1. CAAWS PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
2. CELEBRATING CAAWS’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY- PROFILING WOMEN IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
3. MARION LAY “HERSTORICAL” AWARD – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
4. WISE Fund RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
5. LEAD THE WAY – ENCOURAGING WOMEN 55-70 TO BE MORE ACTIVE
6. BECOME AN ONTARIO ON THE MOVE TRAINER
7. UPCOMING CAAWS WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS
8. CAAWS PARTNERS WITH CARE ON WALK IN HER SHOES CHALLENGE
9. CAAWS AND OUA LAUNCH WOMEN OF INFLUENCE CONTEST
10. COMMUNITY COACHING CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES
11. RBC AFTER-SCHOOL GRANTS PROJECT
12. CELEBRATIONS
    

1. CAAWS PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

Preview the Women and Leadership Network - The new CAAWS Women and Leadership Network will be officially launched on March 8th to celebrate CAAWS’ 30th Anniversary and International Women’s Day. The Network will be a space where women leaders can connect, build their skills, share ideas, discuss issues, find solutions, and take action! The Network will be open to all women interested in leadership in sport and physical activity – administrators, volunteers, coaches, officials and others. Visit www.caaws.ca/Leadership/preview/ to get a sneak peek, add your email, and be kept In the Loop on the Network’s launch.

CAAWS at the Canada Games –CAAWS will have a display booth near the Athletes’ cafeteria at the Canada Winter Games, in Halifax, for part of the first week so stop by if you are in the area. Over the course of the Games CAAWS will also host two women and sport receptions for women involved in the Games in a leadership role - either as a coach, manager, mission staff, technical official, host society member, sport administrator or VIP. The gathering will give women a great chance to network and be recognized for their efforts. For more information about the upcoming Games, visit the Canada Games Council website at www.canadagames.ca

2. CELEBRATING CAAWS’ 30TH ANNIVERSARY - PROFILING WOMEN IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

2011 marks CAAWS’ 30th anniversary. To celebrate, we are showcasing key milestones, and the women behind them, that have contributed to CAAWS’ vision of an equitable sport and physical activity system.

EDMONTON GRADS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

The legendary Edmonton Grads were formed in 1912 when J. Percy Page became the coach of McDougall Commercial High School’s women’s basketball team. In their first year together, the team won a local high school tournament, and by year two, they were Alberta’s provincial champions. When the players graduated from high school, Page agreed to continue coaching them.

In 1922, the Edmonton Grads faced the Shamrocks from London, Ontario, in the finals of the Dominion of Canada’s Women’s Basketball Championships. The first of the two-game Championship match was played by girls’ rules, with six players on the court; the second by the boys’ rules, with five players on the court. The Grads won the first game, lost the second, but were awarded the overall championship based on the cumulative score of the two games.
The roster at the Dominion of Canada’s Women’s Basketball Championships included:

• Daisy Johnson
• Dorothy Johnson
• Winnie Martin
• Eleanor Mountifield
• Nellie Perry
• Connie Smith
• J. Percy Page (Head coach)

As the head coach, Page prohibited his players from engaging in activities such as smoking and drinking. Edmonton Grads were also not allowed to marry while on the team. Through tournaments and competitions, however, the players were able to travel and see the world which was a rare opportunity for single, unmarried women at the time.

The Edmonton Grads not only dominated the basketball court in North America but also in Europe where they defeated teams from Paris, London, Amsterdam and Berlin. The Grads proceeded to rule the court at four consecutive Olympic Games, from 1924- 1936, winning all 27 Olympic matches and outscoring their opponents 1863 to 297. Their achievements however were not recognized on the Olympic podium, as it was not until the 1976 Summer Olympic Games in Montreal that women’s basketball became an official Olympic sport. In 1940, the team split up but not without leaving a strong legacy of success. Between 1915 and 1940, the Edmonton Grads compiled 502 wins and 20 losses awarding them the distinction as the sports team with the best winning record of all time.

For more information on the Edmonton Grads visit: The CBC’s Digital Archive- Fair Game: Pioneering Canadian Women in Sports and watch their story on the “Reigning Queens of Basketball” http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/more_sports/topics/714/

Molina, J. (2005). The Edmonton Grads 1915-1940. Retrieved January 30, 2010 from http://www.edmontongrads.com/.

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Edmonton Grads. Retrieved from January 30, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Grads

3. MARION LAY “HERSTORICAL” AWARD – CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Through the years, CAAWS has celebrated many outstanding achievements and recognized the contributions that ‘break through’ traditional barriers and pave the way for girls and women to participate in sport and physical activity at every level.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Marion Lay “Herstorical” Award. This award is presented to an individual, group or organization whose distinct contribution has had a long-term impact (10 years or more) and significant influence on breaking down the barriers to equal participation for girls and women in sport and physical activity.

To obtain more information, visit CAAWS website http://www.caaws.ca/e/awards/breakthrough/

The deadline for nominations is March 18, 2011.

4. CAAWS ANNOUNCES 2011 WISE Fund RECIPIENTS

CAAWS is excited to announce the 12 recipients of the WISE Fund grants, each valued at $900.

The Women in Sport Encouragement (WISE) Fund was created to help finance girls and women’s sport initiatives, and assist members of the sport community in Canada in developing their skills and experience.

“CAAWS is pleased to support the WISE Fund grant recipients and recognize their efforts in developing their own leadership skills as coaches or officials, and in offering sport programs that will give girls and women an opportunity to be actively engaged “ said CAAWS Executive Director, Karin Lofstrom.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients, which include seven organizations, four coaches and one official!

2011 WISE Fund Recipients

• Cowichan Storm Women's Lacrosse - Cowichan Valley, BC (Supported by Canadian Lacrosse Association
• Muskoka Girls Hockey Association – The District of Muskoka, ON (Supported by Hockey Canada)
• Ottawa Carleton Wheelchair Sports Association – Ottawa, ON (Supported by Wheelchair Basketball Canada)
• Cyclo Bellas – Calgary, AB (Supported by Canadian Cycling Association)
• Metepenagiag First Nation Recreation and Sport Committee – Red Bank, NB (Supported by Aboriginal Sport Circle)
• South Niagara Rowing Club – Welland, ON (Supported by Rowing Canada)
• L'Échappée Belle – Montreal, QC (Supported by Canadian Cycling Association)
• Joy Ang – Toronto, ON (Supported by Karate Canada)
• Candace Bloomquist – Saskatoon, SK (Supported by Football Canada )
• Vanessa Bonk – Regina, SK (Supported by Biathlon Canada)
• Katrina Couch – Whitehorse, YT (Supported by Canada Snowboard)
• Andrea Valois – Hamilton, ON (Supported by Rowing Canada)
  

To read the full press release and see the detailed bios of this year’s grant recipients, please visit the CAAWS website at www.caaws.ca/e/grants/wise/winners/recipients_11.cfm

5. LEAD THE WAY – ENCOURAGING WOMEN 55-70 TO BE MORE ACTIVE

CAAWS and local partners are co-hosting a series of Regional Ontario workshops for women aged 55-70 who are interested in doing more to get themselves, their peers and their communities physically active. During this fun 3-hour workshop women will learn about:

• Physical activity challenges, solutions and opportunities brought forward by women 55-70 from across Canada
• Statistical information on what is unique about women 55-70 and the role physical activity can play
• Local Information about what groups are doing to increase physical activity for women 55-70
• Ideas about what is needed to get more women 55-70 physically active
• Next steps on how YOU can get yourself and more women 55-70 physically active

Confirmed Workshop dates (more dates being confirmed shortly)
Feb 22- Fort Francis
Feb 23- Sioux Narrows
Feb 24- Thunder Bay
Feb 25- Mississauga

There is no cost to attend the workshop and refreshments are provided.

For more information please contact Shelley Callaghan, CAAWS Women 55-70 Program Manager, at purpledog@sympatico.ca

6. BECOME AN ONTARIO ON THE MOVE TRAINER

With funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation until June 2013, CAAWS is looking for fifteen women interested in becoming Provincial On the Move Trainers. Trainers will deliver On the Move workshops, support pilot programs in their region, and be champions for creating positive programs and inclusive environments for girls and women in sport and physical activity. For more information download an application package (PDF). The application deadline is March 31, 2011.

7. UPCOMING CAAWS WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS

On March 8th, events will be held all across Canada and the world to both celebrate and inspire women. This day is important for recognizing the significant advancements that women have made and also for acknowledging the gender inequities that still exist. Around the world, women continue to earn less then their male counterparts and are underrepresented in economic, business, and politics spheres. Globally, women also face stark inequality with regards to education, health and safety.

For more details on the history of International Women’s Day, and information on events taking place around the world visit: www.internationalwomensday.com/

For information on CAAWS and partner activities scheduled for March 8, 2011, see CAAWS upcoming workshops and presentations below below.

8 . CAAWS PARTNERS WITH CARE ON WALK IN HER SHOES CHALLENGE

Women and girls in the poorest communities around the world walk an average of 6km – 8,000 steps – every day to collect life-essentials such as water or firewood. This leaves little time to attend school, visit the health clinic or earn money to support their families. This year, CARE Canada is excited to launch Walk in Her Shoes in celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Taking part is easy - register as an individual or team and get your group, school or colleagues involved in this national challenge.

Give it a try! Every step has the power to change her life forever.
Visit www.care.ca or email walkinhershoes@care.ca to find out more.
CARE is Canada’s global force dedicated to defending dignity and fighting poverty by empowering the world's most vulnerable and greatest resource for change: women and girls.

9. CAAWS AND OUA LAUNCH WOMEN OF INFLUENCE CONTEST

CAAWS and the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are pleased to announce the inaugural Women of Influence contest for female high school student-athletes across Ontario.

The contest asks female high school student-athletes to write about the importance of continuing their athletic experience at an Ontario university. Entries must be kept to a 500-word maximum and can be submitted by visiting www.oua.ca/student/womenofinfluence/. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday February 18, 2011. Winners will be announced on Monday February 21, 2011.

Two winners will be selected, with each receiving two tickets to the OUA’s Women of Influence luncheon on March 2, 2011 in Toronto where 19 female student-athletes, from universities across the province, will be honoured. The luncheon will also feature guest speaker and legendary tennis star Venus Williams. Encourage a female student to apply today!

10. COMMUNITY COACHING CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES

The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), through the sponsorship of Investors Group Inc., is offering financial assistance to communities and organizations interested in hosting a Community Coaching Conference. These conferences are intended to promote and supplement the National Coaching Certification Program and offer opportunities for coach education, networking, and community involvement. During each conference The Investors Group Inc will present an Investors Guide Volunteer Sport Administrator Award to recognize the contributions of volunteers who give countless hours of time to community sport programs.

For more information about Community Coaching Conference opportunities and the Investors Group Volunteer Sport Administrator Award visit, http://23361.vws.magma.ca/ig/e/index.htm

11. RBC AFTER-SCHOOL GRANTS PROJECT

Applications for the RBC After-School Grants Project for the 2011-2012 school year are now available. Grants are designed to support structured, supervised activities that encourage social skills and self-esteem. These grants are a great opportunity to start or continue an after-school sport and physical activity program for girls and young women in your community.

For further information about the RBC After-School Grant applications and eligibility requirements, visit: www.rbc.com/donations/after-school-pre.html.

For more information about creating positive programs and inclusive environments for girls and young women in sport and physical activity visit CAAWS’ On the Move website at www.caaws.ca/onthemove.

12. CELEBRATIONS

ProMotion Plus, the BC organization for girls and women in sport and physical activity, has appointed Christine Bradstock as their new Executive Director.

Laura Domenicucci, has been promoted to Manager, Domestic Sport Developments with The Canadian Paralympic Committee. Domenicucci previously held the position of Development Programs and Member Relations Coordinator.

Former CAAWS Chair, Bryna Kopelow of Vancouver, BC, has accepted a position on Motivate Canada’s Board of Directors.

In the Loop celebrates women’s accomplishments in the sport and physical activity community. Send career notices, changes, awards and recognitions to CAAWS c/o slegault@caaws.ca to be included in the next issue.

Get Social!
Did you know you can connect with CAAWS to find out the latest news? Become a fan of CAAWS on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter for another way to stay “In the Loop.”