fbpx
Login

Category: News

Athlete Rep Spotlight: Celina Toth – Diving

Posted on by Jacob Morris

It’s Our Turn, AthletesCAN’s new marketing campaign focuses on the stories of athlete leaders across the 68 sports eligible for AthletesCAN membership. The campaign highlights a pivotal moment for a new era in sport governance, underlining the athlete representatives’ respective journeys into the athlete advocacy movement both in their careers and within their National Sport Organizations (NSOs).

Each week, AthletesCAN profiles a key athlete leader among its membership, highlighting how athlete representation has played a significant role in their career and within their National Sport Organization.

Follow the Campaign

Celina Toth

Name: Celina Toth
Sport: Diving
Position / Event: 10m Platform
National team tenure: 2008-2023
Hometown: St Thomas, Ont.

How did you first hear about and get involved in athlete advocacy?

I was a gymnast for about six years on the provincial team. I wasn’t very good and I was in a situation where I was doing skills that I wasn’t ready to be doing, skills that I was told to do. And I said I told my parents I wanted to quit. And they were like, Well, you have to see out there and see how it goes. So I saw out the year was still what didn’t want to be there. So my parents were like, okay, you need to go and tell them you are quitting yourself. So 12 years old, they set up for myself. I told my coaches I was done. And then another coach was like, why don’t you try diving? So I quit on a Monday. I called the Diving Club in London, Ontario on Wednesday, and then I tried out on Friday and was on the team on Monday.

Celina Toth competes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Why is it important for the Canadian Sport System to prioritize an athlete-centred experience?

Canada and the sport system need to prioritize the athletes experience because times are changing. The athletes have a voice. They should be in charge of their own everyday experiences, their competitions, and their training. We’re coming into a day and age where we all have our voice. We all make our own choices. Back in the day, training was a certain way. You were told what you were supposed to do by your coach and you did it. And now athletes are more experience-based. They’re older, they’re learning more, and they can have a part in their everyday environment and say what they want to do. It can be a more collaborative experience. In my experience, that’s what I learned and took away from how coaching, learning from different people, being on the national team, going to Montreal, and learning from other coaches. I was taking things in and I knew some about my body too, and what I was doing right. So for me, that was the most valuable thing, being able to collaborate with others and my coaches and learn and respect them and they learn from me and respect me. I think that that is such a huge benefit and positive thing that will just help people get better. And I think that that is something that we really need to honour and hone in on in the future.

How have you used your athlete voice on behalf of your peers and how has it impacted your sport journey?

Using my voice in my sport journey has allowed me to become into who I am. I was someone who was very uncomfortable with confrontation and being a part of AthletesCAN allowed me to come into my own and speak up for myself. I always found that I was in the wrong sport because I was an individual rather than a team sport. And I’m such a big team player. I like to support my teammates. I’m always the loudest one on the pool deck and so I learning how to use my voice, not just in the pool cheering for people but outside and sticking up for myself and others has been such a benefit. I want to be here for all of the athletes and not just speak up for myself. I want to make sure that the athletes in the future have a better experience than I did or than those before me. So I think that that has been the best and most rewarding thing I can bring forward and continue to support.

What is your favourite memory being an Athlete Rep / being involved in athlete advocacy? 

My favourite memory of being an athlete rep is any AthletesCAN Forum. Any time where the athletes can get together, meet, share experiences or support one another has just been absolutely incredible and so rewarding. I’ve made so many incredible friends who have helped me get to the point where I am today in my career that I never would have met without athletes can forum and, you know, getting to support the others at Pan Ams when I was there and even now at Parapan Ams, it’s been just so fun and gives me so much pride in our country and the people that we have here supporting other athletes and themselves.

What have you learned about being a leader in your sport?

I’ve learned that it is hard to be a leader. It’s hard to be a leader in sport. It’s hard to be a leader in your life. It takes practice. It takes work. But as long as you believe that you’re doing the right thing and asking for help and following the path that you believe is right, you will come to the right, you know, right place in your journey and you will help others and others will support you. we’re doing this for the betterment of sport and the betterment of athlete experience. And we want people to be happy and we don’t want people to leave the sport upset or miserable, or like they didn’t feel like they had support from their teammates. And so we want everybody to work together. We’re a team, regardless of whether you’re a team sport or an individual sport, we are all working together for the same goal for the athletes best experience and performances, and that’s ultimately what we’re working for. So, yes, it’s hard, but as long as we all work together, we’ll get there.

Why should your peers join AthletesCAN and/or get more involved in the leadership of their National Sport Organization?

My peers should join AthletesCAN and be a member because it’s such an incredible community. You have just so many people working towards the same thing. You can learn so much about your sport, about yourself, about sport in Canada, and how you can support others. We’re all here wanting the same thing, you know, for our teams to do the best they can for ourselves, to do the best we can. So this community has been such an incredible group of people that are pushing and supporting you and they teach you to use your own voice and support yourself and stand up for yourself. That’s been my biggest learning from being a part of AthletesCAN. I’ve been a part of AthletesCAN since 2016. I became part of the board. I applied to be on the board multiple times. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced. But I didn’t give up like I don’t in sport. And it was so incredible to be a part of that board and speak up for other athletes in this country and be able to, speak for them in a difficult time after COVID, sort of during COVID and after COVID. I learned so much and we have so much more work to do. And I’m just so honored to be a part of this organization. I really can’t say enough. It’s so incredible. These people are friends for life and they will have your back for life. And who doesn’t want that?

Sport in Canada: The Continuing Journey to Safe Sport for Female Athletes

Posted on by Jacob Morris

By: Tucker Seabrook (Case Manager), Alexandra Marshall (Caseworker) and Jonah Wilson (Caseworker)

The Sport Solution Blog is written by law students and is intended to provide information and the team’s perspectives on current issues. However, the Blog is not intended to provide legal advice or opinion. Athletes in need of assistance should contact the clinic directly at [email protected]. 

Safe Sport in Canada

The Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) is the core set of rules adopted by all sport organizations in Canada that receive funding from the federal government. Published by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), these rules aim to ensure that maltreatment will not threaten the health and safety of participants in Canadian sport by advancing a culture that delivers quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming and safe sport experiences. The UCCMS addresses a number of issues related to safe sport in Canada including:

  • Common principles and a commitment to advance a respectful sport culture;
  • Standard definitions of various forms of maltreatment, such as the grooming, neglect, and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse of individuals;
  • Prohibited behaviors such as retaliation, failure to report maltreatment, intentionally submitting false allegations, etc.; and
  • Framework for determining appropriate sanctions for parties who perform prohibited behaviours.1

The SDRCCs safe sport framework also includes Abuse-Free Sport, whose primary goal is to prevent abuse in sport. Abuse-Free Sport provides access to a range of bilingual resources to everybody, regardless of the sport, level, or role of an individual. These resources include a helpline, education programs, and mental health services.

The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) operates as an independent division of the SDRCC, to administer the UCCMS in fair and equitable manners through Abuse-Free Sport.2 Created by the Physical Activity and Sports Act in 20033 and mandated by the Government of Canada on July 6, 2021,4 the OSIC advances the UCCMS by:

  1. Overseeing the complaint intake process;
  2. Conducting preliminary assessments and commissioning independent investigations;
  3. Maintaining a database of imposed sanctions; and
  4. Monitoring compliance by sporting organizations.

OSIC and the SDRCC have not yet published a new version of the UCCMS after version 6.0, which was only effective up until Nov. 30, 2022. Additionally, due to OSIC being federally mandated, it only serves national-level athletes, through their National Sport Organizations (NSOs). Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations (PTSOs) have no requirement to adopt the UCCMS and the SDRCC’s Abuse-Free Sport framework.5

Safe Sport and Female Athletes

At all levels of sport, there is a clear need for safe sport protocol for female-presenting athletes. Recently, in what is surely a step forward for safe sport and a win for athletes across the country, Canadian gymnastic coach Elvira Saadi was permanently banned from working with athletes.6 This remedy was requested by the complainants. Female athletes know how to increase safety in their sports: just ask them. 

 At the highest level, elite athletes appeared in front of the House of Commons on April 24, 2023 to demand the government take action.7 The athletes included Olympians from Canadian boxing, soccer and fencing, who asked for a public inquiry into Canadian sport culture. Myriam Da Silva Rondeau, an Olympic boxer, cites legal costs, therapy bills and financial stresses as a huge issue athletes face when they suffer maltreatment in sport. There is no debate: more support is needed for athletes. 

Implementing safe sport protocols that protect female athletes is as easy as asking them what they need. From minor changes like conscientious scheduling so female athletes are not sharing training areas with male athletes or being left alone with coaches, to larger scale policies such as anti-retribution safeguards and funding for complainant support – there is so much more that could be done.

Equity, Not Erasure

There is no question that abuse in sport can – and does – happen to athletes of any gender, not just women. That being said, the majority of maltreatment is being reported by women.8  Interestingly, the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner’s Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) makes no mention of the vulnerability of female athletes, or gender at all, except in the excerpt below: 

All Participants recognize that Maltreatment can occur regardless of race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, and other characteristics. Moreover, it is recognized that those from marginalized groups have increased vulnerability to experiences of Maltreatment.9

There needs to be recognition that female athletes are having a different experience than their male counterparts. Equity does not mean treating all groups the same, it means ensuring that different groups are being treated as they need to be in order to have the same safe experience. Female athletes will have different safety concerns and different experiences than males in the same sport. It is a failing of the UCCMS to not comment further on this.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Ensuring the safe sport needs of female athletes are included as part of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission is a vital step in achieving equity in sport. The commission should start by asking athletes what they need to feel safe and building policies around female athletes’ informed and lived experiences. This would be a powerful step forward on the road to ensuring a safe sport environment for female athletes across the county. 

Follow the Sport Solution Blog
Sport Solution Services

Citations

Athlete Rep Spotlight: Johnny Purcell – Skateboard

Posted on by Jacob Morris

It’s Our Turn, AthletesCAN’s new marketing campaign focuses on the stories of athlete leaders across the 68 sports eligible for AthletesCAN membership. The campaign highlights a pivotal moment for a new era in sport governance, underlining the athlete representatives’ respective journeys into the athlete advocacy movement both in their careers and within their National Sport Organizations (NSOs).

Each week, AthletesCAN profiles a key athlete leader among its membership, highlighting how athlete representation has played a significant role in their career and within their National Sport Organization.

Follow the Campaign

Johnny Purcell

Name: Johnny Purcell
Sport: Skateboard
Position / Event: Street
National team tenure: 2021 – Present
Hometown: Lunenburg, NS

How did you first hear about and get involved in athlete advocacy?

I had been on the team for about a year and a half and the previous athlete rep had reached out at the end of her term and she was transitioning out of being the athlete rep. It had been a couple of years since she was in sport herself and she kind of reached out and proposed the position to everyone in the group and at first it didn’t initially resonate with me. And then I kind of spoke to her a little bit more about it and the position kind of interested me. Sometimes it takes the person pulling you into it.

Why is it important for the Canadian Sport System to prioritize an athlete-centred experience?

I think it’s important to prioritize being athlete-centered because that’s that’s what this whole thing is. You know, that’s what that’s what everything comes back to is these individuals. And even if skateboarding specifically is an individual sport, but even if your sport is a team sport like hockey, like that team is made up of a collection of individuals who are all pushing the sport on Canada’s behalf and without these athletes, none of these organizations or sports are going to like to move the needle within the country at all. So I think having any conversations without the athletes, at least in some part being involved, would be doing a huge disservice to both the athletes and the growth of those sports in general.

Johnny Purcell

How have you used your athlete voice on behalf of your peers and how has it impacted your sport journey?

I’m still pretty new to the athlete role. I started in early September. I did attend one qualifying event as an athlete rep and as a result of that, when I came back, I prepared a little bit of a survey to kind of just ask the team like, how was their experience at the event and what were some good things and what were some challenges that they might have faced in hopes that we could get feedback to give to the coaches and the directors of Canada Skateboard to hopefully help the athletes more in the future? I realized quickly how I phrased the questions to my team members was actually really important because you can get any answer you want depending on how you phrase the question. Really taking the time to think of those survey questions in a meaningful way to give people the freedom to say what they felt was the last thing I’ve, I’ve done as an athlete rep I think to help the team.

What is your favourite memory being an Athlete Rep / being involved in athlete advocacy? 

I’m new to the athlete advocacy position I’ve now and I’ve also just been added to the board of directors for Canada Skateboard, which is pretty cool. So I’m kind of like both. And I think in large part that’s because a lot of these boards now want to have at least one athlete or athlete representative on the board. So that’s kind of combining, combining those two roles.

But favorite memory so far, I think one of our young female athletes, Faye, had just won the Pan American Games. She got gold and it was, you know, six weeks after I started an athlete rep. And I just kind of felt like a sense, an extra sense of happiness for her. And I think in large part that’s due to like the fact of being an athlete rep and just an extra sense of excitement. I would have been happy for her regardless,but just seeing others on the team do well and perform. It’s given me an extra boost in morale for them.

What have you learned about being a leader in your sport?

In large part just because you’re the athlete rep, it doesn’t specifically mean that you’ve got the captain, you’ve got the “C” on your jersey. It’s not it’s not quite the same as something like that. But I think just if you’re in that position, the most important thing that stood out to me is just to be as honest as you can with the team and with yourself and just trying to, whether it be at events or in the like training for these events and preparation like just showing up, so to speak, and just like being there and like doing the things that you say you’re going to do, trying to lead by example in that sense. It doesn’t mean you’re necessarily the best on the team, and I’m certainly not. 

I’m just trying to do the things that you think you should be doing in hopes others see that and kind of get motivated to do the same thing and like knowing using discretion to like when I say being honest like I’m now on the board of directors as well as being the athlete rep. You’re wearing like two different hats. And one of those hats requires a lot of discretion. Understanding what to say, when to say what and when to hold your tongue, for the sake of your athletes and for the sake of the organization.

Why should your peers join AthletesCAN and/or get more involved in the leadership of their National Sport Organization?

I think as far as athletes joining AthletesCAN it’s pretty self-explanatory. As an athlete, you’re not only training and preparing for these events and things to do well in your sport, but a lot of your time and energy is going into resource allocation and planning for yourself. You’re not totally focused on a career, you’re invested in your sport. Planning how you’re going to get to these competitions and live, quite frankly, is a large part of your time as well. So AthletesCAN can at least hopefully guide you in the directions and strategies. Whether it be their list of where to go for resources based on your geographical location, which is helpful or yeah, the other support systems that they have. Just the stuff outside of training for your sport that comes with being an athlete.

As far as any athletes that are thinking about getting into being an athlete representative or any type of leadership role for their team, I think, you know, it might feel weird or uncomfortable or, you might have the sensation, that I’m not doing anything. But in which case I think just know that one, someone’s got to do it. And why not you? And two, it’s just a good way to prepare your it’s a good way to train yourself. It’s a good way to practice showing up for other people on other people’s behalf. You know your issues are going to be relevant there as well. 

Statement on Athlete Assistance Program Funding in Budget 2024

Posted on by Jacob Morris

TORONTO / OTTAWA – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (COC AC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council (CPC AC) issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the announcement in the 2024 Federal Budget. The Federal Budget “proposes to provide $35 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, and $7 million ongoing to the Department of Canadian Heritage, for the Athlete Assistance Program. This would increase the funding allowance for supported athletes and support additional athletes in new Olympic & Paralympic sport disciplines.”

“We are truly appreciative of the Federal Government’s commitment to Canada’s athletes who represent our country ever single day. This added investment to the Athlete Assistance program will help to alleviate the financial strain experienced by our country’s athletes as they train and compete, and allow for ongoing competitive success on the international stage. We would like to thank Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Adam van Koeverden, and all advocates of sport in the government, for this investment in Canada’s athletes.

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 over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships.

AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.  

Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.

About the COC Athletes' Commission

The COC Athletes’ Commission (@TeamCanadaAC) represents the voice of Canadian Olympic athletes to the Canadian Olympic Committee Board of Directors, to Sport Canada, to the International Olympic Committee, international sport federations and all other domestic sport organizations. It is instrumental in presenting Canadian athletes’ perspectives in areas ranging from athlete rights, safe sport policies, marketing & COC partnership agreements, Olympic team selection policies and much more.

About the CPC Athletes' Council

The CPC Athletes’ Council is an elected group of current and retired Paralympic athletes (within the past eight years) that serve as the collective voice, advocating the best interests of Canada’s Paralympic athletes and the Paralympic movement within Canada. The Athletes’ Council works to provide input and recommendations from an athlete perspective to the Canadian Paralympic Committee staff, committees and Board of a Directors with respect to decision making at all levels of the organization.

For more information, please contact:

Jacob Morris
Coordinator, Communications and Digital Media
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected]

COC Athletes’ Commision
[email protected]
@TeamCanadaAC
bit.ly/3OEFMcT

CPC Athletes’ Council
[email protected] 
@CDNParalympics
paralympic.ca/athletes-council

Athlete Rep Spotlight: Sasha Beck – Triathlon

Posted on by Jacob Morris

It’s Our Turn, AthletesCAN’s new marketing campaign focuses on the stories of athlete leaders across the 68 sports eligible for AthletesCAN membership. The campaign highlights a pivotal moment for a new era in sport governance, underlining the athlete representatives’ respective journeys into the athlete advocacy movement both in their careers and within their National Sport Organizations (NSOs).

Each week, AthletesCAN profiles a key athlete leader among its membership, highlighting how athlete representation has played a significant role in their career and within their National Sport Organization.

Follow the Campaign

Sasha Beck

Name: Sasha Beck
Sport: Triathlon
Position / Event: Guide
National team tenure: 2014-2016
Hometown: Oakville, Ont.

How did you first hear about and get involved in athlete advocacy?

I heard about it from a couple of coaches and then the previous Athlete Director, and they had suggested that I’d be a good candidate so I applied to it and so that was my first intro to it. And then I met with our CEO and our President and he gave me some more information about it, and they both had some background about me, and I really wanted to give back to the sport that I loved and grew up doing. It interested me and I thought I could make a real difference bringing an athlete voice to the Board and aligning with some of the policies and criteria that they had already set in place and were in motion.

Why is it important for the Canadian Sport System to prioritize an athlete-centred experience?

Good question, it’s really important. I think there’s a lot of value in having an athlete as a member on the Board because that is the entire membership at the national sporting institute level. Triathlon Canada specifically has 22,000 members, and all the decisions that they make at that Board level have a direct impact where the output is impacting all the memberships which are all athletes so it’s really important and valued to be able to bring that voice to the Board and those decisions.

How have you used your athlete voice on behalf of your peers and how has it impacted your sport journey?

I’m still new to the Board so I don’t have a lot of experience where I can say that I brought my voice to the Board. But when I was an athlete on the national team, I was on the Paralympic team and I was a guide to a visually-impaired athlete, and this was something that was brand new to Triathlon Canada and brand new at the Paralympic Games than I was training to compete in as an athlete – which was Rio in 2016. One area that I was really able to bring my athlete voice to and had a positive impact was because this position was brand new to the national team position being a guide, there was not a ton of support or criteria in place to support, so this was a really big conversation I had with a lot of the High Performance coaches and directors to try and figure out how this position was going to get fulfilled and sustained leading into the next Games going into Tokyo 2020, then Paris 2024, and Los Angeles 2028 and how could we improve on the experiences that I had. It was good, but could use improvement, and so it was really clear on some things that I think needed to happen to help make sure that this guiding position, which is definitely a mandatory position to carry that visually-impaired athlete through to the finish line are treated like they’re a teammate – they’re not a volunteer, they’re a teammate on the national team.

What is your favourite memory being an Athlete Rep / being involved in athlete advocacy? 

One of my most recent memories: I am a part of a committee at a Provincial Sport Organization level to help develop their provincial development plan. To me, it’s a special memory because it builds off the pathways I’ve created from the National Sport Organization in Canada, and I think it’s the first time it’s a very clear pathway of development to national team athletes and something that I felt like being a part of that national team journey as an athlete and now bringing it forward and being a part of a committee to help develop a new provincial development plan. I felt like I was really inspired to help the provincial level really come up to that national-level standard, and just be really clear on that criteria and what it takes, the standards, and what I would have wanted to see as an athlete when I was in that development phase, in that national team phase, that I want to see there today. I feel really proud that we are in the midst of doing that right now, but my voice is heard, and I feel like it’s going to be very good progress towards building a pathway for athletes in Ontario and then up to the Canadian national team level. 

What have you learned about being a leader in your sport?

I have learned that as we progressed through the years, more and more people are seeing value in listening to athletes and including them in some big decisions that are going to directly impact them. Whether you are a retired athlete, or a current athlete, you’re getting a survey to help gauge feedback to help support those decisions. I’ve learned that if you speak up and you’re really clear about what athletes need in their sport, you can achieve it. There are a lot of people that are willing to support athletes, but not necessarily come up with a solution but are ready to support, and we’re just waiting for people to speak up. So I think what I’ve learned as a leader in sport, is that if you speak up you’re going to be heard, and it will have a positive impact if you have a supportive organization. 

Why should your peers join AthletesCAN and/or get more involved in the leadership of their National Sport Organization?

I think it’s really important that athletes consider joining organizations such as AthletesCAN that are literally there to support athletes and help them bridge the gap to some of the formality-type policy language that will come out of the NSO level. That really gives athletes the opportunity to contribute to some of those key decisions or information sessions and understand them when it comes to the NSO level or PSO level. I think a lot of times, athletes are the outputs and just hear some of those decisions, but it’s really important they understand why those decisions, criteria, and policies were made and realize that when they’re a part of those types of conversations when they join those organizations that they can have an impact on themselves and progress through their sporting career. 

I Did Not Receive Carding – What Now?

Posted on by Jacob Morris

By: Robyn Jeffries (Case Manager), Brayden Mulhern (Caseworker) & Daniel Torch (Caseworker)

The Sport Solution Blog is written by law students and is intended to provide information and the team’s perspectives on current issues. However, the Blog is not intended to provide legal advice or opinion. Athletes in need of assistance should contact the clinic directly at [email protected]. 

If you have been excluded, had your nomination rejected, or had your card withdrawn, this post provides an overview of how to understand the factors that lead to the decision, how the appeals process works and how the Sport Solution Clinic can assist you.

Step 1: Seek Legal Advice

We recommend that athletes seek legal advice when dealing with non-selection issues, as they are trained to help you understand your potential courses of action and legal rights. Please feel free to contact the Sport Solution Clinic for pro bono (free) legal assistance: [email protected].

At any point during your appeal process you may decide it prudent or advantageous to obtain legal representation. Here is a link to a page where you can find a list of lawyers and pro bono clinics across Canada to assist you. Please keep in mind that these lawyers and pro bono clinics have no affiliation whatsoever with the SDRCC: http://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/eng/dispute-resolution-arbitrators.

Step 2: Understanding the Carding Process

In order to assess whether you have a valid claim to an appeal, it will be beneficial to understand the carding process that your respective NSO employs. Athletes are first nominated by their NSO according to the NSO’s “Carding Policy.” These policies outline the requirements an NSO uses to nominate athletes for the carding process. Carding Policies must be sport-specific and compliant with the Athlete Assistance Program’s (AAP) Policies and Procedures. If there are more athletes within a particular NSO who meet the eligibility requirements, the NSO will rank the athletes based on their Carding Policy.

Sport Canada receives the NSO’s list of nominated athletes and cross-references them with the AAP Policies and Procedures related to carding. Athletes must, therefore, qualify for carding under the policies set out by both their NSO and Sport Canada.

Step 3: Understanding the Potential Points of Rejection

The appeal process varies depending on which point in the carding process the athlete was no longer given consideration. There are two points at which this can happen:

  1. The NSO. In this situation, the NSO did not nominate the athlete or recommended withdrawing the athlete’s card.
  2. Sport Canada. In this scenario, Sport Canada rejected the athlete’s nomination or withdrew their carding.

After having selected an athlete for carding, Sport Canada reserves the right to withdraw carding for any of the following reasons:

  1. Failure to meet training or competition commitments;
  2. Violation of the Athlete/NSO agreement;
  3. Failure to meet athlete responsibilities outlined in the AAP policies and procedures;
  4. Gross breach of discipline, including assertion of or prosecution of a criminal offence;
  5. Investigation for cause; and
  6. Violations of anti-doping rules

Further details on what disqualifiers or types of activities will fall under any of these categories can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/athlete-assistance/policies-procedures.html#a13

Step 4: Understand Your Options

In both scenarios, the athlete can accept the decision made by the NSO or Sport Canada, or choose to appeal it. While the appeals process is generally similar, it is vital to refer to the procedures and rules in the appeal policies of the decision maker, specifically the NSO or Sport Canada. Also, please note that the time restrictions for the appeal processes are strict. Any appeals not made within the specified time frame may or may not be considered, at the discretion of the NSO director, or in cases of an AAP appeal, at the discretion of Sport Canada Senior Director of the Programs Division. Any decision allowing or disallowing an appeal made by the Sport Canada Senior Director cannot be appealed.  

Scenario (1): NSO

If an athlete’s name is not put forward to Sport Canada, an appeal may be lodged according to the internal appeal process of the NSO. Here is a link to NSO’s with their own internal appeal process: http://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/eng/appeal-policies. 

Scenario (2): Sport Canada

If the NSO puts forward an athlete’s name and Sport Canada rejects that nomination, the athlete may lodge an appeal within 15 days from the decision date under the appeal procedure outlined in the “AAP Policies and Procedures.”

Before directing you to the general appeal process through the SRDCC, it is important to note that you can also appeal through the internal appeal process of the relevant NSO. Many, though not all, NSO’s have an internal appeal process. The NSO’s internal appeal process is most commonly used when the NSO does not nominate the athlete for carding. The SDRCC encourages the utilization of these processes and has provided guidelines for NSO’s to create their own internal appeal processes.

Step 5: Appeals

If you believe that there were procedural errors in the appeal or facts or circumstances that warrant a further appeal, then you are entitled to file a Request form to the SDRCC in the timeframe provided in the relevant appeal policy, or if no timeframe is specified in the NSO appeal policy, no later than 30 days after the decision was rendered. 

The SDRCC Jurisprudence Database (http://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/eng/dispute-resource-databases-jurisprudence) provides athletes with the ability to search for cases similar to theirs. This may be useful for determining your chances of a successful appeal. While athletes are free to take this step on their own, we recommend using the legal services available to you, as listed above.

Follow the Sport Solution Blog
Sport Solution Services

AthletesCAN relaunching EDI membership survey in partnership with U of T and E-Alliance

Posted on by Jacob Morris

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, announced it is relaunching its anonymous Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) survey, in partnership with the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) at the University of Toronto and the E-Alliance Research hub for gender+ equity in sport. 

The goal of the survey, which was originally unveiled in May 2022, is to assess the demographics of AthletesCAN members, the quality of their sport experiences with respect to EDI, and ways that EDI can be improved in the sport community at the national level. 

Since the initial phase of data collection nearly two years ago, the survey has gone through a significant revision process, including reordering and shortening of the survey, providing additional clarity and transparency where needed, restructuring of decision trees to allow for quicker responses, and shifting some sections to become optional. The result is a more simplified questionnaire that will allow for a more strategic and effective intake process. 

“This survey is important because it will provide us with information about the landscape of sport as it pertains to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. This edition is more streamlined to help athletes share their experiences with EDI in their sport environment in a way that is understandable, accessible and easy to navigate.”

Neville Wright, AthletesCAN board member and chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The survey remains open to all current and retired national team athletes within the last eight years who are 16 years of age or older. Individuals of all intersectional identities are welcome and encouraged to participate.

As part of the revision, the survey’s completion time has been reduced to approximately 15 minutes and will request general demographic information, while asking about specific aspects of members’ sport experience in the NSO environment, including, the nature of personal experiences (i.e., positive and negative), overall impressions of EDI (optional), and perceived progress of EDI initiatives (optional).

“The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education is delighted to be partnering with AthletesCAN on this important initiative. The updated anonymous survey will give athletes an opportunity to have their voices heard and in so doing inform the design and delivery of safe, welcoming and more inclusive sport in Canada.

Professor Gretchen Kerr, Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

National team athletes can learn more about and access the survey below.

Take the Survey

About the University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education

The University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education is guided by a mission to develop, advance and disseminate knowledge about the interactions of physical activity and health through education, research, leadership and the provision of opportunity. Follow us on social @UofTKPE.

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 over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships.

AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.  

Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.

For more information, please contact:

Jacob Morris
Coordinator, Communications and Digital Media
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected]

Jelena Damjanovic
Public Relations Officer
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
University of Toronto
416-946-3713
[email protected] 

AthletesCAN, Bound State Software launch AthleteHUB Initiative – unifying Canadian sport system resources for over 3,000 national team athletes

Posted on by Jacob Morris

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, and Vancouver-based web agency Bound State Software proudly announced Friday the official launch of the AthleteHUB Initiative. 

Originally unveiled in February 2023 and funded by Sport Canada, AthleteHUB was created to house a wealth of information and resources that are currently available across the Canadian sport system, consolidated into a single, new space – serving as a centralized one-stop shop for Canadian national team athletes.

At launch, the Hub includes more than 80 resources from over 30 different organizations and counting, covering Canadian Sport Governance, Career Development, Competition Readiness, Education, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Ethics & Integrity, Financial Support & Development, Legal Support & Conflict Resolution, Mental Health & Wellness, Para Sport, Safe Sport, Sustainability, and Training Nutrition & Prevention.

“The launch of AthleteHUB is another important step in ensuring athletes have a successful and empowering sport experience. This amazing tool is the product of years of consulting with athletes about what they need to succeed in sport. We’re excited to see this initiative become a reality and help empower athletes with amazing resources across the sport system.”

Erin Willson - AthletesCAN President and artistic swimming Olympian
Launch AthleteHUB

All AthletesCAN members and senior national team athletes who receive Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) funding – totalling over 3,000 athletes who have represented Team Canada, will be given access to AthleteHUB by activating their account at myathletehub.ca. Senior national team athletes who do not currently receive AAP-carded funding can gain access by becoming an AthletesCAN member at athletescan.ca/join. 

With a passion for collaborating with nonprofit organizations, Bound State Software was selected from among over 20 prospective vendors, owing to its vision to design and build products that inspire and spur positive change. Bound State collaborated on the consultation and delivery of the HUB over the last eight months with AthleteHUB Project Manager Nicolas Rouleau, as well as Lindsay Smith, AthletesCAN’s Manager of Athlete Projects & Operations. 

“I am incredibly proud to be launching AthleteHUB. Designed to empower athletes on their journey to success both on and off the field of play, this launch marks a significant commitment to fostering the growth and development of athletes, and I am honoured to be part of the team dedicated to making a positive impact in the Canadian sport community.”

Nicolas Rouleau - AthleteHUB Project Manager

“We are excited to have contributed to the creation of AthleteHUB, and in turn, support Canadian athletes on their athletic journey. It's also been an incredible experience merging our professional background with our dedication to both nonprofits and sports. Our team is thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with AthletesCAN, specifically with Nicolas and Lindsay, and we look forward to making further contributions together.”

Martin Cacace - Bound State Software President

For questions regarding AthleteHUB, or to recommend additional resources, national team athletes can contact [email protected].

About Bound State Software

We build nonprofit websites that make staff, volunteers, and donors happy. Bound State Software is a Vancouver-based web development company that specializes in creating customized, innovative web solutions for purpose-driven organizations creating real-world change. Our websites are designed to increase organizational awareness, improve operational efficiency, and drive more donations – so you can focus on making a bigger impact.

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 over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships.

AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.  

Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.

For more information, please contact:

Jacob Morris
Coordinator, Communications and Digital Media
AthletesCAN
613-526-4025 Ext. 224
[email protected]

Martín Cacace
President
Bound State Software
778-987-0454
[email protected]

AthletesCAN appoints de Sousa Costa Secretary, Vliegenthart as 10th Board member, opens Call for Applications for Treasurer

Posted on by Jacob Morris

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is pleased to announce several significant updates to the 2024 Board of Directors. 

Retired karate national team athlete Chris de Sousa Costa has been appointed the organization’s new secretary. de Sousa Costa, who has served as Treasurer for the last year, will maintain both officer positions on the 2024 executive on an interim basis, as AthletesCAN is launching a Call for Applications for its next Treasurer. 

The treasurer will be responsible for making the necessary arrangements for: 

  • The keeping of such financial records, including books of account, as are necessary to comply with the Not-for-Profit Act
  • The custody and control of the assets of the Corporation, including implementation of instructions of the Board as to investment of assets of the Corporation and the Corporation’s banking transactions
  • Rendering of financial statements to the Directors, members and others when required

The full position can be viewed below. Applications should be submitted to [email protected] by April 7, 2024.

Treasurer Job Description

In addition to recruitment for a new treasurer, retired wheelchair basketball Paralympian and lawyer Jessica Vliegenthart has been appointed as the 10th member of the Board. AthletesCAN bylaws allow for the appointment of one additional Director for every three new Board members elected at the Annual General Meeting. 

Vliegenthart represented Canada from 2007-12 and holds a bronze medal from the 2010 World Championships, and a pair of silver medals from the Parapan Am Games (2007 and 2011). She capped off her career competing at the London 2012 Paralympics.

In her comprehensive municipal law practice involving both litigation and solicitor work, Vliegenthart regularly advises clients on a wide range of topics, such as local government matters including governance and operations, conflicts of interest, council codes of conduct, municipal liability and risk management, freedom of information and privacy issues, regulatory authority, and judicial review.

Vliegenthart also maintains a sport law practice, advising sport organizations on matters of governance and operations, policy development, liability and risk management, privacy issues and safe sport. Having appeared at the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), Vliegenthart regularly works with both athletes and sport organizations to advance the development of sport in a safe and successful way.

Rounding out the 2024 executive, artistic swimming Olympian Erin Willson will continue to lead the organization as President, while rowing Olympian and Vice President Andrea Proske has been appointed President Elect of the organization.

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 over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships.

AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.  

Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.

For more information, please contact:

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

Canadian Athlete Representatives request $6.3 Million increase to Athlete Assistance Program Funding in Budget 2024

Posted on by Alan Hudes

TORONTO / OTTAWA – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission (COC AC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council (CPC AC) – the elected representatives of Olympians and Paralympians across Canada – announced Thursday a $6.3 Million request to the Minister’s Office to increase funding to the Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) in Budget 2024. 

The request represents an 18.8 per cent increase in AAP funding for national team athletes,  aligning with the rise in inflation since 2017 – the last time the program saw an adjustment. The request also proposes indexing the AAP to the inflation rate moving forward, similar to other Government-funded programs. 

“For Canada’s athletes to be competitive on the international stage, they are required to pursue sport full time,” said AthletesCAN President and artistic swimming Olympian Erin Willson. “Training demands and travel requirements make it impossible for athletes to pursue part-time work opportunities to support their living and training costs.”

The AAP, often referred to as carding, was originally designed as a living, training and tuition allowance for Canadian high performance athletes. This funding – which has partial and full status levels – is determined based on meeting AAP-approved, sport-specific carding criteria – including standards achieved at national and international competition, and being nominated by the athlete’s National Sport Organization (NSO). 

According to the most recently published edition of Sport Canada’s Status of the High Performance Athlete Survey, AAP funding makes up approximately 75 per cent or more of athletes’ annual income. At a maximum payment of $1,765 per month, most of Canada’s high performance athletes compete at the highest levels of sport while living on just over $21,000 per year – which for many athletes, is their lone source of income.

Today, the AAP is no longer reflective of the reality that athletes experience while pursuing their sports at the international level. Athletes are experiencing rising costs like all Canadians, with the majority of National Training Centres located in Canada’s most expensive cities – including Toronto, Vancouver / Victoria and Calgary – which have experienced a 13.1 per cent year-over-year increase in average rent, on top of increasing costs for team fees, equipment, travel and health and wellness. 

“Athletes are increasingly burdened by the rising expenses of the cost of training and living, leaving them in a financially vulnerable position,” said COC AC Chair and Olympic gold medalist in trampoline gymnastics Rosie MacLennan. “Addressing these concerns is crucial to retaining high performance athletes in sports and fostering healthy sports cultures. The uncertainty of athlete financial realities creates undue and inequitable power dynamics which may also result in increased risk of experiencing maltreatment in sport and/or reduced agency to report maltreatment in sport.”
Download Budget 2024 Request

The request aims to positively impact over 1,900 current national team athletes across the 68 sports currently competing in either the Major Multisport Games (Olympic/Paralympic, Pan/Parapan Am, Commonwealth) or those funded by Sport Canada that hold an annual Senior World Championship.

This request is independent of the recent budget appeal of $104 Million by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) for the federal government’s core funding for NSOs. AthletesCAN, the COC AC and CPC AC full support this ask, as properly-resourced NSOs remain essential to providing support and services that enable Canada’s athletes to thrive on the international stage. However, without specific funding allocated directly to athletes in the manner of the AAP, athletes remain at risk.

“Parasport athletes play a pivotal role in creating more inclusive sport opportunities for each and every Canadian,” said CPC AC Chair and wheelchair basketball Paralympian Erica Gavel. “Given that para-sport athletes experience additional costs relative to their disability, sporting equipment, and transportation, an increase in funding would alleviate the financial strain experienced by our developing and senior carded athletes.”

BY THE NUMBERS

2019-20 Sport Canada Status of the High Performance Athlete Survey

  • 846 Paralympic, Olympic and Non-Olympic High Performance athlete participants
  • Average annual Income: $28,858 in 2018
  • Sport Canada’s AAP contribution average: $13,613
  • Sport Canada’s AAP maximum monthly contribution: $1,765/month
  • Provincial Assistance average: $3,689
  • Employment income: $10,074
  • Sport-related resources income $5,218
  • Sport Award income: $1,264
  • Athlete expenses: $4,400/month
  • Increase of more than 15 per cent since 2013-14
  • Nearly 30 per cent increase since 2009
  • Increase of $600/month from 2013-14 to 2018
  • Deficit of $1800/month or close to $22,000/year 

2022 COC AC Survey

  • 83 per cent of athletes said that financial health causes significant stress and contributed to the decision to leave sport prematurely
  • 80 per cent cite financial stability as key topic of mind

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 over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships. AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.  

Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today.

About the COC Athletes' Commission

The COC Athletes’ Commission (@TeamCanadaAC) represents the voice of Canadian Olympic athletes to the Canadian Olympic Committee Board of Directors, to Sport Canada, to the International Olympic Committee, international sport federations and all other domestic sport organizations. It is instrumental in presenting Canadian athletes’ perspectives in areas ranging from athlete rights, safe sport policies, marketing & COC partnership agreements, Olympic team selection policies and much more.

About the CPC Athletes' Council

The CPC Athletes’ Council is an elected group of current and retired Paralympic athletes (within the past eight years) that serve as the collective voice, advocating the best interests of Canada’s Paralympic athletes and the Paralympic movement within Canada. The Athletes’ Council works to provide input and recommendations from an athlete perspective to the Canadian Paralympic Committee staff, committees and Board of a Directors with respect to decision making at all levels of the organization.

For more information, please contact:

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

COC Athletes’ Commision
[email protected]
@TeamCanadaAC
bit.ly/3OEFMcT

CPC Athletes’ Council
[email protected] 
@CDNParalympics
paralympic.ca/athletes-council.

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.