Olympian has been advocating for the growth of professional women’s hockey and aiming to build a sustainable league for the next generation. Under Hefford’s leadership, the PWHPA has organized a series of events known as the Dream Gap Tour, and secured both corporate and NHL team partnerships in an effort to spread its message.

Jennifer Heil, Freestyle Ski

Heil called on the Canadian government to address safe sport gaps in the Canadian sport system. The three-time Olympian and fellow Canadian national team athletes wrote a letter to the Minister of Heritage, addressing the need for improved protection for victims who come forward and the changes needed to better protect them. On top of this, Heil has served as a ambassador to the Canada Games activity challenge that is providing schools with resources to help students build foundational physical skills early on fostering a life-long love for sport in the next generation.

44th Canadian Sport Awards: #AthleteVoice Award: Rep of the Year

Posted on by athletescan

December  14, 2021

The 44th Canadian Sport Awards have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of Canada’s national team athletes.

Following an exciting return to sport over the course of 2021, AthletesCAN will unveil the finalists for each award from Dec. 7-14, culminating in live virtual broadcast announcing the winners on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

#AthleteVoice Award: Rep of the Year

The #AthleteVoice Award – Rep of the Year recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete representative within their national sport organization, multi-sport organization or international sport organization. The athlete representation movement is only as good as the athletes chosen by their teammates to effect positive change. This award highlights the initiative, courage, and leadership of these individuals.

Rosalind Groenewoud, Freestyle Ski

Groenewoud has been unwavering in her commitment to speaking up for safe sport both through the Universal Code of Conduct to Present and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) Leadership Group and more recently the UCCMS Athlete Advocacy Committee. The two-time Olympian continues to advocate for athletes on the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes Commission and is an ambassador for Right to Play and affecting social change through sport.

Credit: CPC

Alison Levine, Boccia

Throughout her career, Levine has continued to be a valuable ambassador for the para sport movement, championing diversity and inclusion efforts. The two-time Paralympian, has served on the Athletes’ Council for both the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) as well as Boccia Canada on behalf of her peers, advocating for the best interests for athletes with disabilities, including equal rights, coaching and development, marketing and promotion and media coverage.

Credit: Rugby Canada

Karen Paquin, Rugby

Paquin and the national women’s rugby sevens team made a statement prior to opening competition at Tokyo 2020. The two-time Olympian led her teammates in speaking out on important issues before beginning their quest for a medal, including reporting on an unsafe environment under their former coach, advocating for racial equality, social justice and reconciliation with Canada’s Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities.

Credit: CPC

Tony Walby, Para Judo

Since 2018, Walby has served as the Chair of the CPC Athletes’ Council. The two-time Paralympian stepped up with his voice on behalf of Canada’s national team athletes, providing statements of leadership in support of number of key decisions and initiatives, including the postponement of the Tokyo Games, athlete eligibility reassessments in the sport of wheelchair basketball and the impact of maltreatment in sport on para athletes.

44th Canadian Sport Awards: True Sport Award

Posted on by athletescan

44th Canadian Sport Awards: True Sport Award

December 8, 2021

The 44th Canadian Sport Awards have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of Canada’s national team athletes.

Following an exciting return to sport over the course of 2021, AthletesCAN will unveil the finalists for each award from Dec. 7-14, culminating in live virtual broadcast announcing the winners on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

True Sport Award

The True Sport Award recognizes an inspirational Canadian citizen who exemplifies true sport values of fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun in a meaningful way. Through the pursuit of sporting excellence this Canadian hero showcases dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport.

Credit: Canada Soccer

Alphono Davies, Soccer

Davies has led the National Men’s Team to the final stage of CONCACAF qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1997, helping them pursue a berth in the global tournament they have only reached once back in 1986. Adding to his historical accomplishments, the Bayern Munich star also became the first Canadian and soccer player in in March to be named a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Credit: COC

Evan Dunfee, Athletics (Race Walk)

Dunfee won the bronze medal in the 50 km racewalk at the Tokyo 2020 Games, in what proved to be a moment of redemption. The two-time Olympian demonstrated true sportsmanship four years earlier in Rio, when he elected not to protest his fourth-place finish, after being bumped off stride by the eventual bronze medalist from Japan – who was initially disqualified, then later reinstated – in the closing stages of the race. Choosing to maintain his integrity and accept the decision, Dunfee was rewarded in July with his own come-from-behind triumph this past summer, capturing Canada’s first Olympic race walking medal in nearly three decades.

Credit: COC

Leylah Fernandez, Tennis

Less than a month after making her Olympic debut in Tokyo, Fernandez finished runner up at the US Open, defeating a trio of top-five players en route to the final, including defending champion Naomi Osaka. Along the way, the 19-year-old of Filipina-Ecuadorian descent inspired a new generation of Canadian tennis with her run at the season’s final major, particularly in immigrant communities – showing composure and maturity beyond her years.

Credit: CBC

Kate O’Brien, Para Cycling (Track)

O’Brien defied the odds at the Tokyo Paralympics winning a silver medal in para track cycling, after a devastating accident nearly ended her athletic career. The 2016 Olympian and former bobsledder  suffered several severe injuries including to her brain, following a demonstration event in 2017 and was told she would never walk, ride her bike or speak properly again. O’Brien persevered through surgery, physiotherapy and even an epilepsy diagnosis, learned how to keep seizures at bay before ultimately returning to the cycling track.

44th Canadian Sport Awards: AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award

Posted on by athletescan

44th Canadian Sport Awards: AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award

December 8, 2021

The 44th Canadian Sport Awards have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of Canada’s national team athletes.

Following an exciting return to sport over the course of 2021, AthletesCAN will unveil the finalists for each award from Dec. 7-14, culminating in live virtual broadcast announcing the winners on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award

This award honours a current or retired national team athlete who used their platform to make a positive impact in their sport or community at the local, national, or international level. This award recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete leader in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, community, volunteer and/or social change initiatives.

Credit: AIBA Boxing

Mandy Bujold, Boxing

 

Two-time Olympian Mandy Bujold won a landmark and precedent-setting case against the International Olympic Committee for withholding her Tokyo 2020 Olympic-qualification rights. Bujold, who ranked No. 8 in the world prior to becoming a new mother in November 2018, was successful in her battle for gender equity – asserting the revised selection period for competition results fell during her maternity leave and that she should be assessed on her prior performances and be allowed to compete.

Credit: COC

Kim Gaucher, Basketball

 

Three-time Olympian Kim Gaucher became an advocate for nursing mothers, challenging the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee’s COVID protocols that originally planned to prohibit athletes from travelling with their families to the Games in order to reduce virus transmission. With the policy changed in time for the Olympics, Gaucher was able to bring her newborn daughter instead of forfeiting her Olympic dream. 

Credit: Canadian Running Magazine

Andre de Grasse, Athletics

 

Inspired by 14-year old runner Jesse Briscoe of Montreal, two-time Olympian Andre de Grasse launched the RACE WITH ME virtual challenge in May. Named after De Grasse’s recently released motivational picture book, the event served as an invitation to children and youth across Canada to join the race to get active after a year of restrictions and to combat the devastating impact of COVID-19 on physical and mental health. For eight weeks, Canadian kids were encouraged to find a way to race a 400m distance, record their times and video, and upload the content to an interactive website for a chance at prizing. Throughout the challenge, De Grasse and his teammates also provided tips and words of encouragement to participants through social media. 

Credit: COC

Stephanie Labbé, Soccer


Two-time Olympian Stephanie Labbé continues to break down barriers for LGBTQI2S+ inclusion in sport. Motivated by her fiancée Olympic cyclist Georgia Simmerling since first meeting at the Rio 2016 Games, Labbé proudly speaks of her authentic true self as a gay athlete in sport, helping create safe spaces for the Pride community. The work of Labbé and others has also been backed by the creation of a LGBTQI2S+ Sport Inclusion Task Force and a new Sport Inclusion website.

44th Canadian Sport Awards: People’s Choice Award – Most Viral Moment of the Year

Posted on by athletescan

44th Canadian Sport Awards: People’s Choice Award – Most Viral Moment of the Year

Credit: CBC

The 44th Canadian Sport Awards have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of Canada’s national team athletes.

Following an exciting return to sport over the course of 2021, AthletesCAN will unveil the finalists for each award from Dec. 7-14, culminating in live virtual broadcast announcing the winners on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

People’s Choice Award: Most Viral Moment of the Year

Created in 2020, the Most Viral Moment Award honours a current or retired national team athlete who has captured the virtual world by storm. This award highlights the magic that lives within sport to inspire and motivate all Canadians through innovative use of a digital platform, captivating athletic performance, or who’s digital actions have been a force for good.

Nominees

 

  • Women’s Soccer Team
  • Quinn, Soccer
  • Maggie Mac Neil, Swimming (100m Butterfly)
  • Damian Warner, Athletics (Decathlon)
  • Kerri Einarson, Curling (Scotties Tournament of Hearts)
  • Greg Stewart, Para Athletics (Men’s Shot Put F46)
  • Greg Stewart & Brent Lakatos, Para Athletics, Men’s Shot Put F46 / Men’s 100m T53
  • Women’s Sitting Volleyball Team
  • Aurélie Rivard, Para Swimming (100m Freestyle S10)
  • Zak Madell, Anthony Léourneau and Shayne Smith, Wheelchair Rugby

Click here to cast your vote on CBCSports.ca.

AthletesCAN launches national campaign for rebranded 44th Canadian Sport Awards

Posted on by athletescan

AthletesCAN launches national campaign for rebranded 44th Canadian Sport Awards

December 6, 2021

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is proud to announce a national campaign for the upcoming 44th Canadian Sport Awards (CSAs).

Following an exciting return to sport over the course of 2021, AthletesCAN will reveal the finalists in five CSA categories throughout from Dec. 7-14. As part of a restructuring that began last year with the retirement of performance-based recognitions, the CSAs have been rebranded to focus more closely on trailblazers, athlete-centred accomplishments and initiatives – with the ultimate goal to unite, amplify and celebrate the leadership and voices of our members.

“It has been a challenging year dealing with the uncertainty of whether the Olympic and Paralympic Games would actually occur,” said Celina Toth, AthletesCAN Board Member and Chair of the Canadian Sport Awards Committee. “AthletesCAN is honoured and proud to celebrate all the tremendous work Canadian athletes have been doing on and off the field of play to make themselves and our community a safer and more inclusive place.” 

As a result, the 2021 Canadian Sport Awards will honour winners in the following five categories:

Full descriptions of all five awards are available below.

Linking the past and present, each award will also be presented by previous recipients and honourees associated with the CSAs in a virtual broadcast on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT, live on AthletesCAN’s digital channels.

As part of the national campaign launch, AthletesCAN is also honoured to unveil for the first time the history of Canadian Sport Award recipients dating back to the event’s establishment in 1972 by modern day co-founders True Sport, Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Canada Games Council, Commonwealth Sport Canada and AthletesCAN. Over nearly 50 years of history, the CSAs have recognized various former categories in performance, leadership and corporate excellence.

A key component of AthletesCAN’s new strategy in raising the awareness level of the organization and its relationships within the Canadian sport system, this initiative will remain ongoing as AthletesCAN prepares to reveal its forthcoming new website.

To view the CSA Award History, click here. 

AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award

The AthletesCAN Social Responsibility Award honours a current or retired national team athlete who used their platform to make a positive impact in their sport or community at the local, national, or international level. It recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete leader in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, community, volunteer and/or social change initiatives.

The legacy now also includes the history of the Inclusion: Obliterating Barriers Award

Bruce Kidd Leadership Award

The Bruce Kidd Leadership Award is presented annually to a retired national team athlete, sport leader, or organization, who has provided meaningful contributions to the betterment of sport as a leader, advocate, change agent, or builder. This award highlights the ground breaking work that contributed to the betterment of sport through inspirational leadership, innovative practices, and/or positive influence on the Canadian sport sector. 

The award is named in honour of 1968 Canadian Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Bruce Kidd, who has made enormous contributions to Canada’s sporting community as an athlete, advocate, author, historian, and academic. The award’s legacy now also includes the history of both the AthletesCAN Leadership Award and the Leadership in Sport Award.

True Sport Award

The True Sport Award recognizes an inspirational Canadian citizen who exemplifies true sport values of fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun in a meaningful way. Through the pursuit of sporting excellence this Canadian hero showcases dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a true love of sport. 

#AthleteVoice Award: Rep of the Year

The #AthleteVoice Award recognizes the significant contributions of an athlete representative within their national sport organization, multi-sport organization or international sport organization. The athlete representation movement is only as good as the athletes chosen by their teammates to effect positive change. This award highlights the initiative, courage, and leadership of these individuals.

People’s Choice Award: Most Viral Moment of the Year

Created in 2020, the Most Viral Moment Award honours a current or retired national team athlete who has captured the virtual world by storm. This award highlights the magic that lives within sport to inspire and motivate all Canadians through innovative use of a digital platform, captivating athletic performance, or who’s digital actions have been a force for good.

Criteria for all five award categories can be found here.

About AthletesCAN

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world.  As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.

For more information, please contact: 

Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications & Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
Phone: 613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected] 

AthletesCAN statement on lack of athlete inclusion in World Anti-Doping Agency partnership

Posted on by athletescan

AthletesCAN statement on lack of athlete inclusion in World Anti-Doping Agency partnership

AthletesCAN Logo /Logo d'AthlètesCAN

November 23, 2021

One year after AthletesCAN joined the collective call for meaningful reform at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and as WADA’s Executive Committee and Foundation Board prepare to meet this week, AthletesCAN supports with its sports partners holding WADA accountable while also raising awareness of the continued exclusion of athletes as equal partners forming WADA.

AthletesCAN stands by our previous calls for:

  • Accountability – Athletes must have independent and equal seats around all decision-making table. Athletes must have the same number of seats as the sports movement and governments of the world.
  • Independance – Decision-making authority should not be granted to the highest bidder.
  • Transparency  – Public disclosure requirements clearly established in WADA’s terms of references, all investigations and their respective findings should be made public and stakeholder compliance decisions to be made by the WADA Foundation Board.
  • Human Rights – The completion of independent athlete consultation and thorough human rights review and impact assessment to be incorporated in the World Anti-Doping Code.

“WADA has proven to be an ineffective entity in its current self-regulating form which excludes athletes at important decision-making tables,” said Rob Law, AthletesCAN Board Member and Chair of the AthletesCAN Anti-Doping Advisory Committee. “Athletes are the glue that brings together the sports movement and government authorities and represent the DNA that forms WADA, and their exclusion should not be tolerated.”

Inclusion of athletes is necessary to create a global anti-doping system which builds the trust of the athletes it binds. Failure to include athletes in the partnership with the sports movement and government authorities, continues to emphasize and prioritize the economics of sports rather than the spirit of clean sport. AthletesCAN calls on WADA to meaningfully address this exclusion at their upcoming meetings.

The sport system as a whole and WADA itself benefits from reform, which properly addresses the independence, transparency and accountability of WADA. We stand in solidarity with our partners at World Players Association, Global Athlete and the other athlete advocacy groups who continue to advocate for governance reform.

AthletesCAN is committed to the unwavering pursuit of uniting and amplifying the voice of Canadian athletes and will not support a global anti-doping system which excludes athletes by design while simultaneously binding them to compulsory requirements.

About AthletesCAN

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world.  As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.

For more information, please contact: 

Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications & Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
Phone: 613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected] 

AthletesCAN Appoints New Board Of Directors Following 2021 Annual General Meeting

Posted on by athletescan

AthletesCAN Appoints New Board Of Directors Following 2021 Annual General Meeting

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is pleased to announce its 2021-22 Board of Directors, following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Nov. 6.

Allison Forsyth of alpine skiing was re-elected to the Board, while bobsleigh / athletics national team athlete Neville Wright and rower Andrea Proske joined the Board for the first time. All successful candidates were elected for three-year terms, with Proske elected via a run-off vote, following a tie for the final position in the initial election.

AthletesCAN thanks outgoing President Pierre-Luc Laliberté (canoe sprint) for his six years of service to the Board, and departing secretary Liam Smedley (canoe slalom). Continuing the leadership of former President Dasha Peregoudova (taekwondo), key highlights of Laliberté’s tenure include the development and implementation of the organization’s new strategy, launching new Athlete Leadership and Anti-Doping resources, partnering with athlete marketing influencer firm FireWork and building athlete commercial agreement templates, and creating an integral Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee committed to social justice reform.

“I’m so excited to see a strong and vocal group of athletes lead this organization on its path to amplify the athlete voice in Canada,” said Laliberté. “The last few years have been difficult but we managed to put the right pieces in place to be in a position to represent athletes better than ever before. I want to wish the best of luck to all the new Board members and sincerely thank all the Canadian athletes who trusted me to represent them over the last six years.”

The new Officers will be elected from within the Board and a transition to the new president will occur until officially elected. Full biographies of the AthletesCAN Board of Directors can be found here.

Laliberté and director Rob Law (Lawn Bowls) also presented the President’s and Treasurer’s reports respectively at the AGM, while a management update was delivered by AthletesCAN staff members Georgina Truman (Manager, Athlete Relations and Operations) and Alan Hudes (Manager, Communications and Sport Partnerships), highlighted by the organization’s new four-year Strategic Plan and a preview of the forthcoming new AthletesCAN website.

Prior to the AGM, members had the opportunity to attend the annual AthletesCAN Forum and Leadership Lab, featuring sessions on ethical decision making, safe sport, intersectionality and identity, athlete funding and mental health.

With the conclusion of the 2021 AGM and Board election, AthletesCAN looks forward to the 44th Canadian Sport Awards, with finalists scheduled to be announced in December.

About AthletesCAN

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world.  As the voice of Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture.

For more information, please contact: 

Alan Hudes
Manager, Communications & Sport Partnerships
AthletesCAN
Phone: 613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected] 

CONTACT US

Toll-Free 1-888-832-4222
General Contact: [email protected]
Site Issues: [email protected]

X-twitter Instagram Facebook Linkedin Youtube

AthletesCAN’s staff, operations, work, and network depend on traditional Indigenous territories to provide us physical space, sustenance, safety, and community to work, live, and play. We respectfully acknowledge that our members hail from across the country representing the many traditional, treaty, and unceded territories of all the Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people of Turtle Island.

We acknowledge that our ability to live and work on these lands is a direct benefit of policies of expulsion and assimilation of Indigenous peoples during the time of settlement and Confederation, and since. The harms of these policies are many and are still being felt in Indigenous communities today. We express gratitude towards the Indigenous peoples who have and will continue to steward these lands. We affirm our commitment to enacting the 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, especially the Calls to Action which directly relate to Sport, No. 87-94.

Copyright © 2023 AthletesCAN. All rights reserved.