Canadian sport organizations seeking to manage organizational risks that hinder corporate operations and jeopardize athlete resources are invited to apply for a Risk Management Workshop.

Since 2007, the CCES has been offering a multi-day workshop as part of the national Risk Management Project, which aims to enhance the effectiveness of decision-making among sport leaders. The project is a multi-year collaboration with Sport Law. Based on the ISO standard of Risk Management, the material has been refined for the Canadian sport landscape. The project design benefits from a consistent, sport-specific, and integrated risk management process. Since its inception, more than 70 sport organizations have participated in a workshop.

The Workshop

  • Identify, plan for, and manage the risks that prevent sport organizations from achieving their objectives using their strategic documents as a foundation for the process.
  • Scan the environment using a proven and recognized ISO guideline, Australian/New Zealand risk management model designed by experts and modified to reflect the reality of the Canadian sport community.
  • Provide staff and key volunteers with an in-depth learning experience, facilitated by experienced sport consultants.
  • Produce a risk registry that identifies and ranks current risks, captures current strategies, and uncovers potential additional solutions. Many NSOs/MSOs have since implemented these solutions as part of their reporting framework to funding partners.
  • Develop a customized risk management program in one comprehensive document that connects the risk registry, the risk management policy, and the processes and tools used to manage risk.

“We tremendously benefitted from the Risk Management Program and it certainly met one of our main objectives going into the process, specifically, bringing the topic and management of risk more prominently in our thinking, planning and focus going forward. Having an outside facilitator lead the sessions with their knowledge and expertise was extremely helpful versus trying to tackle on our own. Having the tools provided such as the registry, dashboard, worksheet and policy, will greatly assist us going forward.”
- Peter Leyser, Executive Director, Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association

Terms of Participation

Interested NSOs, MSOs, and provincial/territorial sport organizations (PTSOs) are invited to apply to participate in a Risk Management Workshop. These are the terms of participation:

  • Workshops are facilitated by Sport Law and managed by the CCES, which includes the organization of workshop details and provision of materials.
  • The CCES will prioritize interested NSOs and MSOs for the workshops, although PTSOs are encouraged to apply and may be selected to participate.
  • The CCES covers the majority of facilitation costs with funding provided by Sport Canada.
  • Participating organizations are responsible for facilitation and administrative fees that aren't covered by the Sport Canada subsidy, as well as logistical costs including meeting room expenses, travel, and accommodation for participants and facilitators.
  • The CEO or Executive Director is expected to participate and is required to identify additional four to seven participants.
  • Workshops must occur between June and the end of March of the project year.
  • Participants must agree to share the outcomes of the workshop (risks and solutions identified, common practices, etc.) so future workshop participants may benefit from these experiences. Sharing promising practices and approaches has been a hallmark of the Risk Management Project and has resulted in some important joint initiatives among participating organizations.

"We have often perceived Risk Management as cumbersome and placed it on the back burner. The CCES Workshops allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the concept of planning and managing risk, and has supported us in establishing a fundamental approach to our Risk Strategy and Registry. We are grateful to CCES for helping us tame the risk management beast!"
- Christiane Marceau, Executive Director, Climbing Escalade Canada

Application Process and Timeline

  • Organizations are selected based on need, state of readiness to implement risk management, and support for values-based sport. The workshop will be held at a mutually agreed time within the project timelines.
  • The sport organization will provide a copy of relevant strategic planning and existing risk management materials to enhance participant knowledge. This may include strategic plans, business plans, LTD plans, etc.
  • The ED/CEO (or their designate) will work with Sport Law and the CCES prior to the workshop to coordinate logistics and distribution of materials.

To learn more about CCES risk management programs, please contact [email protected].

“Risk management is an integral part of our daily business as national sport organization. Our participation in the risk management workshop helped Field Hockey Canada shape a comprehensive risk management plan which is closely aligned to our strategic plan. By including some of our partners, the risk management workshop undertook an inclusive approach which ensured stakeholder buy-in at all levels. As a result, many of the domestic risks – especially during the increased challenges presented by the pandemic – have been easily managed through our clarity in approach. All in all, the risk management workshop is an excellent workshop led by engaging facilitators, which produces tangible outcomes which impact positively and directly on our work.”
- Susan Ahrens, Chief Executive Officer, Field Hockey Canada

See Also...
The CCES Offers Subsidized Risk Management Workshops for Sport Organizations

Ottawa – June 26, 2023 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) invites expressions of interest from national and multi-sport organizations who are interested in participating in a Risk Management Workshop. Workshops are facilitated by experts from Sport Law and are focused on managing foreseeable and impactful risks that pose significant challenges to sport organizations.