Press Releases

Press Release Service

Disponible en français

« Back to Latest News

In the Loop - CAAWS eNewsletter (2096)

1. On the Move
On the Move is CAAWS's national initiative to increase opportunities for inactive girls and young women (ages 9-18) to participate in sport and physical activity. Through education, collaboration and communication, On the Move influences change in the sport and active living, health, education, and social service sectors to increase gender equity.

a) Add Your Voice! On the Move Survey
Are you committed to girls and young women in your community? Do you want to contribute to the creation of a gender equitable sport and physical activity system? Do you have ideas about how CAAWS can continue to make a difference for girls and women in Canada? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we want to hear from you!

CAAWS is currently undertaking an environmental scan to assist us in determining the future direction and priorities for On the Move. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. All respondents will be entered into a draw to receive one of five CAAWS prize packs.

To complete the survey or for more information, click herefor the online survey page on CAAWS's website, from which you can access the survey. The online survey will be available for two weeks.

b) Become an On the Move workshop Facilitator!
Application Deadline: Monday November 30, 2009 5:00pm EST
CAAWS is looking for twelve keen women from across Canada who would like to become On the Move workshop facilitators. On the Move Workshops are half-day, interactive, issue-based sessions that provide an overview of the initiative, share best practices from across Canada, and provide "how-to" tips to increase the participation of girls and young women.

Visit the site for more information about becoming an On the Move workshop facilitator.

c) Co—host On the Move Workshops
Submission Deadline: December 11, 2009
CAAWS is currently looking for communities interested in co-hosting On the Move workshops between January and March, 2010. On the Move Workshops are half-day, interactive, issue-based sessions that provide an overview of the initiative, share best practices from across Canada, and provide "how-to" tips to increase the participation of girls and young women. Appropriate for everyone from practitioners to policy makers, the workshops also provide an opportunity for participants to network and discuss collaboration and local action to make a difference in the lives of girls and young women in their community. Aboriginal communities interested in an On the Move workshop that highlights CAAWS's Team Spirit: Aboriginal Girls in Sport and Aboriginal Girls On the Move projects are also encouraged to apply.Workshop expenses (e.g. facilitator costs, facility rental, refreshments) will be paid or rei mbursed by CAAWS.

For information about the workshop and submitting a Letter of Interest visit http://caaws.ca/onthemove/e/workshops/index.htm

2. Aboriginal Women and Leadership Project
Aboriginal women have diverse knowledge, experience, perspectives and connections that can enhance program planning, decision-making and organizational governance. Further, Aboriginal women are important role models in their community, particularly for girls and young women. Unfortunately, Aboriginal women are often under-represented in leadership roles. To help address this gap, CAAWS, in collaboration with the Aboriginal Sport Circle and a working group of female Aboriginal leaders from across Canada, developed the Building On Our Strengths – Aboriginal Women and Leadership workshop in 2008 to provide a personal and professional development opportunity to increase the skill level and confidence of Aboriginal women to make a difference in their community.

a) Workshop Facilitators Needed for CAAWS's Aboriginal Women and Leadership Project
Application Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2009 – 5:00pm EDT
CAAWS is looking for eight keen women from across Canada who would like to become workshop facilitators for our Aboriginal Women and Leadership Project. The Building on Our Strengths: Aboriginal Women and Leadership workshop was developed to provide a personal and professional development opportunity for Aboriginal women to increase their skills and confidence to enhance community sport and physical activity. During the workshop, participants discuss community issues relating to sport and physical activity, and develop their skills relating to communication, networking, and influencing change. Workshop content was developed by Aboriginal women for Aboriginal women; and each workshop will be facilitated by an Aboriginal woman.

Full details about the application requirements and process are available here.

b) Host an Aboriginal Women and Leadership Workshop in Your Community!
Submission Deadline: December 11, 2009
CAAWS is currently looking for communities interested in co-hosting a Aboriginal Women and Leadership workshop between January and March, 2010. CAAWS's new Building On Our Strengths: Aboriginal Women and Leadership workshop was developed to provide a personal and professional development opportunity for Aboriginal women to increase their skills and confidence to enhance community sport and physical activity. During the workshop, participants discuss community issues relating to sport and physical activity, and develop their skills relating to communication, networking, and influencing change. Workshop content was developed by Aboriginal women for Aboriginal women; and each workshop will be facilitated by an Aboriginal woman. Workshop expenses (e.g. facilitator costs, facility rental, refreshments) will be paid or reimbursed by CAAWS.

For information about the workshop and submitting a Letter of Interest visit http://caaws.ca/e/leadership/program.


3. Upcoming CAAWS Workshops

a) Working with low socioeconomic status (LSES) mothers
In the coming months CAAWS will be co-hosting English and French regional workshops for professionals and/or physical activity promoters working with low socioeconomic status (LSES) mothers across Canada. The workshops will focus on findings and key learnings from 2008 cross-Canada focus groups with LSES mothers and physical activity promoters, as well as present physical activity tools that were developed to assist practitioners to better address specific community issues and barriers with respect to accessibility, availability and affordability of physical activity opportunities for LSES mothers.

October 22, 2009 - English workshop in Winnipeg, MB (Wolsley Family Place) RSVP: Nasrin Sephri -- Tel: 204-788-8054 email: healtheducator@mts.net

November 5, 2009 - English workshop in Fredericton, NB (Gibson Health Clinic)

November 6, 2009 - French workshop in Fredericton, NB (Gibson Health Clinic) RSVP: Gabriela Tymowski - Tel: 506-447-3231 email: tymowski@unb.ca OR Donna Clark - Tel: 506-458-8422 email: diabetes@nbapc.org

November 9, 2009 - English workshop in Kelowna, BC

November 12, 2009 - English workshop in Vancouver, BC (Burnaby Family Life Metrotown) RSVP: Kaitlin Burnett Tel: 604-659-2205 email: kburnett@burnabyfamilylife.org
Workshops are approximately two hours in duration. Complementary resources will be provided to each participant.

For more information:
Natacha Ducharme at
Tel: (613) 304-8225
Email : natachaducharme@sympatico.ca

b) Women 55-70: Physical Activity and Sport Challenges and Opportunities Ontario Regional Workshops
CAAWS and local partners are co-hosting a series of Regional workshops focused on physical activity and sport challenges and opportunities for women 55-70. The purpose of the workshops is to present and discuss findings, tools and resources produced as part of a four-year national project (2005 to 2009) focused on increasing physical activity and sport opportunities for women 55-70. The useful information and concrete tools presented will assist in the development of physical activity and sport initiatives, policies and strategies for women 55-70.
• October 22 -- Dryden-Kenora-Thunder Bay
• October 26 -- Chatham
• October 29 -- Mississauga
• November 10 -- Pickering
• November 17 -- Owen Sound
• November 19 -- Ottawa
• November 23 -- Barrie
• November 30 -- Kingston
• January 13, 2010 – L ondon
Cost: There is no cost to attend the workshop and lunch is provided.

For more information:
Shelley Callaghan
Email: purpledog@sympatico.ca
Funding for this three-year project has been provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion through the Sport for More Program

c) Building on Our Strengths: Aboriginal Women and Leadership
If you are interested in building leadership skills to contribute to sport and physical activity in your community and if you are passionate about participation and want to share this passion with others, then this workshop is for you! The Building On Our Strengths workshop, designed by and for Aboriginal women, will provide an opportunity for women working or volunteering in the sport, recreation, health and education fields to share their experiences, reflect on ideas, and learn how to apply specific leadership skills, strategies and techniques. Discussion will focus on how to improve the sport and physical activity system for Aboriginal girls and women.
Date: Friday, November 6

8:30am - 12:30pm
Where: Walpole Island Library Meeting Room
Cost: FREE!

Register: RSVP to Suzette Jacobs at jacobssu99@lkdsb.net
Registration numbers are limited, so sign up soon!

4. Events -- Lunch & Learn in Ottawa
From Facebook to Twitter – Web-Based Communication in Sport and Physical Activity

Wondering about the pros (and cons) of having your team or organization on Facebook? Confused about all the tweeting happening on Twitter? Or perhaps you're a technological whiz, wanting to drag your colleagues into the 21st century of communication. Whatever your comfort with the current web-based communication tools, this session is for you! Learn about the various programs (blogging, Facebook, Linked-In, Twitter, etc), share your experiences, and talk about the opportunities these technologies present for sport and physical activity.
Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Time: 12:00-2:00pm; Lunch will be provided
Location: RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa ON
To Register: Jessica Lowe
Telephone: 613.562.5667
Email: jlowe@caaws.ca

Save the date – December 9, 2009 for the next Lunch & Learn session in Ottawa.

5. New Resource – In Her Voice: An Exploration of Young Women's Sport and Physical Activity Experiences
In Her Voice provides insight into the sport and physical activity experiences of girls and young women. The resource is based on focus group conversations with young women, aged 13-17, from five diverse communities across Canada. The information gathered offers program providers and decision-makers in the sport and active living, health, education, and social service sectors a better understanding of the diverse needs, interests and experiences of young women, supporting the creation of better programs and more responsive health promotion initiatives.

click here to download the pdf.


6. In the news
a) CAAWS supports PRIDE Houses in Vancouver and Whistler for 2010
An open and welcoming venue for the LGBT community and their allies will be provided by PRIDE Houses in both Vancouver and Whistler at the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Houses will celebrate diversity and inclusiveness through sport, as well as educate and raise awareness about the discrimination, and in some cases persecution, facing LGBT people (or those presumed to be), both in Canada and throughout the world. CAAWS, along with several other organizations and a a strong cross-section of leaders within the LGBT community, is part of the PRIDE Houses' advisory committee. One goal of the Houses is to educate and evoke change in homophobia in the sports culture, an area where CAAWS has been a leader over the last several years.

More information on the PRIDE Houses can be found here.
More information on CAAWS's work to address homophobia in sport can be found here http://caaws.ca/homophobia/e/index.cfm

b) IOC unhappy with the lack of participation of female athletes from three countries
The IOC recently made headlines around the world when IOC president Jacques Rogge announced the International Olympic was unhappy with three countries for failing to support the participation of female athletes. Although Mr. Rogge did not choose to name the countries, he said they all pose "religious, cultural and political difficulties for women" to compete in sports. The statements came at the conclusion of the IOC session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mr. Rogge indicated that two countries were beginning to take the IOC's concerns seriously and that a third could face sanctions from the IOC.

7. Celebration Noticeboard
Canadian women's hockey player, Sami Jo Small was presented with the fifth annual AthletesCAN Leadership Award at the 2009 AthletesCAN Forum in Richmond, BC.

In the Loop celebrates women's accomplishments in the sport and physical activity communities. Send career notices, changes, awards and recognitions to In the Loop c/o bmacdonald@caaws.ca to be included in the next issue.

Follow http://twitter.com/CAAWS for quick CAAWS' information and news items.

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
N202 - 801 King Edward Avenue,
Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5
(613) 562-5667
caaws@caaws.ca
www.caaws.ca

 

 

Contact us | Read our Policies | Terms and Conditions | Copyright © SIRC