“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
The Ottawa Sport Council is proud to announce LeeAnn Napiorkowski as our June Community Sport Hero for her outstanding contributions to the Ottawa sport community through her work with the Canadian Jax Unified Rugby Football Club.
The Canadian Jax Unified Rugby Football Club is a rugby team dedicated to providing inclusive rugby programming to athletes of all abilities, regardless of gender, intellectual and physical abilities, and experience level. The club’s philosophy is that rugby is for everyone, making it a perfect fit for our Community Sport Hero program.
As the Founder and President of the Jax, LeeAnn’s goal is to provide inclusive rugby opportunities to any athletes who want to play rugby. She believes that rugby has always been an inclusive sport for LGBTQ2S+ individuals and athletes of all body shapes and sizes. By extending the inclusive nature of the sport to include people who traditionally have not participated in rugby activities, LeeAnn and the Jax have created an environment where everyone feels included, safe, and part of the community.
When asked about her nomination for the Community Sport Hero program, LeeAnn expressed her humility and gratitude, stating that “our athletes are the most amazing people in Ottawa, and they give 110% every time they play rugby. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with our athletes and our amazing coaches and enablers”. The athletes’ dedication and effort make her proud of the hard work that the Jax executives and supporters have put in since 2016.
LeeAnn’s commitment to community sport extends beyond her work with the Jax. She is also involved in coaching at the high school and university levels, and she supports the Lanark Country club program. Additionally, she is part of Rugby Canada’s Community Engagement Committee for the July international rugby matches to be held in Ottawa (learn more here). Through her work with the committee, LeeAnn is helping to create a lasting legacy around the upcoming Pacific Four Series, providing opportunities for thousands of young girls to see and try rugby for free.
Through her work on the Community Engagement Committee to bring the Pacific Four Series to Ottawa, LeeAnn will be able to play to her strengths as both a grassroots coach and a high-performance university coach in rugby. This cross-regional international tournament will include Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA on July 8th and 14th.
Leading up to these events there will also be a series of community events for children to introduce new participants to rugby. Rugby Canada and the Community Engagement Committee have been working with rugby clubs from across Ottawa for their participation in these events. Marquee international sport events can create legacy impact for grassroots clubs (see more here).
The Canadian Jax Rugby Club and LeeAnn Napiorkowski exemplify what it means to be a Community Sport Hero. Their dedication to creating inclusive and accessible sport opportunities for all has positively impacted the lives of countless individuals in the Ottawa sport community. The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to recognize their efforts and contributions.
As we celebrate LeeAnn Napiorkowski and the Canadian Jax Unified Rugby Football Club, we encourage everyone to learn more about their inspiring work and the positive impact they have on the Ottawa sport community (learn more here). Rugby is a game for everyone, and we are proud to have individuals like LeeAnn leading the way in ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate and enjoy the sport.