October 23-24, 2021
Hosted by Videoconference
The 2021 AthletesCAN Forum was hosted virtually from October 23rd-24th, 2021. The annual AthletesCAN Forum is the largest and most inclusive gathering of Canada’s national team athlete representatives outside of competition. It brings together Canada’s high-performance athletes and sport leaders to learn about the sport system, develop leadership skills, share ideas and network through interactive workshops, seminars and presentations. The 2021 AthletesCAN Forum featured some of the country’s top sport leaders discussing crucial topics currently impacting the Canadian sport landscape. Sessions in this year’s program covered various topics including safe sport, diversity equity inclusion, mental health, and athlete funding. Forum was delivered virtually, with complimentary registration for all AthletesCAN members and sport system leaders.
AthletesCAN Forum: Building for the Future
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Safe Sport: Introduction to the Independant Safe Sport Mechanism
12:15-1:15pm ET
What’s next for safe sport in Canada? In this session, Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada will provide an update and overview of the development of the new independent safe sport mechanism including available resources, athlete representation, and how to continue to advocate for a safe, inclusive, and welcome sport environment. This session will include an opportunity for direct engagement.
Round Table Discussion and Q&A
1:15-1:45pm ET
Exploring Intersectionality & Identity Through Storytelling
2:30-3:30pm ET
This session features a fireside chat exploring intersectionality and identity through sharing of experiences, an introduction to key concepts, and discussing practical approaches to taking an intersectional approach in your sport journey.
Facilitator: Camille Bérubé, 3x Paralympian, Para Swimming; AthletesCAN Board Member
- Bo Hedges, 4x Paralympian, Wheelchair Basketball; AthletesCAN Board Member
- Joy SpearChief-Morris, Athletics, AthletesCAN Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee Member
- Shanice Marcelle, Beach Volleyball, AthletesCAN Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee Member
Round Table Discussion
3:30-4:00pm ET
Join this roundtable discussion to network with your teammates, reflect on key questions, and discuss on ways we can take a more intersectional approach in our sport. This discussion will be followed by a Q & A with the panelists.
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Fireside Chat: Innovators of the Athlete Influencer Marketplace
12:15-1:15pm ET
This session features a discussion on bridging the gap between athletes and corporations to build partnerships that matter. Learn from expert panelist on topics including trends in the sponsorship marketplace, gain critical knowledge to be successful in promoting your brand, and discover skillsets to hone to help fuel your career.
Facilitator: Allison Forsyth, 2x Olympian Alpine Ski; AthletesCAN Board Member
- Nathaniel Behar, Founder, Firework, CFL Ottawa REDBLACKS
- Lawrence Baslaw, Marketing Consultant, Baslaw & Associates
- Kat Bitove, Founder, xoxo sports
- Molly Carlson, Diving, Red Bull cliff diver
- Brian Levine, President, Envision Sports and Entertainment
- Nicolas Métayer, Director, Envision Sports and Entertainment
Roundtable Discussion and Q&A
1:15pm-1:45pm ET
Join this session to network with fellow athlete leaders on all topics athlete funding and reflect on lessons learned from the previous session.
Your Story Matters: Athlete Experiences of Mental Health
2:30-3:30pm ET
This session will feature a fireside chat with panelists exploring the impact of mental health on their careers, a reflection of the gaps and key resources that supported their journey’s, and their visions for the future of mental health in sport. The fireside chat will be followed by an overview of the mental health strategy, and key resources available to enable elite athletes to thrive as people first, athletes second.
Facilitator: Krista van Slingerland, Manager, Mental Health (Game Plan)
- Alison Levine, 2x Paralympian, Boccia; CPC Athletes’ Council
- Danielle Lappage, Olympian, Wrestling
- Neville Wright, 3x Olympian, Athletics/Bobsleigh; Chair, AthletesCAN Diversity & Equity Advisory Committee
- Angela Whyte, 3x Olympian, Athletics, Coach & Mental Training Consultant
Roundtable Discussion: Moving Towards a Rich and Meaningful Life
3:45-4:15pm ET
In this breakout session will introduce athletes to Choice Point – a framework that athletes can use to more consistently move towards the people and things that matter to them. Lisa and Krista will help attendees (1) identify their values, (2) learn how to better use those values to guide, motivate, and inspire them to move towards the life they want to build, and (3) develop skills to disengage from difficult thoughts, feelings, and memories that pull them away from their idea of a full, rich, and meaningful life.
