November 6, 2006 – At the Sport Leadership Conference in Vancouver, CAAWS, the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

CAAWS’ Executive Director, Karin Lofstrom, outlined what has changed over the years. “Today’s sports system has significantly more opportunity for girls and women than it did in 1981. The roots of the unprecedented performance by Canada’s female athletes at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, can be traced to the dedicated people who had a vision and a passion for CAAWS when it began.”

In that era, there was very little activity to promote or support girls and women. There were low levels of participation, inequitable distribution of practice times, few women in leadership position as volunteers or administrators, virtually no women in coaching, and it was rare to see a story about women athletes in the sports section of the local newspaper

Twenty-five years later, thousands of girls and women regularly play a variety of sports, and receive equitable practice and playing time. Women are leaders in sports administration, and are making inroads into the coaching and officiating ranks. Women’s sports on television now draw in large ratings, and reporters provide regular coverage of women’s sports in newspapers, magazines and online.

There are still many areas that require CAAWS’ attention. CAAWS will continue to work in partnership with the Aboriginal Sport Circle and the Aboriginal Sport community to create opportunities for Aboriginal girls and women to participate and lead in sport and physical activity. Eliminating the barriers that keep many different women from participating fully in sports and physical activity will also be an important area for CAAWS, including women from various ethnic communities, lower income groups and women with disabilities.

Fighting childhood obesity, by advocating for physical activity for children, continues to be a major challenge. Homophobia is an issue that CAAWS will continue to champion, to ensure that sport is a welcoming place for all. Finding strategies to help women participate as coaches, leaders and officials will continue to be developed. And CAAWS will lend its expertise, knowledge and resources, to work both across Canada and internationally to continue encouraging the participation and leadership of women in all areas of sport and physical activity.

CAAWS has prepared an anniversary booklet, highlighting the achievements throughout the years. Copies will be sent out to National/Multi-Service Sports Organizations, and it can be downloaded from the CAAWS website at www.caaws.ca/e/history/index.cfm