Registration is Open! 2024 Ottawa Sport Summit
Registration is now open for the Ottawa Sport Council’s tenth annual Ottawa Sport Summit- Analytics in Community Sport: What Is It? Why Is It Important? How Can Data Enhance Your Operations and Elevate Participants' Experiences on Saturday, November 30, 2023, at the RA Centre (Clark Hall).
We’re Hiring – the Ottawa Sport Council is looking for a new Executive Director
The Ottawa Sport Council is seeking a new leader. The Executive Director (ED) will provide strategic leadership, oversight, and hands-on execution to advocate for, educate, and connect Ottawa’s sport community. Key responsibilities include managing daily operations, fostering community partnerships, and ensuring the sustainability and growth of the Council’s programs. The ideal candidate will be experienced, creative, and passionate, with a deep understanding of community sport. I will collaborate with the new Executive Director to facilitate a seamless transition.
Ottawa Sport Council’s Volunteer Recruitment Fair- September 28, 2024- Register Now!
The Ottawa Sport Council is delighted to host its first ever Sport Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Saturday September 28th at the St. Laurent Shopping Centre.
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation Announces 2024 Community Opportunity Grant Recipients
The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation is thrilled to announce that Mesh Up Ottawa and Ottawa Blizzard Floorball Club have been selected as the recipients of the 2024 Community Opportunity Grant. These organizations have been awarded $2,000 by Their Opportunity to support children and youth who face socio-economic barriers to participation in sport and underrepresented and marginalized populations.
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation 2024 Community Opportunity Grant
The Ottawa Sport Council is once again partnering with Their Opportunity to deliver the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation 2024 Community Opportunity Grant. Their Opportunity is a national children’s charity that delivers and subsidizes community sport and engagement programming to eliminate barriers of access and empower youth to reach their full potential through sport.
We are pleased to announce that the grant window for the 2024 Ottawa Sport Council Foundation Community Opportunity Grant is now open. We will be awarding two grants of up to $2,000 each for inclusive sport programs.
Expression of Interest- Ottawa Sport Council Board of Directors (2024-2026)
The Ottawa Sport Council is seeking two skilled, enthusiastic individuals with a passion for community sport to join our volunteer Board of Directors.
Luke McGrath joins the Ottawa Sport Council in role of Project Manager
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce the hiring of its new project manager, Luke McGrath.
Creating Safe Spaces for Mental Health in Sport
Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to their community. Mental health is influenced by various factors, such as biological, psychological, social, environmental, and cultural ones. Mental health is not a fixed or static condition, but rather a dynamic and fluctuating one that can change over time and across different situations.
Social Media Use for Community Sport
Social media is an essential tool for community sport organizations to reach and engage with their audience. With the right strategies and tactics, social media can help organizations maximize their reach and impact by connecting with their audience and promoting their activities and events online. However, it is important to keep in mind that social media is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
SAVE THE DATE! 2023 Ottawa Sport Summit: The Past, Present, and Future of Community Sport in Ottawa
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce its ninth annual Ottawa Sport Summit, The Past, Present, and Future of Community Sport in Ottawa, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at the RA Centre (Clark Hall). In 2023, the Ottawa Sport Council is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In reflecting on the 10 years, we recognize that community sport in Ottawa has experienced a significant amount of change, yet some challenges are ever-present.
How to get involved with the 2023 Capital Pride Festival
The Capital Pride Festival is an annual celebration of the diversity and inclusion of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Ottawa. The festival features various events, activities, and performances that showcase the pride and culture of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This year, the festival will take place from August 19th to 27th, and there are many ways you can get involved and support the festival.
Advancing Anti-Racist Education in Community Sport
Racism is a serious and pervasive problem that affects many aspects of society, including sport. Racism can manifest in various forms, such as discrimination, harassment, exclusion, stereotyping, and violence. Racism can negatively impact the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of athletes, coaches, officials, staff, and fans.
Surad Youth Soccer Club
The Surad Youth Soccer Club (SYSC) has been nominated as our August Community Sport Hero! They have been a part of the community since 2012, when a small group of parent volunteers came together to create a new youth soccer opportunity for the Ottawa Somali community. Surad Soccer has grown to include recreational, developmental, and competitive soccer teams ranging from U6 to U17.
New Ways to Increase Sport Participation
Sport participation plays a crucial role in fostering physical and mental well-being, building communities, and promoting inclusivity and diversity. As the Ottawa Sport Council continues to prioritize safe sport and the values of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB), it is essential to explore new ways to increase sport participation through positive and engaging ways.
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation Announces 2023 Community Opportunity Grant Recipients
The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation is thrilled to announce that Gay Ottawa Volleyball and Nepean Nighthawks Field Hockey have been selected as the recipients of the 2023 Community Opportunity Grant. These organizations have been awarded $2,000 by Their Opportunity to support children and youth who face socio-economic barriers to participation in sport and underrepresented and marginalized populations.
Pride Month in Sport
June is an important month for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as it is widely recognized as Pride Month. It is a time to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and advocate for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. In the realm of sport, Pride Month serves as an opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and to acknowledge the ongoing work needed to create safe and welcoming environments for all sport participants and volunteers. In this blog post, we will explore the significance of Pride Month in sport and highlight initiatives promoting 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusivity.
Ottawa Sport Council introduces 2023-2024 volunteer Board of Directors
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) is pleased to welcome two new Board members and a new President, following its Annual General Meeting in May. Newly elected members include Jennifer Dumoulin, (Director), and Muhamad Adatia, (Treasurer). Micheline Turnau, Mike Patterson, and John Cunningham were all re-elected as Directors.
Funding in Community Sport: A Key Driver for Growth and Sustainability
A pressing issue for many community sport organizations is the ongoing challenge of securing sustainable funding. Funding is crucial for maintaining and expanding programs, purchasing necessary equipment, maintaining facilities, and supporting staff and volunteers.
The Ottawa Sport Council partners with Their Opportunity to deliver the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation 2023 Community Opportunity Grant
Beginning in 2023, the Ottawa Sport Council is changing the way we deliver grants from the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation. We believe that it is important to create dedicated spaces for equity deserving groups. To that end, each year the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation will focus on serving a different equity-deserving group.
Recruiting for your Board of Directors
In your sport organization, the Board of Directors holds fiduciary responsibilities, ensures good governance, and guides the organization’s strategic direction. These volunteers maintain a critical role in the overall success of your organization. There are many types of Boards of Directors. Two of the most common found in community sport are working boards and policy boards.
Expression of Interest: Ottawa Sport Council Board of Directors (2023-2025)
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) is seeking skilled and enthusiastic individuals with a passion for community sport to join our volunteer Board of Directors. Recognized by the City of Ottawa as the leading voice for amateur sport across the city, the Ottawa Sport Council serves 300,000+ sport participants from more than 750 community sport organizations.
Inclusion for participants with a disability
Do you know the impacts that children and adolescents with disabilities face because of lack of access to quality sport programming? These impacts can include basic physical literacy, sedentary behaviours, sleep, social engagement, and more. Without access to quality sport experiences, individuals with a disability experience lifelong negative impacts.
How sport tourism can help community sport organizations
Did you know that hosting a major sport event has multiple benefits for community sport organizations? Community sport organizations can work with key partners throughout the city as the host organizing committee to bring a major event in their sport to Ottawa. By working with key partners throughout the city, such organizations can raise their profile, improve local infrastructure, and more.
Community Impact Over the Last 10 Years
n 2023, the Ottawa Sport Council is celebrating its 10th anniversary! First and foremost, we’d like to thank community sport participants and our partners for collaborating with us to create positive experiences in sport and reduce barriers to participation. The Ottawa Sport Council is recognized by the City of Ottawa as the leading voice for amateur sport across the city. OSC serves 300,000+ sport participants from more than 750 community sport organizations.
Strategic Planning Fundamentals
As we begin a new year, community sport organizations may choose to launch a new strategic plan, or perhaps to revisit last year’s plan. According to BDC, strategic planning defines who you are as an organization and lists concrete actions to achieve your goals (see more here). This kind of planning activity can help to unify your team and provide a shared vision for decision makers.
Ottawa Pride Hockey
“Ottawa Pride Hockey is led by gender-diverse people and promotes a safer space for everyone. I have been out to play with them several times and have always felt welcome and part of the team. The community needs Ottawa Pride Hockey. And more of it.” – Dawn Kelly, Local Hockey Player
2022 Year in Review
We began 2022 with the looming uncertainty of what was to come as we approached the 2-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as the year has gone on, we’re happy to have reclaimed some sense of normalcy in community sport.
Volunteer Challenges in Sport
As the 2022 True Sport Report articulates, community sport is heavily reliant on volunteers from several perspectives. Volunteers in community sport include the Board of Directors, administrators, committee members, coaches, officials, and more. The Ottawa Sport Council relies on volunteerism for its Board of Directors, working committees and events on an ongoing basis. Without the support of dedicated volunteers, the Ottawa Sport Council is unable to deliver on our mandate and programming. This is the same for many community sport organizations.
Mental Health in Sport
Much like our physical health, lifelong activity in sport can be a contributor to positive mental health. Sport teaches many traits that promote positive mental health such as resilience, goal setting, creating social connections, and more. According to the Power of Sport: The True Sport Report 2022, 70.3% of sport participants reported perceiving themselves to have excellent or good mental health, compared to only 59.9% of non-participants in sport. The intentional promotion of positive mental health by community sport organizations can enhance the positive impact in our community.
Ottawa Shooting Stars Basketball
“OSS uses basketball to build-up people and our community. OSS collaborates with a broad range of like-minded organizations to leverage the power of basketball for social inclusion. It does so in ways that bring together a cross-section of community members so that everyone gets to play, learn and grow from basketball experiences that build community.” – Leo Doyle, Vice President of Ottawa Shooting Stars Basketball Club
Effective Governance for Community Sport
Sport communities across Canada have access to world-renowned coaching and athlete development programs. However, very few programs exist which support the effective management and operation of a community sport organization. The benefit of this type of programs for a sport organization is that it will help to ensure effective governance in their respective organization – but what exactly is governance?
What is Physical Literacy?
We have all heard of physical education, P.E., or gym class before; but have you heard of physical literacy? According to ParticipACTION, one of Canada’s biggest physical activity advocates, physical literacy can be defined as “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life”. Being physically literate makes it easier for individuals to translate different skill sets within new sports and activities. While this is a vital skill for athletes, it is also important for anyone that wants to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.
The Ontario Summer Indigenous Games and Summer Sports in Ottawa
School’s out, the days are longer, the sun is shining – how can you not be excited that summer is here? If you are not already ecstatic about summer, we at the Ottawa Sport Council would like to tell you about the various events happening in the Ottawa area that will keep you happy and healthy all summer long!
Making community sport more diverse, equitable, and inclusive
We know that overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened inequities among traditionally underrepresented groups, and that includes inequities in community sport. Social and economic divisions in society have widened due to the circumstances of the last two years. As we begin to return to normal, community sport organizations are requesting support to make their organizations more welcoming and inclusive to all members.
Boxing Without Barriers – Creating supportive environments for boxers of all abilities
“Including everyone is a fundamental tenet of Boxing Without Barriers. All programming is designed for athletes, not around them. This means that no one is overlooked, and everyone is empowered to meet their short- and long-term goals.” Chantal Deketele, Head Coach
Job Posting – Communications Specialist
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) is seeking a highly organized, part-time, term Communications Specialist to assist with the delivery of the OSC communications strategy.
Communications 101 in Community Sport
Our world has become reliant on digital communications, and community sport organizations are not immune to the complexities involved in managing digital communication platforms. For community sport organizations, strong communication practices can help to engage current members further and recruit new members. These communication practices can include emails, social media, your website, and more.
Safe Sport Implementation
Earlier this month, we launched the Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit. The Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit is a free online toolkit developed to foster safe, welcoming, and inclusive sport environments for participants of all ages and abilities. Based on industry best practices, the Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit (OSST) was developed collaboratively with 12 Ottawa based member sport organizations through a pilot program.
The Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit: Free Online Resources Presented by the Ottawa Sport Council
The Ottawa Sport Council is thrilled to launch the Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit to our community sport sector. The Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit is a free online toolkit developed to foster safe, welcoming, and inclusive sport environments for participants of all ages and abilities. Based on industry best practices, the Ottawa Safe Sport Toolkit was developed collaboratively with 12 Ottawa based member sport organizations through a pilot program under the leadership of the Ottawa Sport Council and with funding generously provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Expression of Interest- Ottawa Sport Council Board of Directors
The Ottawa Sport Council is seeking a skilled, enthusiastic individual with a passion for community sport to join our volunteer Board of Directors.
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2022 True Sport Community Grant Recipients
The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation is thrilled to announce that the Ottawa River Canoe Club and Active Newcomer Youth Ottawa have been selected as the recipients of the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2022 True Sport Community Grant. These organizations have been awarded $1,500 by the True Sport Foundation to support inclusivity for those who face barriers to participation in sport while embracing the True Sport Principles.
Partnerships to Enhance Community Sport
We believe in the power of partnerships. Partnerships amongst community organizations, even those outside of sport, have the power to enhance sport experiences for participants and increase capacities within organizations. For participants, inter-organizational partnerships can help to introduce new sport experiences and remove barriers to participation. For organizations, such partnerships allow for efficient use of resources and new opportunities to deliver programs and services.
The Beijing Winter Games and Winter Sports in Ottawa
Throughout February and March, Canadians will gather around the living room for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. The Olympic Games were hosted from February 4-20 and the Paralympics will be hosted from March 4-13. Beijing is the first city in the world to host both the summer and winter Games.
Tennis Centre West Ottawa – breaking down barriers to community sport
“Being part of a tennis program, clinic, or just hitting with a partner - it brings joy to people's lives. It brings a sense of belonging and purpose. It develops people's sense of self, courage, confidence and values and continues to teach us every day.” – Frances Mercer, General Manager of Tennis Centre West Ottawa
Grant Funding in Community Sport
When community sport organizations have access to grant funding, there is greater opportunity to achieve financial sustainability and, in turn, continue to offer high quality sport experience for the community.
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation True Sport Community Grant 2022 Application Portal Now Open
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2022 True Sport Community Grant! The application portal is now open and applications can be submitted until Thursday, February 24th at 17:00 EST.
Ottawa Sport Council- 2021 in review
2021 has come and gone, and with it, community sport organizations have overcome another year of uncertainty, adapting once again to an ever-changing sport world.
Ottawa Sport Council announces Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2022 True Sport Community Grant
On January 10, 2022, the application window for the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2022 True Sport Community Grant will open. This grant supports programs which provide inclusivity for those who face barriers to participation in sport including but not limited to those who face social, economic, or racial barriers, and underrepresented and marginalized populations.
Masters Sport
When thinking about the importance of sport participation, the focus can often centre around youth participation. Sport, however, has no age limit and anyone who wants to participate should have the opportunity to do so.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
COVID-19 had many impacts on community sport including a lack of access for many participants, especially those from marginalized communities. Sport is crucial for youth development, both physical and mental. With more than a year of restricted access, getting kids back to the field, pool or court is critically important. As we return to sport, it’s important for community sport organizations to embody equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to ensure all participants feel welcome, included and have equal access to sport.
Video: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panel Discussion
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce the release of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panel Discussion Video. This video is being released with the continued support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund as part of the Ottawa Sport Council’s Rebound program. The program complements and enhances the resources found in the Ottawa Return to Play Roadmap.
Sport Tourism
Sport tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry and offers an opportunity for community sport organizations to showcase local talent, create legacies for host communities and encourage participation in sport.
Stay Connected – Ottawa Sport Council announces Community Sport Slack Workspace
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to launch the OSC Community Sport Slack Workspace to help members of community sport in Ottawa stay connected.
Safe Sport
It’s essential for sport – at all levels – to have a healthy and supportive environment to maintain and grow participation in sport. To create such an environment, sport organizations must make Safe Sport a priority.
Leadership Skills Developed through Sport
Sport offers more than just physical activity. Sport teaches valuable life skills that can set participants up for success in many aspects of life.
Ottawa Sport Council introduces 2021-2022 Volunteer Board of Directors
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) has announced the composition of its newly-elected volunteer Board of Directors, including a new president, following the Annual General Meeting earlier this month.
The Importance of Mental Training in Sport
Achieving a new goal or reaching an elite level in sport requires more than just talent and physical ability. It requires mental strength to push through adversity when physical training inevitably becomes more and more difficult.
Risk Management
Risk is a fundamental part of sport. Whether it be physical risk in extreme sports like paragliding or COVID-19-related risks for a local swimming club, it is important for all sport organizations and managers to be well-versed in risk management.
Community Sport Volunteers
Volunteers are an invaluable resource in community sport and are the backbone of many community sport organizations. Finding – and keeping - volunteers, however, can be difficult. Sport organizations need to take an active approach to volunteer management to recruit, retain, retrain and recognize high-quality volunteers.
International Women’s Day 2021
At a time when fewer people are participating in sport and youth activity levels are declining, increasing diversity and inclusion in sport is essential.
Strategic Planning- Realign and Repurpose in 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged community sport organizations in new and unexpected ways. Organizations have had to alter the way they operate and, sometimes, completely overhaul it. Strategic planning is essential in overcoming adversity as a business and can be key to withstanding waves of success and failure during the pandemic.
Rebound – Helping Community Sport Recover from the Pandemic
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) recognizes the extraordinary challenges being faced by our members, and we are here to help you recover and rebound.
LGBTQIS+ athletes in Rugby
On October 9, 2020 World Rugby released new guidelines that bar transgender women from playing rugby internationally. According to an article in the New York Times, World Rugby has stated that in a collision sport where that least one injury typically occurs per match, “safety and fairness cannot presently be assured for women competing against trans women in contact rugby.”
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation Announces recipients of 2020 True Sport Community Grant
The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2020 True Sport Community Grant – the Rideau Canoe Club and the Nepean Sailing Club. Both organizations have been awarded $1,500 by the True Sport Foundation to assist with COVID-19 recovery efforts and further developing inclusive programming while embracing the True Sport Principles.
2020 in review – Ottawa sport community steps up through COVID-19
The community sport sector in Ottawa has pulled together to continue to support each other this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ottawa Sport Council is committed to Safe Sport for All
The #MeToo movement and recent media attention on abuse in sport has highlighted the need for all sporting organizations to pay attention to creating a safe space for their players. There have been many instances over the past few years of coaches acting inappropriately with athletes, causing them feel uncomfortable playing their sport and reflecting badly on the sporting organization. These incidents have happened at the national, provincial and local level of sport. At the local level, often community sport organizations have not received information on how to deal with safe sport issues which can cause serious harm to their athletes and other staff members.
COVID-19’s Impact on Inclusivity in Sport
According to the United Nations, sport is recognized by many governments around the world as a major contributor to economic and social development. The UN’s Declaration of the 2030 Agenda even reflects on “the contribution sports make to the empowerment of women, and of young people, individuals and communities, as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.”
2020 Ottawa Sport Council Foundation Grant Launch
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2020 True Sport Community Grant. The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation is a Charitable Endowment fund established in partnership with Ottawa Community Foundation and the True Sport Foundation with the goal of providing support to Ottawa Community Sporting Organizations.
Inclusion in Sport
At the Ottawa Sport Council, we believe that sport at all levels is an integral building block of healthy communities and should be available to everyone.
Concussion Education Initiative Video
The Ottawa Sport Council is thrilled to announce the release of the Concussion Education Initiative video which has been developed for community sport participants. This educational video is designed to equip coaches, players, parents, board members, staff, and volunteers alike with the knowledge of how to apply the 4 R's of concussion management (Recognize, Remove, Refer, Return) in a sport setting.
What will sport look like for the remainder of 2020?
With the government shut down in March, all recreational facilities were closed and both amateur and professional sporting events were cancelled. According to an analysis done for ESPN by Patrick Rishe of Washington University, the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer together have lost more than $5 billion due to COVID-19. For the first time in history the Olympics were postponed until 2021 (and there are valid questions whether that is going to happen).
How activity will help get us through COVID-19
There is no doubt that sport is important for mental and physical well-being and also a major contributor to economic and social development in many countries. According to the United Nations (UN) it is well recognized by governments as a huge contributor to the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.
Rowan’s Law Requirements- July 2020:
The final step in the implementation of Rowan’s Law will come into effect on July 1, 2020.
How to stay active during COVID-19
As we head into our second full month of self-isolation and physical distancing, many people are feeling the effects of being home all day and away from loved ones. Our routines have been turned upside down and stress, anxiety and depression are becoming more common feelings.
Expression of Interest- Ottawa Sport Council Board of Directors:
The Ottawa Sport Council is seeking a skilled, enthusiastic individual with a passion for community sport to join our volunteer Board of Directors.
Sport should be available to all
Participating in sport has so many benefits. Not only has it been proven to improve a person’s overall fitness and health, it has also been shown to build confidence and relieve stress. Many people also find that sport is a fun and social activity which is important for quality of life.
Basketball!
When the Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship in June 2019 the country went crazy. Fans of all ages took to the streets to celebrate a win that pushed Canadian basketball to the forefront in the eyes of sports fans all over North America.
The importance of swimming skills
Swimming is an important life skill that should be taught at a young age. Why is this important? Here are four reasons why swimming skills that should be prioritized, especially for children.
Ottawa Sport Council – 2019 in review
Every year we like to take a moment to look back on the impact that sport has had on the community. Whether it be supporting amateur athletes, creating community programs or providing funding for worthy programs, the Ottawa Sport Council loves playing a role in making the Ottawa community a fun and healthy place to live.
Autumn Hikes in Ottawa
As the summer turns to fall it is easy to start dreading the return of the cool weather. There are so many awesome ways to be outdoors and active in the summer, while the cold evokes the urge to stay indoors and cozy under a warm blanket by the fire.
Inclusivity in Sport
Participating in sport is a great way to stay active and healthy. It has been proven that playing sports increases life expectancy, and confidence and improves mental health.
2019 Ontario Sport Council Foundation Grant Launch
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation: 2019 True Sport Community Grant. The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation is a Charitable Endowment fund established in partnership with Ottawa Community Foundation and the True Sport Foundation with the goal of providing support to Ottawa Community Sporting Organizations.
We are hiring!
In support of one of the Ottawa Sport Council’s (OSC) mandates to provide education to Ottawa community sport organizations, we are very pleased to be launching a concussion education program for parents, volunteers, administrators, coaches and officials of Ottawa sport clubs.
Webinar- Future of Municipal Recreation Facilities
The City of Ottawa wants to hear from you on the future of municipal recreation facilities!
New Concussion Requirements for Community Sport Organizations
A new aspect of Rowan’s Law has increased the requirements for community sport organizations regarding concussions effective July 1, 2019.
Rideau-Vanier Multi-Sport Program Concludes
The Ottawa Sport Council (OSC) has successfully completed the pilot year of the Rideau-Vanier Multi-Sport After School Program!
2024 Year in Review
We began 2024 with a renewed optimism about community sport as participation regained momentum following the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Ottawa Sport Council’s efforts to connect, champion, and educate – we also recognized the continued challenges faced by community sport. The Ottawa Sport Council would be remiss to not start by […]
Data Analytics in Community Sport
The use of data analytics in sport is a well-documented practice. In professional sports, teams and athletes rely more and more each day on new insights to improve future performance and gain a competitive edge.
Rob McLaurin – President, National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA)
“Rob’s unwavering dedication to the youth sports community exemplifies the spirit of a local sports hero. He has not only preserved the rich history and tradition of NCAFA but has also set a course for sustainable growth and development, ensuring that future generations of young athletes have access to a well-organized and supportive sports environment.” – Jesse Card, Executive Director, Youth Ottawa
Growing Community Sport Through Collaboration
Reaching new participants requires a community outreach and finding opportunities to bring your sport to a new audience. Participating in community events like volunteer fairs creates a level of visibility for your organization that can’t be achieved in many other ways.
Celebrating Ottawa’s Paralympians
The Paralympics bring together over four thousand of the best para-athletes in the world to compete in 549 different events across 23 different sports. All of these athletes are inspirations to their country, not only through their achievements and pursuits of Paralympic medals, but also because of the adversity and challenges they face every day as competitive athletes with disabilities.
Paul Villeneuve – President, Ottawa Patriots Baseball
“Paul Villeneuve coached my son at baseball with the South Ottawa Blues and the Ottawa Patriots. As a coach, Paul is very knowledgeable and is able to easily share his expertise with kids of all ages. More than that though, he is enthusiastic, passionate, sportsmanlike and really makes the game fun for the players. Paul is a true role model and mentor for all the players that were lucky enough to be on his team.” – Andrew Matsukubo
Celebrating Ottawa’s Olympians
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a showcase of the top athletes in the world competing for medals and national pride. Every athlete at the Olympics started their journey as a child, likely in a community sport organization, where they learned their sport and competed to earn their spot on the national team.