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Senior Funding Partner ofSport Nova Scotia

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December 2020 Issue 79Sport Nova Scotia

Editor Managing EditorChad Lucas Kate TraskCover Layout & DesktopAdamHarbin Paula YochoffCover Photo NicolásMilligan-TorresPhotographed by Aaron McKenzieFraser

Senior StaffChief Executive OfficerJamie FergusonDirector, Finance & AdministrationTanya HarriethaDirector, Marketing & EventsJeff LeDrewDirector of SportMark SmithManager, Human ResourcesDillon RossManager, Public Relations &CommunicationsKate TraskOrganizational Effectiveness LeadBlaise LandryManager, Information TechnologyJoni Mattatall

Sport Quarterly,a publication of Sport Nova Scotia.Letters to the editor must includename, address and phone number.

Sport Nova Scotia5516 Spring Garden Road

4th FloorHalifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1G6

Tel: (902) 425-5450E-mail: sportns@sportnovascotia.ca

Web: sportnovascotia.ca

JAMIIIE FERGUSONChief

exeCutive OffiCer

As we head toward the end of 2020,we are coming to the end of a year

that has been like no other, and thatcertainly applies to sport. With a fewexceptions, we have experienced a yearthat has had very little activity in termsof sport events and championships,and it would be easy to think that notmuch took place. However, the realityis quite different. The year has in factbeen incredibly busy for so many in thesport world, as we dealtwith the impacts of aglobal pandemic and itssubsequent impact onsport.

Ref lecting back, wehave seen provincial andcommunity sport groups workingconstantly to ensure that activitiesand programs ran within public healthregulations, so thatNova Scotians couldsafely enjoy a return to sport, albeit inmost cases in a modified way. Theseunprecedented times have also givenus an opportunity to learn, which isalways positive.

One of the key learnings was thatsport t ruly is important to NovaScotians, and they value the opportunityto play. During the early phases of thepandemic, the absence of sport wasfelt, and we were heartened to seeNova Scotians speak up and make thatknown. Another thing we learned isthat we’re adaptable. Throughout eachnew phase of public health guidelines,all of our sports were able to make therequired changes in order to allowmorepeople to take part. This often includedthe development of sport-specific plans,and the education and sharing of thoseplanswith coaches, officials, organizers,

and of course participants across theprovince. In many cases these plansincluded activities which were brandnew to sports, and were put together ina matter of days, which is no small task.

We also saw more than ever beforethe importance of our partnerships,and how v ita l they are to spor tdelivery across the province. Fromprovincial and municipal governmentsto schools, recreation providers and

facility operators, everyonewasworkingtogether to help make our programshappened. These partners also includedour community groups and volunteers,who are the backbone of our system.We are truly blessed to have such anincredible group of people on the groundacross Nova Scotia, and their ingenuityand resilience has never been moreevident.

Inmanyways this year has illustratedjust how dependent we are on all partsof the system to ensure that sporthappens, and we can be proud of thework we’ve done. We also know, ofcourse, that we’re by nomeans finished.The pandemic and related public healthguidelines for sport will be continuinginto the new year, and we’ll need tocontinue to adapt to any changes. Therewill be more challenges ahead, and ifthe past year has shown us anything it’sthat wemay encounter some challengesthat we’ve never seen before. It’s onlywith the cooperation of all involved

in our sport system that we’re able toprovide all of our programs, and we’llneed to continue that so Nova Scotianscan continue to experience the physical,mental and social benefits that sportprovides. We’d like to thank everyonefor the amazing work they’ve alreadydone, and encourage them to keep it upas we head into 2021.

This is also the time of year whenwe launch our Give the Gift of Sport

campaign in support ofour KidSport program.The campaign launchedonNovember 16 and willrun until January 4, 2021.This program helps toraise much needed funds

that allow children across our provinceto take part in sport. Last year KidSportwas able to provide over $675,000 tomore than 2,400 children across theprovince. In so many cases, these fundsare the difference between a child beingable to take part or being left on thesidelines. With sports continuing toreturn to more normal activities, andthe economic impact of the pandemic,we expect more children than everbefore will be in need of the support ofour KidSport program. We’d encourageyou to visit KidSport.ca/GiftofSport anddonate if you can, to help of meet ourgoal of having no child left behind.

We’d also like towish everyone a safe,happy and sport-filled holiday season.Once again, we are so thankful for theefforts of so many people throughoutthe yearwho have provided fun and safeways for Nova Scotians to take part insport. We know we’ll need to keep it upas we go forward, and the good news iswe know we can.

Learning From AnUnusual Year

“There will be more challenges ahead, andif the past year has shown us anything, it’sthatwemayencounter somechallenges thatwe’ve never seen before.”

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Rediscover theArt of Cooking

It ’s t ime to get inspired in thekitchen once again with winter fast

approaching. Many people are feelingburned out this time of year, even moreso during the pandemic. If you havefallen into a culinary rut, get back ontrack and try something new in thekitchen.

There are so many ways to inspirefresh meal ideas. Join a cookbookclub, scroll your favourite recipe sitesor blogs, sift through a new magazineor ask a friend for their favourite go-to recipe. Aim to try one new recipethroughout the week and you may findsome new favourites!

Get your family involved in cooking

new meals. Everyone can have a job,regardless of age. Little ones can helpadd ingredients, stir and sample. Olderchildren can take on tasks that are safeand appropriate for their age and skill.Involving everyone helps develop life-long food skills and may help familymembers try new foods.

C o l d e r w e a t h e r b r i n g s a nopportunity to try warming disheslike this beef and noodle recipe. It’s aquick recipe to try on a weeknight andis all made in one pot, which is a bonusat clean up time!

Find more quick and easy recipes like thisone at DairyGoodness.ca

Written by the team of dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada

• 1 cup (250 mL) Canadian old cheddarcheese, shredded

• 1 tsp (5 mL) salt• ½ tsp (2 mL) pepper• ¼ cup (60 mL) fresh parsley, coarsely

chopped

Preparation1. Cook beef and onions in a large pot

over high heat for 5 minutes. Drainoff fat and add garlic, basil andoregano.

2. Reduce heat to medium. Sprinklebeef mixture with flour. Stir andcook for 1 minute.

3. Gradually stir in milk, water andmustard; cook until sauce comes toa boil, stirring often.

4. Add noodles and frozen vegetables.Return to boil and then reduce heat,cover and simmer for 15 minutes,stirring once in a while. Cook untilnoodles and vegetables are tender.

5. Stir in cheese, salt and pepper.Sprinkle parsley over each platebefore serving.

One Pot Beef Noodle Supper

Ingredients• 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef• 1 large onion, finely chopped• 4 cloves garlic, minced• 2 tsp (10 mL) dried basil• 2 tsp (10 mL) dried oregano• 3 tbsp (45 mL) all-purpose flour• 5 cups (1.25 L) milk• 1 cup (250 mL) water• 3 tbsp (45 mL) Dijon mustard• 8 oz (250 g) packed broad egg

noodles, uncooked• 4 cups (1 L) frozen chunky mixed

vegetables

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Inclusion on Ice: Skating isby Jennifer Henderson

Lisa Gannett has skated all herlife. When the Oval was built in

Halifax for the Canada Games, theformer competitive speedskater andcoach says she recognized it as a gift– a way to get more kids involved inspeed skating.

Gannett was right. Located inthe city centre, it’s a magnet fornewcomers drawn to the outdoorspace in winter and summer.

“I was at the Oval for the firsttime this summer and saw two girlsskating and talking to Lisa and Iasked, ‘Is this a program?’” recallsnine-year-old Shahd Aljawabrh. “Iasked my Mum if I can sign up. Ireally wanted to do rollerblading. I

last year’s number.In a previous life, Gannett coached

a speed skating club in Cambridge,Ont., which included national teammembers vying for positions on the1992 Olympic team. In 2011, afterthe City decided to make the Oval apermanent fixture, she was propelledback into the sport by a desire tomake it an affordable place wherekids from nearby neighbourhoods

like Gottingen Street and UniackeSquare could learn to skate.

“When I was a kid, if you couldn’tafford hockey or figure skating,you could always speed skate,” sherecalls.

That wouldn’t have happened,Gannett says, without the supportof organizations willing to bringchildren in their after-school care tothe Oval to skate: the George Dixon

Speedy Kids participant Shahd Aljawabrh does a lap at the Oval on inline skates. (Photo: Shawn Lim)

kept falling a lot but then I got betterand better.”

Shahd likes inline skating because,“We learn new things,” she saysenthusiastically. “Once a teacher toldme if you learn new things, yourbrain gets bigger and smarter. It’sreally fun. I like going really fast.”

The Speedy Kids Oval ProgramGannett started provides skates,protective gear, and lessons. All fourkids in Shahd’s Syrian-Canadianfamily signed up for inline skatingthis summer. Costs are affordable:$10 for the summer inline programand $35 for the winter ice program.

The Club welcomed 130 studentsin the summer and fall and hasalready registered more than 100skaters for winter – more than double

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Centre and St. George’s YouthNetin recent years and the CommunityYMCA and Mi’kmaw Nat iveFriendship Centre in past years.

Where registration for most on-iceprograms can run in the hundredsof dollars, grants from the NovaScotia Department of Health andWellness and Sport Nova Scotiahelped purchase skates, helmets andprotective gear and keep costs low.

“The main reason why it’simportant for us to go skating isbecause it’s not something our kidswould get to try otherwise,” saysRobin Hassam, the director of theDixon Centre’s after-school program.

“Weird,” says 8-year-old Ka’vaeyahCarvery when asked what it feels like

to wear ice skates for the first time.At the end of the hour, she’s movingcautiously, unassisted, transferringwhat she learned rollerblading. “It’seasy,” she says confidently.

Once the free after-school programsliterally got rolling, the followingyear, the low-cost club programfor families throughout HRM wasintroduced. The on-ice programsoperate at the Zatzman Sportsplex fora month before the winter ice arrivesat The Oval.

“Fromthestart,wewerediverseandthe goal was to make speedskating amore inclusive sport,” recalls Lisa.

Last year, 15-year-old AoifeMarshall became the first SpeedyKid to compete at the Canadian

Youth Long TrackChampionships. Itwas an impressivefeat for a recreationalClub that can’t affordto buy indoor ice totrain for sprints. Thisyear, her sights areset on qualifyingfor the Canada Cupcircuit.

Aoife’s currentcoach is a formercompetitive skaterf r o m O t t a w aattending university.Bethany McKinley-Young volunteersseveral days a weekrunning games anddrills.

“ I l i k e w h a tSpeedy Kids is allabout,” says Bethany,who was once astudent in Gannett’sphilosophy courseat Saint Mary’s .“Sometimes in a lot

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of competitive sports, the fun can getlost. It feels good to give back.”

The club is struggling to avoidbecoming a victim of its ownsuccess. Before COVID, helmets andprotective gear could be shared. Now,fundraising is underway to buy moreequipment, so it won’t be shared asoften, or—in the case of more seriousskaters—not at all. COVID meantholding three Halloween partiesinstead of one to keep groups small.Luckily, most practices happenoutdoors.

An outdoor sport is exactly thatJustin Chang was shopping for aftermoving his wife and daughter toBedford from South Korea.

“We wanted to do something‘wintery’, and hockey is not an option

Hoon Jung trains during a Speedy Kids indoor session at the ZatzmanSportsplex. (Photo: Aaron McKenzie Fraser)

for us,” said Chang. “I thought thiswould be something very Canadianto do. In South Korea, we have famousspeedskaters who always competewith great Canadian athletes. But it’san elite sport in Korea and here, I findit more accessible. This program wasso approachable in helping Emilylearn. It was a good experience.”

Not surprisingly, Justin hastold his South Korean friends andintroduced their families to SpeedyKids. Practices at the Oval havebecome a mini-United Nations onice, with small bodies in colourfulhelmets crouching and racing withthe wind.

Find out more about Speedy Kids atspeedykids.ca

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In Uncertain Times, KidSport Helps Kids Play

We are fortunate to live inNova Scotia. The ocean, the

beaches, the culture, the lifestyle.The reasons are endless. Whowould have guessed a year agothat our ability to cope witha global pandemic would beadded to the list? Cheers to ourprovince’s leaders and to all NovaScotians for sticking with the plan.

started. My moment of reflectionregarding the seriousness ofCOVID-19 was immediatelyfollowed by disappointmentthat my son wouldn’t get to playthe game he loved, and that Iwouldn’t get to watch him play.

Fast forward to this fall. Sportis happening in much of theprovince, with pauses in someregions depending on publichealth guidelines. In some places,parents and grandparents areable to watch their children andgrandchildren again. All is goodin the world of Nova Scotia sport,right? Not quite.

Since the return to play in NovaScotia was announced, I’ve seenand heard many comments fromparents. What will the season looklike? Will it be the same? Will itlast? When can we watch? Withmost kids back to playing thegames they love, the hottest topicamongst parents quickly becamespectators. I was involved in manyconversations and overheardmany moms and dads say, “I justwant to watch my child play.”

These popular comments didn’tcome as a surprise to me at all. Iget it. I am one of those parents.While I too was anxious to becomea spectator again, I couldn’t helpbut think of all the parents inNova Scotia who never get towatch their children play a sport.Not because of the pandemic andfacility restrictions, but simplybecause they can’t afford toregister their children in sport.

Just prior to the pandemic, areport from the Canadian Centre

JEFF LEDREWDireCtOr Of Marketing

anD events

Our lives have been significantlyimpacted by COVID-19.

Back in March, I was a spectatorat my son’s U15 Major HockeyProvincial Championships. Thiswas it. The event the teams trainedso hard for all year was finally here.Outside the rink, COVID-19 waspicking up speed in Canada andheaded for our beloved province.We were one game in when wereceived word that the event wascancelled due to COVID-19. Packyour bags and head home.

My first reaction was one ofdisbelief. In all my years of playingand coaching sports, I have neverexperienced a tournament orchampionship cancelled once it

for Policy Alternatives indicatedthat more than 40,000 NovaScotian children are living inhomes with income below thepoverty line. My guess is that thisnumber is significantly highernow. In 2019, Sport Nova Scotia’sKidSport program set anotherrecord, allocating over $679,000 tohelp 2,419 children in need acrossNova Scotia.

Funds are used to introducechildren to sport, specifically forregistration or equipment costs.The number continues to growyear after year. While KidSporthas had success in helping moreand more children and families,the reality is that thousands ofparents in Nova Scotia never get towatch their kids play. Not becauseof a virus that has consumed us,but simply because they don’thave the financial means to do so.

We know sport is expensive.More needs to be done in ourbeloved country to address thebigger issue around the risingcost of sport. In the meantime,KidSport needs help. More thanever, resources are needed tokeep up with growing demand.This month, KidSport has a “Givethe Gift of Sport” campaign toencourage donations.

Hopefully we will be out of thispandemic soon and the complaintsabout being able to watch will be athing of the past. Until then, let’sremember all the children whonever get to play and the parentswho never get to watch.

Tomake a donation, visit kidsport.ca

Support4Sport is the largestsource of funding for amateursport in Nova Scotia.Visit support4sport.ca

LEFT: KATHY PYKE, PERFORMANCE COACH, OLYMPICS TAEKWONDORIGHT: TRACY BROWN, SPORT DIRECTOR, MIC MAC AAC ROWING

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t

Boesener Making a Name in Dressage

Ariel Boesener is one of Nova Scotia’smost promising young equestrianathletes. The 18-year-old from Canninghas competed across the continent andrepresented Canada at North AmericanYouth Championships (NAYC). RidingWinniepuuh, Boesener finished fifthand ranked as the top Canadian in theDressage Junior Freestyle Competitionat the NAYC in 2019.

My parents always had horses,so I began riding when I was

really young. I started in dressagewhen Iwas 12, andwhat really drewme was the self-discipline of thesport, and the technical nature.Everything builds on everythingelse, and it’s really rewarding whenyou do well. I like that aspect a lot.I got into competing locally right

Ariel Boesener and Winniepuuh (Contributed)

ARIEL BOESENEREQUESTRIAN

Athlete’s Column

away, then I started spending thewinters training in Florida when Iwas 14. I was homeschooled, so wehadthatflexibility. Istartedcompetinginternationally when I was 16.Travel is a big part of what I love

about the sport. I’ve competed inQuebec, Ottawa, Florida and NewYork. The North American YouthChampionship is always one of my

favourite competitions. It’s usuallyin the hottest week of the year, sothat’s very challenging for horsesand riders.Dressage is usually an individual

sport, so it’s cool at the youthchampionships when we cometogether as Team Canada. I likebeing part of a big picture andcompeting for my country.The 2019 North Americans were

really special for me. My horse washaving an off week, but he tried hisbest for me, and by the end of theweek we were having our bestresults. The last test of theweekend,he really gave me his all.That’s one of the challenges of

dressage—I can show up and beready to compete and my horse ishaving an off day, or vice versa. Itmakes it so much better when itcomes together and you’re both atthe top of your game—that’s reallyspecial.

I’ve had three horses, and everyhorse is different, too. Sometimesyou have to adjust and become adifferent rider for the next horse. It’salso really important to look afteryourself as well. When I’m notriding, I do cross training, hiking,cycling, and working out at home.Of course, lots has changed this

year with the pandemic. NormallyI spend part of the summer inQuebec, training and competing,but that couldn’t happen this year.Even coming back from Florida inthe spring was a major rush asthings were shutting down.Right now I’m staying diligent,

going to the barn, trying to stay ontrack like we’ll be back to regularcompetition next year, even if I don’tknow when that will happen. Mygoal is to represent Canada at thePan-American Championships andtheOlympics someday, and I’ll keepworking to make that happen.”

“

Sponsor SpotlightOfficial Sponsor

Sport Nova Scotia and CareerBeacon have at least one

importantgoal in common:helpingpeople across the province accesswhat they need in their owncommunities, whether that’semployment or access to sport.“We pride ourselves on taking

jobs around theprovince andbeingable to target a local audience,”says John Keays, director of saleswith Career Beacon. “Being able tokeep jobs in rural communities is

a mandate we’d share with anorganization like Sport NovaScotia.”Career Beacon is an online

resource where people can searchfor job opportunities throughAtlantic Canada and beyond, orbrowse the blog for tips and advice.It has operated in the region formore than 20 years.“We’re the only Atlantic Canada-

based job board,” says KathrynHenry, an account executive with

Career Beacon. “We have goodworking relationships with most ofthe businesses in the region, sowe’rethe premier job site in AtlanticCanada.”Career Beacon sponsors access to

recruitment resources for provincialsport organizations. It’s one waythat Career Beacon can help sportorganizations find the people theyneed while focusing on what theydo best, Henry says.“Most sport organizat ions

typically don’t have a lot of budgetfor advertising,” she says. “Whenthey need to attract candidates,there’s really no better place thanCareer Beacon. Everybody needsto be active and involved withsomething, especially children. Ithink sport is a great thing to beable to support.”

Find Career Beacon online atcareerbeacon.com

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Safety Takes Priority in Return to SportLike many other aspects of life amid

a pandemic, the return to sport hasbeen a dance of “two steps forward,one step back.”

Gathering limits for sport increasedto 50 people on Oct. 1, then schoolsopened to recreational use in earlyNovember, allowing many sportprograms to return to action. But asurge of COVID cases in late Novemberled Public Health to tighten restrictionsin most of the Halifax area and partsof Hants County. The new restrictionsput a pause on sport and recreation inthe Central Zone until at least mid-December.

Sport has been able to continuethrough most of the rest of the province,with some limits and changes. ChiefMedical Officer of Health RobertStrang urged teams to limit travel and

stick close to home.“We have been more than pleased

with the way al l of our sportorganizations and all participantshave cooperated to ensure that weadhere to public health guidelines andprovide safe sport experiences for all,”says Jamie Ferguson, CEO of SportNova Scotia. “We recognize that theseare trying times and we encourageeveryone to keep it up. A return tofun and safe sport experiences is thepriority for everyone.”

With cases rising in most provinces,November also brought at least atemporary end to the “Atlantic bubble,”which allowed people to travel betweenAtlantic provinces without isolating.Those limits have also meant a pausefor some travel-heavy sport leagues.The Quebec Major Junior Hockey

League has suspended play until atleast early January.

With so much uncertainty stillat play, Atlantic University Sport(AUS) made the difficult decision inNovember to cancel regular-seasonand playoff competition in winter 2021.The university sport body is allowingmember-driven competition, whichmeans teams can set up exhibitiongames if public health guidelines allow.

The situation across the country hasalso led to a pause on other nationaland international competitions. TheNorth American Indigenous Games(NAIG), originally slated for Halifaxin July 2020, will be postponed beyond2021 until it’s safe to hold the Games,the NAIG council announced in thefall.

“We are truly excited to all come

together on beautiful Mi’kmaw landsand shores to experience the hospitalitythe East Coast has to offer, but deeplydesire to do so with the whole familyat the table,” NAIG council vice-president Christine Abrams said ina release.

The 2021 Canada Games scheduledfor Aug u st i n Ni aga ra, O nt .,have also been put off until 2022.Announcements on updated eligibilityrules are expected in early 2021.

For the late st update s on spor tguidelines and restrictions, please visitsportnovascotia.ca or consult with yourprovincial sport organization. For themostcurrent information on provincial healthguidelines and restrictions, and otherinformation on the response to COVID-19,please visit novascotia.ca/coronavirus

WHERE TALENT MEETS OPPORTUNITY

www.careerbeacon.com

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Sport Nova Scotia wishes to thank their family of partners, sponsorsand major supporters for their commitment to amateur sport in 2020.

MAJORSUPPORTERS

FUNDING PARTNERS

PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS

MAJOR SPONSORS

OFFICIALSPONSORS

w w w . g l o b a l c o n v e n t i o n . c a

SUPPORTINGSPONSORS

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Skiing, Snowboarding Get CreativeEvery sport has had to find ways

to adapt during the uncertaintyof 2020, but freestyle skiing pulledoff something truly creative this fall:they held a sanctioned competitionwith no snow.

The province’s high-performanceskiers and snowboarders normallyspend a lot of time on the roadbefore the snow piles up at NovaScotia’s hills, including fall training inEurope and an early December stintin Quebec. But of course, COVID-19has put a halt on travel this season.

That hasn’t stopped athletesand coaches from coming up withsolutions, says Andrew Hayes, theexecutive director for Alpine, FreestyleSkiing and Snowboard Nova Scotia.

“These groups, to their credit, are

Rowan Durning catches air at the Wentworth airbag training site. (Photo: Thor Durning)

the most optimistic people,” he says.Along with connecting online

and making the most of fitness,nutrition and mental conditioningt ra i n i ng of fered t h roug h t heCanadian Sport Centre Atlantic,skiers and snowboarders workedout at the Titans gymnastics clubwhen conditions permitted. Andthey spent most weekends using theairbag training site at Ski Wentworthwhenever the weather cooperated.

In November, Wentworth held asanctioned freestyle event using theairbag, with judging and physicallydistanced spectators. The only thingmissing was real snow, but that didn’tslow anyone down.

“The kids had a great time. Theythought it was a great event,” says

h igh-performance coach T horDurning. “Just to be in that competitivemindset helps the athletes to be ableto prepare for the winter season andcompetition.”

The airbag competition was the firstof its kind to be held as a sanctionedevent in Canada, Durning says. “Ihave lots of peers (across Canada) onsocial media, and the biggest thingI got from everybody was, ‘What agreat idea.’ We’re so fortunate to havequality judges here in Nova Scotia sowe were able to run that event.”

Holding the event was a “lightbulbmoment,” Hayes says. “We thought,‘Why haven’t we done this before?’”he says. “That’s just one simplestory of people maximizing (what’s

possible) during an awkward timeof year.”

Hayessayshe’sbeenimpressedwiththe passion of the ski and snowboardcommunity as they push ahead withpreparations for the winter seasonamid so much uncertainty.

“It’s unbelievable, the amount ofwork and volunteering people arewilling to do… to make the most ofthings to ensure (the sports are) asstrong as possible in this province.”

As a coach, Durning says that all theadjustments have brought an alreadytight-knit group of athletes evencloser. “2020 just kind of reinforcedthat everyone in this sport is all in ittogether.”

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Shattering the Glass Goes VirtualThhT e t h i r d a n n u a l

Shattering the Glassconference looked differentthan the first two, but thatturned out to bring someblessings.

L i k e m o s t l a r g egatherings in 2020, theannual conference on femaleleadership in sport had tomove online due to publichealth restrictions. But thatopened the door to participation fromfar and wide, including one attendeewho tuned in from the southern UnitedStates, says Melissa Sullivan.

“We’ve been able to expand ourreach,” says Sullivan, the Sport NovaScotia regional consultant for the Valley.“Gender equity is an important topic andsomething I’m passionate about, so I’vebeen pleased with the turnout and theengagement.”

T h e Va l l e y F e m a l eLeadership Network hostedthis year’s event. The SouthShore and Fundy networkshavehostedpastconferences.This year’s event focused oninclusive and intersectionall e a d e r s h i p. L o r r a i n eWhitman, president of theNative Women’s Associationof Canada, opened theconference, and Dr. Wendy

Bedingfield gave the keynote address.Other conference events included:

• A lunch and learn with Jordan Scott,the active living coordinator forGlooscap First Nation, on a holisticapproach to female leadership;

• Exploring leadership at the grassrootsand beyond, with Sullivan, SelinaDavidson-Eno, Lynn Wagner andMichelle Aucoin;

• Bui ld i ng com mu n it y t h rough

leadersh ip, wit h JoyGalloway-Jones, ElisabetAstatk ie a nd Mega nMacEachern;

• A closing panel hostedby Crystal Watson withpanelists Krista Deveau,Kevin Bennett, and NiaraSmith, a young swimmerf rom Nor t h Pre stonsetting records in the pool.R a t h e r t h a n p a c k

everything into one weekend as wouldtypically happen at an in-person event,conference organizers spread outshorter sessions over a mix of weekends,evenings and lunchtime sessions tokeep people from being “Zoomed out,”Sullivan says.

T he con ference’s focus i s onencouraging current female sportleaders and inspiring up-and comingleaders. The Rally Report released

Niara SmithLorraine Whitman

h

hn

f

f

yn

t

by Canadian Women andSport in June showed that43 per cent of teen girls whodropped out of sport namedprogram quality as one ofthe barriers—including alack of supportive coachesand strong role models.

“Women and girls aremore likely to join a sportor recreation opportunityif they see other females

involved… The leadership piece of thatis having coaches, program leaders,and officials on the field who can berole models,” Sullivan says. “There’sstill work to do. By having theseconversations, hopefully we’ll inspiresome action and some change.”

Find the Valley Female LeadershipNetwork online at facebook.com/ValleyFemaleLeadershipNetwork

Give the giftof sport.

T H I S H O L I D A Y S E A S O N,

Donate today: KidSport.ca/GiftofSport

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Sport Nova Scotia Member Contact InformationPSOsArchery Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Emily Nickersonenickerson@sportnovascotia.caNova Scotia ArmWrestling AssociationPresident – Rick Pinkneyinfo@novascotiaarmwrestling.comNova Scotia Artistic Swimming AssociationPresident – Nadine Jewerpresidentnsas@sportnovascotia.caAthletics Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Anitra Stevensathletics@sportnovascotia.caAtlantic Division, CanoeKayak CanadaGeneral Administrator – Robin Thomsonrobin@adckc.caBadminton Nova ScotiaPresident – Robert Proctorpresident@badmintonns.caNova Scotia Ball Hockey AssociationPresident – Gian Scaletnsbha@hotmail.comBaseball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Brandon Guenettebguenette@sportnovascotia.caBasketball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Katherine Brienbnsexecutivedirector@sportnovascotia.caBiathlon Nova ScotiaPresident – Sara Wolthersadmin@biathlonns.caBicycle Nova ScotiaOrganizational Admin. – Steve Bedardsteve.bedard@bicycle.ns.caBoxing Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Vanessa Robertsonvrobertson@sportnovascotia.caCheer Nova Scotia AssociationPresident – Nena Ericson-Oakesinfo@cheerns.comNova Scotia Cricket AssociationPresident – Amit Joshiamitjoshi@cricketcanada.orgCross Country Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Mallory Taylormtaylor@sportnovascotia.caNova Scotia Curling AssociationExecutive Director – Virginia Jacksonvjackson@nscurl.comNova Scotia Amateur DivingAssociationPresident – Lisa Richardslrichards@rwrlawyers.caNova Scotia Equestrian FederationExecutive Director – Heather Myrernsef@sportnovascotia.ca

Fencing Association of Nova ScotiaMain Contact – Ron Dewarinfo@nsfencing.caField Hockey Nova ScotiaPresident – Sharon Rajaramonsam.raj@ns.sympatico.caFootball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Karen Ouellettekouellette@footballnovascotia.caFreestyle Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Andrew Hayesalpinens@sportnovascotia.caNova Scotia Golf AssociationExecutive Director – David Campbelldavid@nsga.ns.caGymnastics Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Angela Gallantgns@sportnovascotia.caHockey Nova ScotiaMain Contact – Garreth MacDonaldgmacdonald@hockeynovascotia.caJudo Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Emily Nickersonenickerson@sportnovascotia.caKarate Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Patrick Thompsonpthompson@sportnovascotia.caLacrosse Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Donna Goguenlacrosse@sportnovascotia.caLawn Bowls Nova ScotiaPresident – Kathy Myketynmyketyk@eastlink.caOrienteering Association of Nova ScotiaPresident – Emily Secordehennebury@gmail.comPickleball Nova ScotiaDaniel Smith - Presidentdanielpetersmith007@gmail.comNova Scotia Powerlifting AssociationPresident – Natasha Chingnatashaching1@gmail.comNova Scotia Rhythmic SportiveGymnastics AssociationPresident – Lisa Hopperlhopper.ns@gmail.comRingette Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Clarissa Oleksiukringette@sportnovascotia.caRope Skipping Association of Nova ScotiaPresident – Sam Ashleysam@rsans.comRow Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Patrick Thompsonpthompson@sportnovascotia.ca

Rugby Nova ScotiaGeno Carew - Presidentgcarew@westlundpvf.comSail Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Frank Denisoffice@sailnovascotia.caShooting Federation of Nova ScotiaMain Contact – Jim Smithinfo@sfns.infoSkate Canada Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Jill Knowlesskatecanadans@sportnovascotia.caSki Nova Scotia & CADS NSExecutive Director – Andrew Hayesalpinens@sportnovascotia.caNova Scotia Snowboard AssociationExecutive Director – Andrew Hayesalpinens@sportnovascotia.caSoccer Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Brad Lawlorexecutivedirector@soccerns.ns.caSoftball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Caroline Crookssoftballns@sportnovascotia.caSpeed Skate Nova ScotiaPresident – Greg Miltoninfo@speedskatens.caSquash Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Mallory Taylormtaylor@sportnovascotia.caSurfing Association of Nova ScotiaCoordinator – Jill Morrismorris.jillian@gmail.comSwim Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Bette El-Hawaryswimming@sportnovascotia.caNova Scotia Table Tennis AssociationPresident – David Greenoughpresident@nstta.caMaritime TaeKwonDo UnionAdmin. Coordinator - Mallory Taylormtaylor@sportnovascotia.caTennis Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Roger Keatingtennisns@sportnovascotia.caTriathlon Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Colin Jamestriathlon@sportnovascotia.caVolleyball Nova ScotiaExecutive Director – Jason Trepaniervns@sportnovascotia.caWater Polo Association of Nova ScotiaPresident – Scott Prestonspreston@easthants.ca

Water Ski Wakeboard Nova ScotiaPresident – Dean Steinburgstienburg@bellaliant.netNova Scotia Weightlifting Assoc.Amanda Thompson - Main Contactadmin@nsweightlifting.caWrestling Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Emily Nickersonenickerson@sportnovascotia.ca

Associate MembersBlind Sports Nova ScotiaPresident – Peter Parsonsblindsportsns@gmail.comNova Scotia 55+ Games SocietyPresident – Terry Gilroynatya@ns.sympatico.caNova Scotia Disc Sports SocietyPresident – Michael McAllistermikemcallister@discns.caNova Scotia School Athletic FederationExecutive Director – Stephen GallantStephen.Gallant@gnspes.caNova Scotia Sport Hall of FamePrograms & Facility Mgr. – Shane Mailmanshane@nsshf.comSpecial Olympics Nova ScotiaPresident & CEO – Mike Greekmgreek@specialolympicsns.ca

Registered UsersCamping Association of Nova ScotiaPresident – Lara Abramsoninfo@canpei.caCanoe Kayak Nova ScotiaOffice Manager – Liz Hardyadmin@ckns.caDuke of Edinburgh’s Award – NovaScotia DivisionExecutive Director – Connie Millercmiller@dukeofed.orgLifesaving Society, Nova Scotia BranchAdmin. Assistant – Hylda Parsonshyldap@lifesavingsociety.ns.caRecreation FacilityAssociation ofNovaScotiaExecutive Director – Brittany Hunterrfans@sportnovascotia.caRecreation Nova ScotiaAdmin. Coordinator – Colleen MacDonaldcmacdonald@recreationns.ns.caSnowmobilers Association ofNova ScotiaGeneral Manager – Mike Eddygm@snowmobilersns.comNova Scotia Trails FederationCommunication Assistant – Heather Stillwellheather@novascotiatrails.com

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Mentorship Gives Coaches “Inclusive Space”On a Sunday morning in a Halifax hotel conference

room, about 20 Black and Indigenous coachesare gathered to learn from presenters like Dalhousiewomen’s soccer coach Cindy Tye, and from each other.The questions flow freely—and so do the jokes andteasing, even though the group is only in their secondday together.

“I feel like I’ve known these people forever,” saysTasha McKenzie, who coaches rugby with the U18Keltics and Hants East Rural High School. “I feel athome here. Everyone has open arms, they’re open-minded, willing to challenge you and help you grow.”

That sense of belonging is what the Black andIndigenous Coaching Mentorship program is allabout, says Mark Smith, director of sport with SportNova Scotia. The program launched in Octoberwith the goal of bringing together young and moreexperienced coaches in a comfortable environment.

Funding for the program comes from the Mi’kmawSport Council and the provincial government. MarkSmith hopes to see it become a regular program.

“We hope we will have created an ongoingopportunity for coaches of colour to be able to learn,share and understand how they can be effective atwhatever level they want to coach,” he says. “Myhope is we’re going to develop some future mentorsfrom this program.”

McKenzie is already thinking about how she cantake the next step as a coach and introduce rugby tomore Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia.

“There could be someone like me, who found sportand it completely changed their life,” she says. “I wantto… find those people who have potential, introducethem to their rugby community and get them intothe sport.”

Most of the sessions will take place online, but itfelt important to come together to start the program,Smith says.

”We wanted to give people a chance to see whoelse was in the room and find common threads,” hesays. “We’re so pleased with the level of energy andinput. People are hanging around at lunchtime andcontinuing the conversations.”

For Chanel Smith (Mark’s niece), who startedcoaching basketball in Halifax after playing at AcadiaUniversity and graduating in 2018, the mentorshipprogram offers a different atmosphere than sessionswhere she’s been the only Black person in the room,or one of a few.

“I feel a lot more comfortable here than I have inthe past in other coaching clinics,” she says. “It’s avery inclusive space. There are people who look likeme, who have experiences like me… It makes you feelempowered to be here.”

McKenzie echoes that feeling. It’s refreshing to bein a space where your perspective and experience isrespected, she says.

“I’m younger so it’s hard to be taken seriouslysometimes, and being Black and Indigenous (can be) abarrier,” McKenzie says. “This (mentorship) definitelylooks at all our struggles and things people who aren’tpeople of colour would never notice or pick up. I’vehad people say, ‘I’ve never thought of that,’ where it’sreally an everyday thing with us.”

The mentorship program will meet monthlythrough to the Atlantic Coaching Conference in April.

Chanel Smith (L) and Tasha McKenzie during the first weekendof the Black and Indigenous Coaching Mentorship program inOctober.

1814

Nova Scotia Marks Safe Sport MonthAfter one presentation during Nova

Scotia’s first Safe Sport Month inOctober, Elana Liberman had a parentreach out to say their teenage athletewanted to get involved in safe sport.

That’s exactly the goal of the month,Liberman says: to encourage sportparticipants of all ages that they canhelp make sport safer.

“We want people to start talkingabout it,” says Liberman, the Safe SportLead with Sport Nova Scotia. “Wewant people to start recognizing it’severybody’s responsibility.”

As part of celebrating and promotingsafe sport, Sport Nova Scotia launcheda new website dedicated to supportingthe physical, social and emotionalwelfare of all sport participants.A video promoting safe sport wasalso launched across social mediaplat forms, drawing more than

7,500 views onFacebook.

“ T h e f a c tthat people areta lk ing aboutit to me is oneof the goals,”Liberman says.“The video wasa great kickoff.”

A s w i t heverything else,the pandemicposedchallengesaround how to engage people in themonth’s activities, but it also createdopportunities. Liberman was pleasedwith the turnout for four webinarsoffered throughout the month: a safesport overview, a True Sport approachto the coach-parent relationship, aworkshop on the hidden culture

of bullying insports, and apanel on theB l a c k s p o r texperience.

“I’m happyt h a t p e o p l eover the pastf e w m o n t h sh a v e t a k e nt h e t i m e t otake training,”Liberman says.“I’ve heard a lot

of people say, ‘We have some time now,so let’s do it.’”

The diversity of topics during SafeSport Month reflects how safe sportisn’t just about preventing harm:it’s about making sport welcoming,inclusive and accessible for everyone.

“The absence of harm is not good

enough,” Liberman says. “We wantsport to be a great experience. Withmore people talking about it, I thinkwe’re on the way.”

All four webinars are availableto watch on the Safe Sport website.Liberman is already thinking abouthow to structure the next Safe SportMonth. The provincial safe sportworking group is at work on safesport policies and standards to applyacross Nova Scotia, with educationand training to come with them.

“There’s more coming down thepipe,” Liberman says. “I’ve been reallypleased with the feedback so far, and Iwant to see the discussions continue.”

Find resources, webinars, and moreinformation on practising and promotingsafe sport at safesportns.ca

Safe sport means making sport welcoming, inclusiveand accessible for all. (Contributed)

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