About

We are a team of academic and community partners across Canada who are looking at what a reimagined sport, physical activity, movement, and games environment might look like for youth in Canada. Together we will reimagine what an equitable, diverse, and inclusive sport environment in Canada might look like through innovative research with a focus on removing barriers and continuing to learn from all the benefits that sport, movement and exercise continue to offer.

Intersecting Identities

Document and describe how intersecting identities affect girls' experiences of, or exclusion from, community sport.

National Sport Data Collective system

Develop a National Sport Data Collection system to follow sport participation, identify trends, and examine predictors and outcomes for girls.

Resources & Programs

Develop, deliver, and assess supportive resources to improve sport participation and outcomes. These resources will become standards for sport practices.

Sustainable Partnerships

Integrate and mobilize knowledge to develop an open-access toolkit for organizations to collaborate, engage and contribute in a sustainable partnership model for researchers and community partner leaders.

Project Objectives

This project will study the long-term positive benefits of physical activity participation for youth with an eye to both structured sport and the largely unstudied world of more informal unstructured sports. A new set of tools for tackling the intersectional barriers faced by youth sport, particularly girls' sports in Canada to understand not just what stops them from playing but why these youth may not have access to sport and exercise will be developed.

Land Acknowledgement

1. In the spirit of sport, we acknowledge that we gather on the traditional and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across the expansive nation of Canada. From coast to coast to coast, these lands have hosted countless sporting events, competitions, and moments of athleticism. We recognize that many of these activities, from traditional games to modern sports, have deep-rooted histories among Indigenous communities.

2. We pay our respects to the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples whose enduring connection to these lands has shaped the very fabric of our sporting culture. Indigenous athletes, coaches, and leaders have made invaluable contributions to the world of sports, enriching our nation's identity and inspiring future generations.

3. Just as in sports, where teamwork and respect for one another are fundamental, we understand that acknowledging the traditional territories is a collective effort towards reconciliation. It is our shared responsibility to learn from, listen to, and support Indigenous athletes and communities, fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and safe sporting world.

4. As we come together through the universality sport, may we remember that the journey towards reconciliation and unity is as important. With humility, we move forward on this path, appreciating the role of sport in bringing us together and striving for a future where all athletes, regardless of their background, can thrive and reach their full potential.