For Canadians, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games reflected the growing presence of women as outstanding athletes and as medal-producing coaches. For the women coaches, the numbers were small – 22 out of a total of 131 coaches at the Olympics and 10 out of 43 at the Paralympics were women – but their impact was powerful, not only in terms of medals but as exemplars for girls and women who aspire to join the profession.Continue reading
Author Archives: Sport
Article in Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching
Sheila Robertson’s latest article for the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching: Generosity Pays Dividends.
“This is a story with many dimensions, but one indisputable conclusion: when circumstances become opportune, women coaches can flourish in university sport as full-time paid employees. Admittedly, benefactors such as Sheryl and Dave Kerr, whose generosity has made McGill University’s Women in Sport initiative possible, are rare. However, what is unfolding at McGill could, and should, prompt other Canadian institutions to investigate a similar approach to furthering opportunities for the many skilled women coaches in their ranks. All advocates of women coaches can be encouraged by the career pathways being developed at McGill.”
Download the Article: https://coach.ca/sites/default/files/2020-07/CJWC%20-%20July%202020-en.pdf
New Media Guide for Athletes
Sheila Robertson has compiled and edited a revised media guide for athletes for CAAWS and the Commonwealth Games Federation.Continue reading
An Innovative Progam to Retain Female Coaches
Despite it being early days, here is an initiative to watch, support, and adapt. Ringette Canada’s Female Coach on the Bench Policy and the subsequent Action Plan may offer a blueprint for other sport organizations to produce a realistic pathway to develop and retain female coaches.Continue reading
Celebrating Canadian Sport History: New Website Spotlights Game-changing Years
A Piece of Canadian Sport History
A Piece of Canadian Sport History is a newly-launched, free website that covers the period 1977 to 1982, five critical years in Canadian sport. The website features news, articles, profiles, and results from Champion magazine, all focused on Canada’s Olympic athletes.Continue reading
Commonwealth Games Federation: Far-reaching Gender Equality Strategy a First for Sport
By Sheila Robertson.
At the higher levels of international sport, much has been written (and some lip service paid) about the importance of gender equality. But words without action are worthless, and sport remains far from a level playing field for millions of girls and women around the world. WE are therefore encouraged by the actions of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for its recently launched Gender Equality Strategy (GES), which covers many areas of relevance to girls and women throughout the Commonwealth. Continue reading
Sometimes the truth is not what it seems
By Sheila Robertson and Bruce Robertson
From time to time, various media outlets drag out the claim that prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Canada was the only host nation to fail to win an Olympic gold medal on home soil, and not only once but twice. The first occasion was the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and the second the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary 12 years later.Continue reading
1977 Green Paper lays the groundwork for Canadian amateur sport
The initial proposals leading to a definite statement on federal policy for amateur sport were unveiled on October 24, 1977 when a Green Paper entitled “Toward a National Policy on Amateur Sport,” was tabled in the House of Commons by The Honourable Iona Campagnola, Minister of State, Fitness and Amateur Sport. The Green Paper – a working document – focuses on four general areas for discussion: funding, administration, technical development, and promotion. Green paper…
After the 1976 Olympics, Roger Jackson says “Canada could be 5th in the World”
Dr. Roger Jackson, Olympic gold medallist in rowing in 1964 and now Director of Sport Canada, talked to Champion editor Sheila Bresalier about new programs and initiatives undertaken by Sport Canada since the 1976 Olympic Games.
The COA unveils $1.2 million club assistance program heading towards 1980
The COA believes it is time to complement Sport Canada’s athlete assistance program and the coaching development program of the Coaching Association of Canada, by looking to the clubs and club coaches who produce Canada’s international calibre athletes.