January 8, 2007 — Here’s the latest news from the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) – Nominations Open for CAAWS Breakthrough Awards, On the Move workshop January 15 in Prince George, CAAWS and the Aboriginal Sport Circle Infuse Communities with Team Spirit, Profile: VIEWS member Julie Kelly, Resources, Upcoming Events, Best Wishes From CAAWS.

Nominations Open for CAAWS Breakthrough Awards
Deadline for nominations: February 28, 2007 – 5:00 PM (EST)

The CAAWS Women and Sport Breakthrough Awards are presented bi-annually to outstanding nominees who have used innovative ideas and alternative approaches to encourage and enable more girls and women to participate/lead/coach in sport and physical activity. The Breakthrough Awards recognize the achievements of those individuals and organizations that have challenged the traditional limits to participation in Sport and Physical Activity, and have empowered girls and women to participate more fully. Awards are presented in five categories:

– Individual or Participant Award (Community /Provincial Level or National Level)
– Media Award (Community/Provincial Level or National Level)
– Organization Award (Community/Provincial Level or National Level)
– Youth Award
– Marion Lay “Herstorical” Award

Tell us about the outstanding people who deserve special recognition. Honour an individual and/or organization with a Breakthrough Award nomination. For more information please click here.

On the Move workshop in Prince George, B.C.
January 15, 2007

On the Move is a national initiative to increase opportunities for inactive girls and young women (ages 9-18) to participate in sport and physical activity. On the Move is coordinated by CAAWS. This interactive, issue-based session will provide an overview of the initiative, share best practices from across Canada, and provide “how-to” tips to increase the participation of girls and young women. Appropriate for everyone from practitioners to policy makers, the Workshop will also provide an opportunity for participants to network and discuss collaboration and local action to make a difference in the lives of girls and young women in our community.

Complimentary On the Move handbooks will be given to each participant, and information about other resources and initiatives provided by CAAWS will be available.

When: Monday, January 15, 2007, 1:00 – 4:00pm FULL WORKSHOP (Room 1-306)
or 5:00 – 7:00pm ABRIDGED WORKSHOP* (Room 1-309) *for those unable to attend the afternoon session.
Where: College of New Caledonia, 3330 – 22nd Avenue Prince George, B.C.
Cost: Participation is free
R.S.V.P. to: Ann Oishi (T) 250 – 562-2131 ext. 293 (E) oishia@cnc.bc.ca
Deadline for Registration: January 10, 2007


CAAWS and the Aboriginal Sport Circle Infuse Communities with Team Spirit Team Spirit

Aboriginal Girls in Sport is a national project to increase community sport participation opportunities for Aboriginal girls and young women. Team Spirit is a partnership between the CAAWS and the Aboriginal Sport Circle. The project is funded by Sport Canada, a branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage. CAAWS and the Aboriginal Sport Circle are excited to be working with three new Team Spirit programs.

Each program will receive $6000 over two years to support a community sport program for Aboriginal girls and young women. Kanenhri:io – We are a Good Team, organized by the Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board of Education, is an after-school program. Niish Nobbie Girls Rock, a collaboration between the Nawash Board of Education and Niish Nobbie Nordics, is a cross country ski program. Swing into Action, led by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, is a learn to golf program. These new programs will join others led by Joe Duquette High School and the Univer! sity of Saskatchewan, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Winnipeg, and the Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Association of B.C. Two additional programs will be funded in 2007/2008.

For more information about Team Spirit: Aboriginal Girls in Sport visit here.

Contact: Sydney Millar, Team Spirit Project Manager & On the Move National Coordinator (T) 604-738-2468 (E) snmillar@caaws.ca

Profile: VIEWS member Julie Kelly

CAAWS created VIEWS to involve female athletes, coaches, volunteers and administrators in spreading the word about the positive benefits of girls and women being involved in sport and physical activity and to increase the number of people speaking on this topic.

Julie is the President of Elite Instruction, a company that focuses on the physical, mental and technical training for female athletes of every sport. She also coaches elite hockey at the college level and AAA girls levels. In addition, she is the President of a Self Esteem School that teaches confidence and wellness around North America. Her message to girls and women is never ever give up your dream! and never ever give up on you!
For more information on CAAWS’ VIEWS program, visit here.

Resources

BodySense

BodySense is an education and outreach initiative dedicated to the promotion of positive body image in athletes. BodySense is a practical, innovative, accessible, and relevant information site dedicated to helping you and the members of your sport community continue to foster positive body image in athletes and active people!

BodySense believes that a positive sport environment helps to develop positive character traits in youngsters: perseverance, responsibility, a strong sense of self and body, and integrity as well as pursuits like fairness, fitness, friendship, and fun. With support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Pinecrest-Queensway Health and Community Services the BodySense initiative continues to grow throughout Ontario. Fore more Information click here.

Women in the 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games: A Women’s Sports Foundation Research Report

Increasing women’s participation in the Olympic Movement as participants and leaders has been a slow and challenging process. While the number of “events” open to female athletes has increased steadily during the past 30 years, the actual number of female Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games participants and the number of opportunities to medal within those events has yet to equal the number of male participants or medals. This report, prepared by the US-based Women’s Sports Foundation provides an analysis of participation, leadership and media coverage from the 2006 Games.

This report was authored by Lisa Zurn, Ph.D., Collaborative Initiatives; Donna A. Lopiano, Ph.D., Women’s Sports Foundation; and Marjorie A. Snyder, Ph.D., Women’s Sports Foundation, with the assistance of Terri Lakowski, Julie Foudy, Carole A. Oglesby, Ph.D., and Don Sabo, Ph.D. The complete report can be found here.

Upcoming Events

Shades of Grey
May 4-5, 2007 Toronto, ON

An energizing and thought-provoking conference on body image and self-esteem you won’t want to miss. The conference theme is inspired by a poem that champions “real vision”, vision which comes from seeing complexity and nuance in a subject too often divided too neatly into black and white. At a time when so many people are struggling with low self-esteem and negative body image, what other perspectives can we be trying on? And what other voices do we need to be hearing? Come to SHADES OF GREY and share in this provocative and enriching exploration of body image and self-esteem.

For more information click here.

Best Wishes From CAAWS

The Board of Directors of CAAWS would like to wish you the very best of the new year, along with the hope that 2007 will continue to see girls and women participating and leading in sport and physical activity in Canada.

Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
N202 – 801 King Edward Avenue,
Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5
(613) 562-5667
caaws@caaws.ca
www.caaws.ca