Community Sport Heroes Archives

“LeeAnn is a true community person dedicated to ensuring that rugby is a game for ALL, no matter your physical and mental abilities, gender, physicality, background, or income level. She dedicates her time at the grassroots level as well as the university high-performance level, ensuring that rugby is a game for all.” – Tania Richards, nominator

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.

“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

“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

“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  

“Our goal as a program is to identify and remove as many of these barriers as possible to open up this new sector and create much needed gender equality” - Mark Ouellet, Program Director

“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

“Upon reflection, I have been thinking about what has been the best thing that came out of all of this? I think it was building the trusting relationship with the Ottawa Sport Council and the sector- it has been a really great outcome,” shared Krystal Taylor.

“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

“It’s important because it gives young girls courage and inclusiveness. It teaches girls to be brave and not be scared if they don't have experience on ice, especially those participants that are of different nationalities.” – Maha Alsousi, parent of a participant