They may not always get the love they deserve in the heat of the action, but sports officials got a tip of the cap for all their exceptional efforts at City Hall as the Ottawa Sport Council co-hosted a breakfast celebrating National Officials Day on April 17.
“We all very much believe that sport is special – it’s the shared excitement on the sidelines, the lessons learned in defeat, and the place it provides for families to connect,” OSC Executive Director Frances Mercer said in her remarks to the crowd made up of officials in a wide range of sports, noting that officials serve as role models for young athletes.
“You ensure that the environment remains respectful, inclusive and fair,” she added. “When you lead with integrity, you teach our young athletes that character matters, and in doing so, you become inspirations for building a stronger, more resilient Ottawa, a community that respects the rules, values fairness and looks out for one another.”
Rideau-Vanier City Councillor Stéphanie Plante initiated the National Officials Day celebration at City Hall last year and again co-hosted the celebration.
Plante was thrust into an officiating role herself in 2023 when her son’s basketball tournament was short referees, and she’s continued to develop her skills with the whistle when she’s able to call games on weekends.
In Plante’s comments, she noted the City’s recent announcement of funding for the construction of cricket pitches and that it will look forward to continued investment in facilities, officials and sport.
She thanked all sports officials for their contributions, and gave a personal shout-out to female referees in particular.
“You have been really great supporters and really wonderful mentors and I wouldn’t be where I am without you,” Plante underlined.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe saluted Plante for being a strong advocate for the important role that officials play in sports as he delivered an official proclamation to mark National Officials Day in the City of Ottawa.
Like the numerous city council colleagues who attended the event – including Bay Ward’s Theresa Kavanagh, who was joined by her grandson, a baseball umpire – Sutcliffe has many sports connections in his family.
With his daughter in competitive gymnastics and his son in high-level baseball, he said he owns a strong appreciation for the challenges role sports officials undertake – needing to be experts in their sport, knowing the rulebook, understanding how to manage people and sometimes how to “keep the temperature down.”
“We are grateful to all of you,” Sutcliffe emphasized. “If it were not for the officials, we wouldn’t have sports in our city. We wouldn’t have that very, very important life skill and life building opportunity for our children. So thank you for what you do. Thank you for the impact you have in our community and especially on young lives.”