This past year has been informative, busy and above all – positive, for the Ottawa Sport Council. There were many learning opportunities as an organization, along with the ability to educate and network with fellow sport advocates, clubs and local citizens to further sport in our community. Our endowment fund provided 2 grants to local community sport organizations to establish new programs for underserviced communities, ; we hosted two well-attended summits and supported and engaged in the Ottawa bid to host the 2021 Canada Games. Here’s a review of some of the highlights:
Canada Games Bid
January kicked off with Ottawa being a finalist in the bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games. Although unsuccessful (Congrats to the Niagara Region for their winning bid), the bid exercise brought together the sport community and showcased why the City of Ottawa is a top destination for sport and sport tourism. We have an array of venues, fierce competitive spirit and unparalleled support for fellow athletes. This was an unforgettable experience for our City and the Ottawa Sport Council was proud to show their support!
Spring Summit- Concussions
The OSC hosted its Spring Sport Summit which brought together athletes, coaches and other stakeholders in the local sport community. Our goal is always to educate on relevant topics requested by the community, as well as ensure conversation and networking opportunities. This year, we chose to tackle the sometimes controversial and evolving topic of concussions. We had an incredible lineup of panellists and speakers, notably, Mr. Gordon Stringer (father of Rowan Stringer and key advocate of Rowan’s law), Karolina Wisniewska (Canadian Paralympian), Lorraine Lafrenière (Chief Executive Officer, Coaching Association of Canada), and Dr. Andrée-Anne Ledoux (Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute) who discussed the growing epidemic of concussion in sport. Each speaker brought a unique perspective to the discussion; parent, coach, athlete and physician. The Summit had a great turnout and the feedback we received was extremely positive.
Ottawa Sport Council Foundation 2017 Charitable Endowment Fund
The Ottawa Sport Council Foundation’s ‘Charitable Endowment Fund’ was established in partnership with the Community Foundation of Ottawa and the True Sport Foundation. The Ottawa Sport Council is passionate about sport and this endowment fund aims to enhance sport excellence, guided by True Sport principles, in the City of Ottawa. This year’s recipients – LACA SC and the Ottawa Titans Water Polo Club were each awarded $1500 to support development of their initiatives.
Ottawa Champions All Star Game
As part of the official Ottawa 2017 celebrations, The Ottawa Champions played host to the Can-Am/American Association All Star Game festivities this past summer. This is the first time that Ottawa played host to a professional baseball all star game, with the event including players, families, and fans from Texas, Winnipeg, Quebec, New York, and the American mid-west. It was a tremendous success, bringing many tourists to the area and putting Ottawa on the map once again for our excellence in the sport of baseball!
Fall Summit – Grants Demystified – How to Create a Winning Application
In November, the Ottawa Sport Council held its annual Fall Sport Summit, with the topic of discussion – Grants Demystified – How to Create a Winning ApplicationMany of our member organizations often express their frustrations and questions when it comes to securing funding for their programs. This summit brought together many of the key stakeholders and generated great discussion.
2017 was a wonderful year, just the tip of the iceberg for what we hope to accomplish in the years to come. We want to thank all of our advocates and supporters and look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure there are only positive experiences in sport.