1. CAAWS PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
2. CAAWS RECOGNIZES SHEILA ROBERTSON’S CONTRIBUTIONS
3. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – STACEY LEVITT SCHOLARSHIP
4. ON THE MOVE INCENTIVE GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
5. ON THE MOVE IN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES FOCUS GROUPS
6. PROMOTION PLUS CELEBRATE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORT
7. LOBBY DAY 2012
8. UPCOMING CAAWS WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
9. CELEBRATIONS

1. CAAWS PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE

CAAWS delivers workshop at RHO Conference - On March 22nd, CAAWS took part in the Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) 2012 Conference. Jennifer Birch-Jones, Project Lead for CAAWS’ Addressing Homophobia in Sport Initiative and Shelley Callaghan, Project Manager for CAAWS’ Physical Activity and Sport for Women Aged 55-70+ project, co-facilitated a workshop titled “Addressing Homophobia in Sport: Bridging the Generation Gap”.

The workshop highlighted the conversations and findings from three focus groups held across Canada with active and inactive LGBT women aged 55-70+, and provided evidence in support of targeted sport and physical activity programs for LGBT women 55-70 years of age. Learnings from a local pilot project, aimed at engaging inactive LGBT women in sport and physical activity were also shared. For a copy of the presentation, please contact CAAWS.

Girls’ and Women’s Retreat in Couchiching First Nation - On March 31, 2012, CAAWS and Motivate Canada visited Couchiching First Nation in northwestern Ontario for a Girls’ and Women’s Leadership Retreat. The event brought together women and girls from communities across the Treaty 3 territory. After a morning session with two inspirational elders, CAAWS workshop facilitator Aimee Beazley delivered an Aboriginal Women and Leadership workshop for the women, and Lisa Marie Naponse and Rebekah Wilson from Motivate Canada delivered a mini-ACTIVATE workshop for the girls and young women. The entire group reconvened in the late afternoon to begin drafting a collaborative community action plan to help more girls and young women to be physically active.

Thanks to all who participated and contributed to making it happen!

CAAWS hosts successful workshops – CAAWS hosted its first Mothers in Motion (MIM) workshops on April 12th and 13th in Sturgeon Falls ON. Deemed a success, the workshops allowed the participants to share physical activity and sport challenges and opportunities specific to mothers and their families, to network and to discuss collaboration and local action to make a difference in the lives of mothers and families in their community.

Mothers in Motion is a national initiative aimed at moving, mentoring and motivating mothers to be physically active and adopt healthy eating practices for themselves and their families, from infancy to adolescence. Mothers who are active and lead a healthy active lifestyle are role models for their families, and their desire to keep moving, eat healthy and be involved in sport and physical activity will motivate their children to do the same.

With funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, CAAWS will be delivering workshops across Ontario between April and June 2012 – one for stakeholders and one for mothers - to mobilize communities to increase physical activity and healthy opportunities for mothers and their families. For more information, please contact Stéphanie Parker at sparker@caaws.ca.

2. CAAWS RECOGNIZES SHEILA ROBERTSON’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO GIRLS AND WOMEN

Respected author Sheila Hurtig Robertson of Ottawa ON is the recipient of the 2011 CAAWS Marion Lay “Herstorical” Breakthrough Award. The award is presented by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) to an individual, group or organization whose distinct contribution has had a long-term (10 years or more) and significant influence, and has broken down barriers to equal participation for girls and women in sport and physical activity.

"Sheila has given a voice to so many women in sport stories over the years," said CAAWS Executive Director Karin Lofstrom (Ottawa ON). "Her ability to profile the lives of women coaches, officials, athletes and leaders with such passion is a remarkable gift. Her writing continues to highlight the successes and challenges of women leaders from all levels of sport both on and off the field."

She was presented with her award at the 2012 CAC National Women’s Coach Workshop this past weekend in Jackson’s Point ON.

To read the full release, click here.

3. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – STACEY LEVITT WOMEN AND SPORT SCHOLARSHIP

CAAWS is now accepting for the 2012 Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship. The scholarship, valued at $2,500, is awarded annually to a young woman, a girls’ team, or a sport organization that exemplify Stacey’s ideals and qualities. The scholarship, which honours the memory of Stacey, is distributed among five recipients; each recipient will receive $500.

The Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship is in memory of a very special 18 year old woman who was struck down by a car while she was jogging on Aug. 30, 1995. Stacey was a superior athlete, a top student, and loved by many. She loved the camaraderie, the team work, and the competition and she displayed that love in many sports - swimming, scuba diving, tai kwon do, triathlon, gymnastics and jazz. Stacey always strived to be the best she could be, and filled her life with joy and meaning.

High school, university and collegiate level women are encouraged to apply. Consideration will be given to the financial needs of the applicant. Applications will only be accepted between April 2, 2012 and May 31, 2012. Any applications received before or after these dates will not be considered. 2012 Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship recipients will be announced in August 2012.

For more information, please visit http://www.caaws.ca/e/grants/levitt/.

4. ON THE MOVE INCENTIVE GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED (ONTARIO)

Response to CAAWS’ Call for Applications for On the Move Incentive Grants was overwhelming – more than 60 applications from organizations committed to increasing sport and physical activity opportunities for inactive girls and young women were received.

Through this opportunity, supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, CAAWS is excited to announce the following recipients:

• Ottawa Chinese Canadian Heritage Centre (Ottawa)
• Youth Action Kommittee of Perth and District (YAK Youth Services Centre) (Perth)
• YMCA of Central East Ontario, Balsillie Family Branch (Peterborough)
• YMCA of Central East Ontario (Belleville)
• Parkdale Community Information Centre (Toronto)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dufferin & District (Orangeville)
• Perth District Health Unit (Stratford)
• Focus for Ethnic Women (Waterloo)
• Town of Pelham (Fonthill)
• Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining Ojibway Nation / City of Kenora (Kenora)

Two additional programs will also receive funding, through CAAWS’ partnership with Motivate Canada’s Active Circle initiative:

• Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre (Ottawa)
• Sakatcheway Anishinabe School (Grassy Narrows)

Another round of grants will be available for initiatives in 2012-2013. Watch for the next Call for Applications this summer.

5. ON THE MOVE IN ETHNIC COMMUNITIES FOCUS GROUPS (ONTARIO)

A number of Focus groups are planned across Ontario relating to CAAWS’ new project examining the sport and physial activity experiences of girls and young women from diverse ethnic communities – in Kingston, Toronto, Brampton, Waterloo, London, St. Catharines, North Bay, and Thunder Bay. The project is funded through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Healthy Communities Fund. If you have experience working with this important target group, we want to hear from you! Contact Tammy George about dates and times at mastertg22@hotmail.com.

CAAWS is still looking for organizations interested in hosting focus groups with girls and young women from diverse ethnic communities, and service providers. Host organizations are responsible for onsite logistics and recruitment/promotion, and receive a $500 honorarium for costs and time; CAAWS will travel to the community to facilitate the event. If you’re interested in hosting a focus group please contact Tammy George at mastertg22@hotmail.com.

6. PROMOTION PLUS CELEBRATE GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORT

Call for Nominations: Deadline Extended – Do you know a woman who has made a significant difference through sport for girls and women in British Columbia? A woman who has worked to create access and opportunities for participation in sport and recreation? A woman who inspires through her own athletic achievement, passion and dedication? ProMOTION Plus is CELEBRATING BC WOMEN IN SPORT and are seeking nominations for inclusion in the In Her Footsteps exhibit at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. The nomination deadline is Monday, April 30, 2012. For more information and/or to download the nomination criteria and form, go to: http://www.promotionplus.org.

7. LOBBY DAY 2012

The Sport Matters Group (SMG) is organizing a lobby day on Parliament Hill which will take place on Tuesday, April 24 2012.

The lobby day will provide champions from the sport, physical activity and recreation sector with an opportunity to meet with parliamentarians, ministers and officials in order to raise awareness around key issues. The lobby day is provided as a service without charge to SMG members.

If you are interested in joining their delegation, please fill out the form found here. For more information, please contact SMG’s Public Affairs Coordinator, Krissy Murphy, at krissy.murphy@sportmatters.caor call 613.231.7472 ext. 227.

8. UPCOMING CAAWS WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS

CAAWS will be hosting the following workshops and presentations in the coming weeks:

Mothers in Motion – Tyendinaga (ON), Owen Sound (ON),
On the Move – Ajax (ON), Windsor (ON), Halifax (NS), Innisfil (ON)
Women and Leadership – Sunshine Coast (BC), St. John’s (NL), St. Catharines (ON)

For more information and details, visit CAAWS' Calendar of Events at http://www.caaws.ca/e/calendar/.

9. CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations to Vanessa Monar Enweani, Fiona Smith Bell, Donna Vale, Judy Peddle and CAAWS' Executive Director, Karin Lofstrom, who will be inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in June!

Hockey Canada names Cassie Campbell-Pascall to Order of Hockey in Canada; she is the only women and one of five individuals that will be the first distinguished honourees.

Two Canadians appointed to FISA (International Rowing Federation) juries for the 2012 regatta season. Former athlete and CAAWS Board member Sandy Kirby named to the 2012 Paralympic Games Regatta jury in London, Great Britain, and Debbie Wood will be attending the 2012 World University Rowing Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Andrea Carey, Director of Operations & Community Engagement at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) appointed as Chair of SportHost Victoria, the first woman to hold this position. The winners of the 4th Celebration of Women in Sport awards were announced recently at a gala brunch at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE). The awards honour women’s achievement in sport on Vancouver Island: Athlete of the Year – Karen March; Coach of the Year – Allison Dobb; Sport Builder of the Year – Linda Gilmour; Volunteer of the Year – Chantal Brodeur. The gala also awarded the ProMOTION Plus Lifetime Achievement Award to Irene Schell.

Congratulations to the participants of the 2011-2012 CCAA Female Apprentice Coach Program who earned a total of 8 CCAA national championship medals this season.

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