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As we know, the success of community sport depends on the dedication and time of volunteer sport leaders. Elaine Brimicombe has been a leader within the local and provincial curling community, dedicating her time and expertise to creating an inclusive environment to welcome more participants to the sport of curling.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

“Sarah volunteered again as Head Coach of the Petrie Island Canoe Club in 2022, as she has done since 2013, 10 years that she has devoted to the kids. Sarah is a real sport hero. The amount of time and effort she devotes to the club is incredible. She is always thinking about the next thing that needs to be done to make the life of her athletes and their families better.” – Hector Carranco, Petrie Island Canoe Club

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.

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.

“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