“Emily and her team at Abilities Ottawa have been instrumental in bringing about awareness of adaptive sport and recreation in the Ottawa area. We had the privilege of working with Emily as we worked to establish an Adaptive Sport and Recreation program for students with disabilities at Carleton University. Emily helped spearhead the initiative on the ground by identifying local community sport leaders, equipment and other logistics which ultimately led to the program’s success. Emily and her team are also the driving force behind the 3rd annual Ottawa Inclusive & Para Sports Expo which enables attendees to learn about Para and Inclusive sports in the community.” – Jonathan Wood, Chief Engagement Officer, Toronto Accessible Sports Council
The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to recognize Emily Glossop as the community sport hero for June. Emily is the Executive Director of Abilities Ottawa, and a tireless advocate for accessibility in sport. She has also worked as a recreation therapist, and was a member of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team as a guide.
Emily says the team at Abilities Ottawa works as a connector, and they are always looking for opportunities to increase accessibility and inclusion in the community. She spoke about the positive benefits of introducing someone to sport that hasn’t participated before.
“Sport offers so much. When someone is introduced to sport, they are introduced to a whole new network of friends, and there is so much value to being part of a sporting community.”
She noted one recent example at the National Capital High School Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, where some students mentioned that it was the first opportunity to wear their school’s jersey.
“This is an opportunity for some students who have never had the opportunity to participate in team sports to do so. It’s really looking at how we can we support our community, which includes our schools, to be more inclusive and accessible to all students.”
Emily spoke about the importance of creating opportunities and pathways for people to participate in sport at all levels, from grassroots level recreation programs, all the way to high-performance programs.
“It’s not just connecting those in our community. It’s also connecting individuals to that pathway to high performance if they choose. It’s recognizing the importance of having programs at every level, so that no matter who you are, if you want to participate at a recreational level, or try to participate on a provincial team or national team, there is an opportunity and a pathway. It is those grassroots programs that are getting kids and youth, and even adults into programming where they can develop skills and understand their own capabilities and strengths. Sport offers the opportunity for people to push and challenge themselves, possibly farther than they ever expected.”
Emily’s efforts to create more inclusive and accessible sporting environments are strongly aligned with the Ottawa Sport Council’s values to generate positive sport experiences for everyone. The OSC is incredibly grateful for the work of Emily and Abilities Ottawa.