Reflections on Sport
By Karri Dawson, Senior Director, Quality Sport, CCES
A change in season often brings with it a time for reflection; the splendor of Mother Nature’s fall colours are often associated with giving thanks. This year, in these unprecedented times, I would suggest many of us are reexamining what we are most thankful for and what choices we want to make as we continue to transition to a new normal.
Many Canadians are thankful for sport! You might think this is a bizarre statement but sport ranks as the second most positive influence in the lives of youth, after family. As parents and caregivers, we seek out sport experiences that will teach our children positive life skills, and instill character traits to help them navigate their future.
Sport is an integral part of Canadian society and touches many of our lives beyond the obvious health and wellness benefits. Sport connects our communities, fosters a sense of belonging and provides opportunities for the pursuit of excellence.
Like so many things in our society right now, access to sport is uncertain and vulnerable. We do not know the pace at which all sporting activities will resume, nor if those that have returned to the field of play will remain operational.
In this time of reflection, we have an opportunity to reimagine the future of sport in Canada. We have an opportunity to be thankful for all of the good that sport can do and to look at ways we can contribute to making sport even better. We have an opportunity to make choices when it comes to the type of sport experiences we want for our children and ourselves. And as sport leaders, we have a unique opportunity to influence and shape the sport system that we find ourselves a part of.
At the CCES, we believe that values should be at the heart of the sport system from playground to podium. We embrace True Sport as the platform to support our work to activate a values-based approach to sport. True Sport builds on the values of fairness, excellence, inclusion and fun and identifies a set of principles, which, when expressed, give all stakeholders involved in sport the means by which to leverage the many benefits of good sport.
One of the principles of True Sport is to Give Back; SIRC did just that by supporting sport organizations to work with inMotion to develop short videos to connect with their stakeholders during this unprecedented time. We are thankful for SIRC’s commitment to build capacity within the sport and physical activity sector and are happy to share the CCES’s Making Sport Better video.
During this season of thanks and giving, I am thankful for our True Sport supporters whose commitment and passion showcase the joy, positivity and benefits that result from a True Sport experience. I hope their stories of good sport inspire others to do the same. If you would like to discuss opportunities to activate values-based and principle-driven sport in your organization, reach out to the CCES True Sport team.