On this page:
WHAT WE DO
GET INVOLVED
HISTORY
OUR TEAM
WHAT WE DO
The Ottawa Sport Council is a not-for-profit organization that strives to Champion, Educate and Connect the Ottawa sports community.
Recognized by the City of Ottawa as a leader for community sport, we are committed to advancing the sector’s best interests.
We believe there should only be positive experiences in sport, and our mandate is driven by the needs of community sport organizations to make that possible.
CHAMPION
The Ottawa Sport Council is passionate about promoting sport’s power to enrich lives and build strong communities. We represent local sport groups with a unified voice to engage with stakeholders such as government and provincial/national sports bodies. We advocate for policy and program improvements to enhance sport opportunities for all.
OSC is committed to supporting community sport participation in inclusive, accessible and safe environments, and reducing barriers for equity-deserving populations, including athletes with a disability, alongside an advisory committee led by Abilities Ottawa.
Supported by community donations, the Ottawa Sport Council Foundation also provides grants annually to support community sport groups’ projects to improve access to sport (learn more about past recipients and upcoming opportunities here).
EDUCATE
The Ottawa Sport Council continually provides a range of relevant and timely educational resources, including information about current best practices and materials tailored to the often-overlooked community level of sport.
OSC has led the development of many targeted projects such as The Belonging Playbook, the Volunteer Toolbox, the Safe Sport Toolkit and the Concussion Education initiative.
(You can visit our Educational Resources webpage for more info on these and from other sources.)
CONNECT
The Ottawa Sport Council brings together a wide range of local sports groups that serve a variety of ages, abilities and interests. We create opportunities for organizations to work together, share ideas and combine resources. We foster cooperation on matters of mutual interest and coordinate effective collaboration among stakeholders.
The Ottawa Sport Summit is our signature annual gathering for the local sports community. The Summit features an engaging day of discussions and educational sessions on timely topics, while offering the opportunity to meet and learn from peers in community sport.
Visit our Ottawa Sport Summit webpage for details on past/upcoming Summits.
GET INVOLVED
There many ways you can get involved with the Ottawa Sport Council, whether you are part of a sport organization’s board of directors or a staff member, a coach, a volunteer, a parent, a leader in sport or another sector.
The best way to keep up to date on opportunities to engage with OSC is by signing up for our free newsletter. You can also follow us on social media.
Among our offerings are educational webinars, sharing grant/funding opportunities and consulting on applications, communicating important policy updates, coordinating public engagement and advocacy initiatives, hosting or sharing professional development and networking events, recognizing impactful community sport leaders and groups, promoting sport events and tourism in Ottawa, assisting in sport volunteer recruitment, and more.
If you are looking to volunteer with a local sports organization, for sports events or with the Ottawa Sport Council, check out our Volunteer page or sign up for our newsletter where we’ll share new opportunities.
HISTORY
The Ottawa Sport Council launched in 2014 and the first Ottawa Sport Summit was held that fall.
The Council was created in an effort to address a lack of support for community sport, which is run 73% by volunteers.
A chief goal was (and remains) to help community sport organizations operate more effectively while striving to ensure there are only positive experiences in sport.
The OSC also sought to unite the sports community that often operated in their own silos with little interaction between other groups outside of their sports. And it aimed to support sport event hosting opportunities in Ottawa.
With a boost from an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to help get off the ground, the Ottawa Sport Council was developed alongside partners from Ottawa Tourism and the City of Ottawa’s Recreation, Culture and Facilities Services department, which provides core funding for OSC operations.
The OSC was established as a body to represent local sport organizations and act as community sport’s voice at City Hall and with other key stakeholders.
Marci Morris led the Ottawa Sport Council as executive director from 2013 to 2024, while current chair Mathieu Fleury has served as a director since the outset.
OUR TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President : Mathieu Fleury
Mathieu brings to OSC’s Board of Directors his experience volunteering for the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canada Women’s National Baseball Team, Volleyball Canada and Diving Canada in addition to his work as a City Councillor. In 2010, he became one of the youngest councillors with the City of Ottawa at age 25 and continued to serve Rideau-Vanier Ward until 2022. Mathieu’s prior experiences include working with the City of Ottawa in the Recreation and Culture department and interning with the Minister of State (Sport) for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Mathieu’s role on the Board is just one of many ways in which he contributes to the Ottawa community.
Connect with Mathieu on LinkedIn
Treasurer : Muhamad Adatia (he/him)
Muhamad is an avid sports enthusiast, having grown up playing and watching many, he truly believes in the power of sport in building lifelong values and connections. Muhamad attributes many of his leadership and interpersonal skills to those developed in the arena. He advocates for inclusivity and strives to utilize sports as an avenue for empowerment and leadership development. Professionally, Muhamad is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over fifteen years of experience and has a strong financial background. He enjoys providing education through financial literacy and takes pride in accurate financial reporting to ensure organizational growth and strategic alignment.”
Connect with Muhamad on LinkedIn.
Secretary : Kellen Bondy (she/her)
Kellen brings nearly a decade of experience in sport administration, governance, and Safe Sport to the Ottawa Sport Council Board. As Manager, Safe Sport at Swimming Canada, she leads the development of national policies, education initiatives, and resources that promote safe, inclusive, and welcoming sport environments. Her experience in sport governance and administration provides valuable insight into strengthening organizations and creating meaningful community impact. Passionate about community sport, Kellen believes everyone deserves access to safe, inclusive, and positive sport experiences.
Director : Micheline Turnau (she/her)
As one of the Council’s Directors, Micheline brings expertise in program and policy development, capacity building, advocacy, and risk management. Her educational background includes a Master’s Diploma in Policy and Program Evaluation from Carleton University. Beyond the OSC Board of Directors, Micheline has emersed herself in sport as a Board Member with Calabogie Peaks Freestyle Club as well as partnering with Freestyle Ontario to organize the Girlz in Freestyle camp. In her professional life, Micheline works as Manager of Research and Policy Development with the Canadian Association of Radiologists.
Connect with Micheline on LinkedIn
Director : Chelsea McDermott (she/her)
Chelsea joins the Ottawa Sport Council board with over a decade of experience in sports. She has worked with prestigious events and organizations, including the 2015 Pan Am Games, OHL, CEBL, CFL, and NHL. Currently, she is the Vice President of Business Operations for the NLL’s Ottawa Black Bears, debuting in December 2024. Chelsea has a deep appreciation for and has seen the impact of minor league sports on youth of all ages and abilities. She is excited to join the board and continue supporting access & awareness to these opportunities to the Greater Ottawa Region.
Connect with Chelsea on LinkedIn
Director : Shamir Kanji (he/him)
For over 35 years, Shamir has been a driving force in youth development, volunteering within the Ismaili Muslim community and the greater Ottawa community. He has served in leadership roles with the City of Ottawa, the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board, and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, and coached with Ottawa Next Level, the National Capital Classic, and Canada Ismaili Basketball, guiding teams across Canada, the U.S., and overseas. A current board member of the Ottawa Basketball Network, Shamir also brings 25 years of IT leadership in the federal public service at the Canada Revenue Agency, where he contributes to the Government of Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy through data-driven advocacy. His dedication to community and sport was recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. He believes sport is one of the most powerful vehicles to foster pluralism and build stronger communities.
Connect with Shamir on Linked In
Director : Brian Kells (he/him)
Brian is a lawyer practicing corporate and securities law with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate/commercial matters. He regularly advises clients in connection with a variety of transactions including acquisitions and divestitures, venture capital and private equity financings, joint ventures, and a broad range of securities, commercial and business law matters. Brian competed in ultimate (frisbee) for a number of years and was the Board Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton Ultimate Association. While still playing ultimate recreationally, his athletic endeavours more recently include cycling, skiing, and snowshoeing.
Director : Dennis Blinn (he/him)
Dennis brings over 20 years of leadership experience in Canadian sport through senior roles with both the Government of Canada and Own the Podium. As Vice President of Partnerships, Finance and Administration at Own the Podium, he oversees strategic partnerships, financial stewardship, and operations in support of Canada’s high-performance sport system. Previously, Dennis served as Sport Canada’s Director of High Performance Sport and Major Games, where he led the creation of the Canadian High Performance Sport Strategy and guided Canada’s involvement in Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, and Pan/Parapan American Games. He strongly believes in the power of sport to shape character, build community, and create opportunities for the next generation.
Director : Joan Bard Miller (she/her)
Joan brings a breadth of not-for-profit governance and sport experience to the OSC Board. Her decades-long love of figure skating led to a role at Skate Canada where she developed partnership programming with sport and community-based organizations and contributed to research on inclusive intro to sport programming for newcomers to Canada. Joan has since worked in governance roles at two national-level not-for-profit organizations and is currently Manager of Governance and Board Services at Engineers Canada. As a volunteer, she has served on community-based boards for Heritage Ottawa, Capital Heritage Connexion, and her community association.
Director : Alison Costa (she/her)
Alison is the Senior Manager of Donor Experience of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. She is a dedicated fundraising professional with over a decade of experience driving growth for non-profit organizations focused on equal opportunities and community empowerment. Throughout her career, Alison has successfully launched innovative campaigns, secured prestigious grants, and diversified funding streams for charitable organizations such as the Pinball Clemons Foundation and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Her passion extends beyond professional work to extensive volunteer experience supporting individuals with a disability through sport including volunteering as a visual run guide through Achilles. As a marathon runner herself, Alison brings a deep understanding of athletic passion to her work.
STAFF
Executive Director : Frances Mercer (she/her)
Frances joined the Ottawa Sport Council in December 2024 and is thrilled to be able to contribute to the belief that there should only be positive experiences in sport. Working directly in the recreation, fitness and sport sector for over 20 years she understands the joy sport brings to people and the challenges organizations face in making that possible. Devoted to understanding the needs of each individual or organization, adaptability and optimism fuels her next steps.
Communications Lead : Dan Plouffe (he/him)
Born and raised in Ottawa, Dan is the founder of the Ottawa Sports Pages, a local amateur sports news publication devoted to capturing stories from the levels that are most often overlooked by other media. A Concordia University journalism graduate, Dan has previously assisted the Ottawa Sports Awards and the Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame with communications. Dan also helps facilitate free sports opportunities for kids from Ottawa Community Housing neighbourhoods with the Sports Pages’ partner local sports groups. He is a big believer in sport’s power to unite and foster community connections. About the only trophy you’ll find on Dan’s mantle is for “Most Honest Golfer.” Dan joined the Ottawa Sport Council in March 2025.
Get in touch via our contact page.