Future of Sport in Canada Commission was established by the federal government in December 2023. The Commission’s mandate was to review the Canadian sport system and make recommendations on concrete and effective actions with respect to improving safe sport and the sport system in Canada.

Cheryl Macdonald is the CEO of Sport New Brusnwick. She holds a PhD in Social & Cultural Analysis from Concordia University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in building inclusive sporting communities at the University of Alberta. She was also the co-editor of Overcoming the Neutral Zone Trap: Hockey's agents of change (2021).

Andre Gallant has been a long time leader within the Canadian Sport and Recreation sector, working with the Canada Games Council and the YMCA, among others.

Links:

Transforming Sport in Canada: Time for Action final report: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/future-sport/participate/final-report.html

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Active Abilities Canada is a national organization dedicated to advancing inclusion and accessibility in recreation and physical activity for people of all abilities. With a focus on breaking down barriers and fostering equitable opportunities, they work closely with communities, organizations, and governments to create environments where everyone can participate fully and confidently. Through education, advocacy, and practical resources, Active Abilities Canada empowers individuals and groups to build more inclusive spaces that promote health, connection, and well-being for all. Their collaborative approach and commitment to meaningful change make them a leading voice in shaping a more accessible and inclusive future across the country.

The Municipal Guide for Disability Inclusion in Recreation and Physical Activity is a comprehensive resource designed to support municipalities in creating inclusive, accessible recreational spaces and programs. This guide offers practical strategies, tools, and best practices to help local governments remove barriers and foster environments where people of all abilities can fully participate in physical activity and recreation. By focusing on inclusion, equity, and community engagement, the guide empowers municipalities to build stronger, healthier communities that celebrate diversity and ensure everyone has the opportunity to move, play, and connect.

Leading this project is Taryn Barry, the dedicated Project Manager whose expertise and passion have shaped the guide into a valuable tool for promoting equity and inclusion in community recreation. Taryn has worked for different sport organizations in Canada and internationally, and currently is the project manager of the Municipal Guide for Disability Inclusion in Recreation and Physical Activity. She has a PhD in sport management at the University of Alberta. Taryn played varsity hockey for the University of Alberta Pandas Hockey team for five seasons.

Links:

Municipal Guide for Disability Inclusion in Recreation and Physical Activity: https://activeabilities.ca/municipal-guide/

Actives Abilities Canada: https://activeabilities.ca/

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠sportsforsocialimpact@gmail.com⁠⁠

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact)

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

GOALS Haiti is a grassroots nonprofit organization harnessing the universal language of soccer to create meaningful, lasting change in rural Haiti. GOALS stands for Global Outreach And Love of Soccer, and through its innovative sport-for-development approach, the organization advances youth leadership through soccer, education, and community service, helping build stronger, healthier communities where opportunities have historically been limited. Along with playing on a team, participants engage in community service projects such as planting trees and recycling initiatives and attend health lessons on topics like disease prevention, hygiene, and sex education . GOALS Haiti ensures girls and boys can access opportunities by helping them on their education path through literacy classes, tutoring lessons, and scholarships reaching children and youth who otherwise might be left behind.

At the heart of this work is Kathy McAllister, Executive Director of GOALS Haiti. Kathy first came to Haiti as a Peace Corps volunteer more than twenty years ago, and what began as a two-year commitment became a lifelong calling. Fluent in Haitian Creole and deeply embedded in local partnerships, Kathy has helped build GOALS alongside Haitian leaders, coaches, and youth — ensuring that programs are not imposed from the outside, but shaped by the community itself.

Links:

GOALS Haiti: https://www.goalshaiti.org/what-we-do

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠sportsforsocialimpact@gmail.com⁠⁠

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact)

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠