Take a look below at some of the events we have hosted in the past and others that our members have taken part in.
2024 Niagara Hope on the Horizon Workshop
Held: May 24th – May 25th, 2024
The Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) team, alongside Sport Law and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport hosted the 2024 Niagara Hope on the Horizon workshop. This two-day workshop highlighted the various complexities that are facing sport and recreation today, and provided some amazing insights into leadership, legal knowledge, and True Sport principles.
2024 Women and Sport Summit
Held: March 8, 2024
The Centre for Sport Capacity was proud to partner with Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, and The Olympic Studies Centre.This workshop focused on women leaders in sport and their experiences in the sport industry, aiming to inspire more women to grab hold of more leadership roles in sports.
Attendees gained a greater understanding of Women in sport, the struggles they face, along with an understanding of important skills and habits that are key to achieving success in the sports industry.
2023 Book Launch and Author Reading
Held: November 22nd, 2023
The Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) team hosted a Book Launch and Author Reading. Author and historian Fred Addis shared insights from his book titled “Gallinger: A Life Suspended”, about the worst gambling scandal in NHL history – the life and hardships of a gifted young athlete from Port Colborne who becomes embroiled in a Detroit betting ring.
2023 Grand Slam of Curling
Held: October 19th – October 22nd, 2023
The Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) team was proud to attend the Grand Slam of Curling. The annual series of events, owned and operated by Sportsnet, showcases the top-ranked men’s and women’s curling teams from around the world. In partnership with the Niagara Parks Commission, the CSC conducted an event impact analysis, which involved asking spectators, vendors, and volunteers to complete a survey.
2023 Sport for Life Regional Summit of Niagara
Held: April 20th, 2023
The Sport for Life 2023 Regional Summit of Niagara provided an impactful experience for all who attended. The Centre for Sport Capacity is grateful to be given the opportunity to support and attend an event with many accomplished panelists and speakers, including our very own Director, Dr. Julie Stevens. Learning about topics such as the impact of the Niagara 2022 Canada Games on the surrounding communities, participation rates in sport within the Niagara region, and methods to increase enrollment and retention of members within its community resulted in the expansion of the CSC’s knowledge of sport in Niagara. We would like to thank Sport for Life & Ridley College for organizing such a successful event.
2023 LEAD LIKE A GIRL – Women in Sport Leadership Panel
Held: February 10th, 2023
The Centre for Sport Capacity, in collaboration with the Niagara IceDogs, recently organized a continuation of the LEAD LIKE A GIRL initiative. As part of this initiative, a Women in Sport Leadership speaker series was held on February 10th at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. The event featured engaging discussions, a Q&A session, a pizza dinner, and a networking social time.
The same night, the PWHPA game was underway at the Meridian Centre, and high school girls were invited to attend a panel session before the game took place. The panel discussion provided an excellent opportunity for the attendees to interact with panelists from various backgrounds in the sport industry, including marketing and events, administration, training and performance, sport medicine, and media and journalism. The session aimed to inspire girls and help them discover potential roles in the sports industry while also enabling them to establish connections that can shape their future after high school.
2023 Gender Inclusivity Workshop
Held: January 17th, 2023
The Gender Inclusivity Workshop was hosted by the Centre for Sport Capacity in partnership with the City of Welland on January 17th. Dr. Michele K. Donnelly had a thought-provoking discussion with sport and recreation professionals about the importance of understanding the context, terminology, and implications of gender diversity and inclusivity. Participants left the conversation feeling inspired to keep the learning and discussion going as the workshop offered a great opportunity to network and learn from other professionals in the industry.
2022 Niagara Active Economy Summit
Held: November 23rd, 2022
The 2022 Niagara Active Economy Summit (AE) was a one-day exclusive invite event. It featured a three-panel discussion with speakers from various sectors within the active economy. This event was hosted by the Centre for Sport Capacity at the Holiday Inn & Suites.
The AE Summit enabled you to learn how the broad area of “active life” provides a burgeoning opportunity to grow local Niagara businesses across several sectors and generate economic growth for the region. The Active Economy is an innovative way to identify and measure the economic value of 10 sectors that tap into the organized sport, active recreation, and active tourism supply chain.
1972 Summit Series 50th Anniversary Event
Held: November 19th, 2022
September 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series, the iconic hockey tournament that pitted the best players from Canada against the best from the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. While other films have looked at the ’72 Summit Series from the players’ point of view, Ice-Breaker enlarges the canvas to tell the story from the unique perspectives of a diverse cast of participants who are rarely heard: diplomats, NHL hockey legends, Soviet players, journalists, fans, broadcasters, business leaders and Team Canada’s Chairman, reveal untold stories about what happened before, during, and after September ’72.
The Centre for Sport Capacity hosted a public screening of Ice-Breaker The ’72 Summit Series in partnership with the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and The Film House. A film viewing, expert panel discussion, and book signing were hosted on Saturday, November 19th at the Film House in the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.
To see more content about this event, please click the button below.
2022 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay
Held: May 28th, 2022
As part of the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, the 2022 Queen’s Baton was traveling to 72 different nations and territories, including Canada Games Park in St. Catharines, Ontario. This collective journey ignites hope, solidarity and collaboration, as it connects communities, embraces unique cultures and shares inspirational stories. Together, the Centre for Sport Capacity, Commonwealth Sport Canada and Niagara 2022 invited everyone to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
To see more content about this event, please click the button below.
Business Breathers: Sport & Economic Development
Held: February 14th, 2022
Dr. Julie Stevens, Special Advisor to the Brock University President for Canada Summer Games, discusses how sport can play a role in economic development. In this webinar she highlights the value of sport, recreation and wellness in relation to economic prosperity in a community. “By positioning sport as an economic driver, new perspectives and possibilities for economic growth strategies emerge and we can begin to dialogue about the ways we might capture these new opportunities for our Niagara community,” Stevens said.
The session is geared towards people who work in economic development, chambers of commerce members, business improvement associations, business owners, sports organizers and anyone looking to connect sport and business.
Parks and Recreation As an Essential Service
Held: June 9th, 2021
This latest policy brief, #51 in the NCO series, was created in partnership with the Centre for Sport Capacity and addresses the role of parks and recreation as an important policy tool to address broad society-level crises facing all Niagara communities. It is written by Dr. Julie Stevens, Dr. Martha Barnes, Sarah Ane, and Dr. Carol Phillips.
We had a great turnout and discussion on our latest research, Parks and Recreation as an Essential Service: Using a health equity lens to strengthen provision in Niagara. Thanks to our panel: Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley, St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik; Commander, Mobile Integrated Health for Niagara EMS, Marty Mako; and Niagara Falls Director of Recreation & Culture, Kathy Moldenhauer.
Saskatchewan Women in Football Summit
Held: March 25th, 2021
In the virtual Saskatchewan Women in Football Summit, CSC’s Dr. Ryan Clutterbuck spoke about his experience coaching with the Canadian Women’s National Team in 2017, where he worked as Offensive Coordinator, and the upcoming International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women’s World Championships, where he is Head Coach of Team Canada.
Women in Leadership Event: Challenges and Successes Women Face in their Struggle for Equity in Sport
Held: November 10th, 2020
In the virtual Women in Leadership meeting on Tuesday, November 10th, the Centre for Sport Capacity’s Michele Donnelly, Ph.D., looked at the challenges and successes that women face in their struggle for equity in sport.
This session was delivered as part of the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Women in Leadership initiative.
Blockers & Attackers: Indigenous Women in Sports Leadership
Held: October 3rd, 2020
The Centre for Sport Capacity proudly sponsored Niagara Chapter – Native Women Inc. in their fundraiser called, “Blockers and Attackers: Indigenous Women in Sports Leadership.” This event engaged the audience in Indigenous culture and significance while bonding over a shared interest of sports, and featured Indigenous female panelists including Amy Wilson-Hands (volleyball coach and athlete), Keynote Speaker Waneek Horn-Miller (water polo medalist), and Guest Speaker Jessica Ghosen (roller derby athlete). The event also experienced beautiful performances from the talented Nicole Joy-Fraser. The afternoon was then wrapped up with a live Q&A session for participants and each participant was provided with a swag bag to commemorate the event.
Football Manitoba Coach2Coach Online Speaker Series
Held: June 25th, 2020
One of our members, Dr. Ryan Clutterbuck, presented for the Coach2Coach online speaker series hosted by Football Manitoba.
Dr. Clutterbuck spoke on National Team Offensive Systems on Thursday, June 25th at 6:30 Central Time.
Women in Leadership Meeting
Held: June 17th, 2020
On June 17th, 2020, Centre member Dr. Laura Cousens spoke at the online monthly Women in Leadership meeting. Dr. Cousens shared her insights on how she bridges leadership and value-driven initiatives to create opportunities for women and disadvantaged groups in society using examples from her career in academia and parks and recreation.
Physical Literacy Movement Preparation – Coach Workshop
Held: February 9th, 2020
On February 9th, 2020, Centre Coordinator Cole McClean hosted a Coach Workshop to showcase Physical Literacy Movement Preparation. Physical Literacy Movement Preparation is an enhanced training program performed as a warmup before practices and games to improve performance and durability.
Participants completed two e-Learning modules before their mentor-led practical in-person peer teaching session supported by instructional materials.
The training helped better prepare the participants to assist in the development of better movement skills in their athletes through a developing physical literacy approach.
The workshop was supported by Sport for Life, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Soccer, and Ontario Soccer.
Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) Symposium
Held: may 25th, 2019
The purpose of this plenary was to facilitate dialogue with panel experts and conference attendees on a key Niagara Region industry, Sport Tourism. Further, discussion was facilitated around the opportunities a major game offers to management researchers.
Concussion and Sport Panel
Held: April 19th, 2018
Brock University’s Centre for Lifespan Development Research hosted a free talk as part of their speaker series, in collaboration with the Centre for Sport Capacity and the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.
Hosted by Dr. Charles Tator, the talk was titled, “Concussions – What are they and what should I be doing?”. Centre member Dr. Hilary Findlay was a part of the panel discussion and spoke to the legal implications of concussions in sport.
Safe Sport Forum: Can Sport Regulate Itself?
Hosted: November 17th, 2023
We are currently in a Safe Sport crisis which requires discussion, education, and action.
That’s where we came in.
The Centre for Sport Capacity’s 2023 hybrid Safe Sport Forum: Can Sport Regulate Itself? had a broader focus on the current safe sport crisis. Topics included: the self-regulatory nature of Canadian Amateur Sport, the ‘legal landscape’ of sport, towards a safer sport culture, “From the Front Line” athlete experiences, book talk on sexual abuse in Canadian sport, and what is happening at the provincial/territorial level? We posed the question: how does the sport system as currently structured and governed enable and/or constrain the ability of sport to enact the change needed to survive the Safe Sport crisis and ensure a safe place for all participants?
Athletes First: The Promotion of Safe Sport in Canada
Hosted: June 16th – 18th, 2021
This forum and series of panels focused on the harassment and abuse of athletes, and the lack of administrative action in these instances, that have been highlighted in recent cases in the media and the courts. Additionally, acknowledging that the long term negative ramifications for athletes and sport at all levels is a significant issue that needs discussion, discourse, and action.
That’s where we came in.
The Centre for Sport Capacity’s 2021 Forum, Athletes First: The Promotion of Safe Sport in Canada had an athlete-centred focus. Topics for the virtual event included: athlete advocacy, governance and policy development, legal ramifications of harassment and abuse in sport, and coaching education.
Women in Sport & Leadership Forum
Hosted: November 21, 2019
The Women in Sport & Leadership Forum brought together leaders in the non-profit sport sector to discuss and share triumphs and struggles on the path to achieving gender equity in sport.
The forum included presentations, workshops, and a Keynote Address from Katrina Galas, the Global Sport Strategist for In Common Consulting.
The purpose of the event was to bring together sport management scholars and industry practitioners to discuss the real issues faced when sport organizations create and operationalize gender equity plans.
Furthermore, the event provided an opportunity to forge networks of like-minded individuals who will champion gender equity initiatives and create a working plan to help remote gender equity initiatives taking place in the Niagara Region and beyond.
Niagara Tennis Forum
Hosted: April 14, 2019
The forum was held on April 14th, 2019, with the support of the Centre for Sport Capacity and People First. The goal was to identify priority areas in which movement could be made with a united effort to increase tennis’ presence in Niagara.
40 individuals gathered for the forum who were representative of a cross section of the sport of Tennis in Niagara. A uniting theme was an agreement that the sport of Tennis is not advancing in Niagara as it is throughout Canada.
Key areas identified for change included facility improvement, youth participation, and league play for adults across the region.
Measuring Impact in Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation (SPAR)
Specific ways to measure and highlight the impact of investment in SPAR.
Hosted: October 15, 2024
This webinar discusses specific ways to measure and highlight the impact of investment in Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation. (CPRA) CEO. Martin Sampson in collaboration with the Centre for Sport Capacity (CSC) delivered a presentation showing specific ways to measure impact in sport including economic, social, environmental, and health.
Thriving Indigenous Sport Organizations
The success of the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Council (MASRC)
Hosted: June 27, 2024
This webinar discusses the success of the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports & Recreation Council (MASRC). The panel speakers shared past successes, current initiatives, and future plans for the organization as well as the MASRCs community impact through data! The panel included Dr. Taylor McKee, Robyn Cruz, Carriera Lamoureux, Lucas Rotondo, and Nick Lacoste.
The Evolving Landscape of Collegiate Esports
The Future of Esports on College Campuses
Hosted: April 18th, 2024
In this webinar, Dr. Taylor McKee explored the possibilities and potential of Esports alongside experts in the field. This growing industry is set to exceed $2 Billion in 2024, with Universities across North America embracing Esports in various capacities. The discussion explored the expanding landscape of collegiate Esports, featuring insights from experts such as: Madison Hight, Danielle Sirekis, Keaghan Norring, and Tyler Hetherington.
Unleash Your Influence Webinar
Tips For Your Professional Portfolio
Hosted: September 28th, 2023
The webinar offered students the opportunity to hear from industry professionals on topics such as empowering and elevating personal brand, and achieving success using digital platforms, specifically LinkedIn. What was gained from attending? Expert insight, personal brand management skills, a professional development opportunity, and how to elevate your LinkedIn profile.
Sport & The Environment IV
Sport & the Environment: Mountain and Winter Sports Tourism in an Era of Climate Change
Hosted: October 7, 2022
This presentation highlighted the results from several Canadian and US research projects that have used downscaled climate change scenarios and stakeholder surveys (tourists, athletes, coaches) to explore the differential climate risks and opportunities for key winter sports markets, including the Olympic Winter Games. Important knowledge gaps and research priorities were offered to help advance climate action and aid the transition to a net-zero future.
Hockey Culture Webinar
Solutions & Strategies
Hosted: September 19, 2022
This webinar is centered around the current trends and controversies in hockey. Former professional hockey players; Sheldon Kennedy and Pete Soberlak, and retired Sport Management associate professor; Hilary Findlay are featured on the panel with CSC member and hockey researcher, Dr. Taylor McKee as the moderator. These experts will draw on their personal experience and extensive knowledge to discuss the strategies and solutions to foster a healthier hockey culture from grassroots through to professional hockey.
Cricket Webinar
The Power of Sport
Hosted: June 6, 2022
The webinar speakers are in the process of putting together Brock University’s first cricket program. In addition, they have helped to organize and participated in a friendly Pakistan vs. India cricket match made up of international students at Brock. This facilitated discussion will touch on their stories and experiences as well as the powerful impact bringing cricket to the Brock University community has meant to them.
Sport and the Environment III
Envisioning Alternative Socio-Environmental Futures through Sociocultural Kinesiology
Hosted: March 30, 2022
This webinar focuses on sports’ impact on the environment and the environments growing effect on sports. Guest speaker, Dr. Liv Yoon, will look to answer; how are sport/leisure, climate change, social inequities, and health related? And how do we understand these links in the context of climate change as a threat multiplier?
Innovation and Creativity in the Sport Industry
Hosted: March 24, 2022
This webinar generated a conversation about sport organizations and entrepreneurs harnessing creativity within their respective fields. Our panel of speakers, ranging from analytical and private sector backgrounds, provided case examples regarding innovative processes within their organizations.
Sport and the Environment II
Tackling Environmental Issues in Canadian Sport
Hosted: March 3, 2022
This webinar examined the impact of climate change on Canadian sport. Dan Wilcock, who has served in numerous leadership roles for Canadian sport organizations and has championed sustainability across many policy levels, shared his experiences in bringing about effective long term change to Canadian sport organizations. He also discusses how organizations can foster environmental sustainability for a better future.
Sport Gambling
A Panel Discussion on the Emerging Sport Gambling Industry in Canada
Hosted: February 9, 2022
This webinar examined the recent legalization of single-game sports betting in Canada. Our experienced group of speakers brought a unique perspective to the conversation: Dr. Michael Naraine, an expert in digital, revenue generation and business development in sport, was joined by Nic Sulsky at PointsBet Canada and Amanda Brewer from Kindred Group Plc.
Sport & The Environment I
Politics, Practices, & Preferred Futures
Hosted: February 3, 2022
This webinar examined the current state of the climate emergency and sport’s impact on climate change. Author, David Goldblatt shared his knowledge about the sport industry and the political actions that governing bodies are currently taking to limit sports impact on the environment, creating a more sustainable future for all.
Unveiling Esports
A Panel Discussion on the Direction and Growth of a Billion-dollar Industry
Hosted: November 17, 2021
This webinar examined the world of Esports and took a dive into the innovative and unique opportunities the industry provides. An exceptional group of panelists with firsthand experience in various areas of Esports, with roles in major organizations such as Ontario Post-Secondary Esports and OverActive Media Group. They share their knowledge and answer questions on appealing discussions topics that will give you the chance to go behind the scenes of this billion dollar industry and learn from seasoned professionals.
Planning and Building Through Challenging Circumstances
A Conversation about Coaching Team Culture during COVID-19 with Margot Page and Willy Manigat
Hosted: March 23, 2021
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all of those in the sport industry. This is especially true for coaches and players, who have had to find ways to adapt during this difficult time through remote and reduced programs. Some of the areas that have been hardest to adapt are soft skills such as teamwork, culture and individual character. Brock University varsity coaches, Margot Page (Women’s Hockey) and Willy Manigat (Men’s Basketball) took time to speak to their experience coaching soft skills during COVID-19, and key lessons learned.
Starting at Love: (Re)discovering Tennis as a Lifelong Sport
A Tennis Story with Gianluca Agostinelli
Hosted: December 2, 2020
The Italian Studies Program of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (MLLC) at Brock University invited Gianluca Agostinelli to speak to students of Italian Canadian Studies and the community on sports industry in Canada in anticipation of the Summer Canada Games in Niagara. Agostinelli, growing up in an Italian family of athletes, focused on his career as a top-ranked junior tennis player in Canada, as a former member of Team Ontario and Tennis Canada, and his return to tennis at Brock University.
Pivoting Youth Sport and Recreation Programming in the Wake of COVID-19
Recommendations and Resources
Hosted: November 25, 2020
This webinar included three panelists who examined the programming decisions and adjustments made by youth sport and recreation organizations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erin Graybiel, the General Manager of Day Camp and Youth Outreach for the YMCA of Niagara, shared how the YMCA is pivoting their approaches to youth engagement and programming and highlighted lessons that they have learned as they adapt in real-time during the pandemic. Harry Bell, Regional Manager Hamilton-Niagara and SWO at Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, provided insights about how his organization continues to support programs in Southwestern Ontario and across Canada with various resources and funding opportunities. Corliss Bean, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at Brock University and member of the Centre for Sport Capacity, then spoke about how evaluation, now more than ever, is a powerful strategy to enhance program delivery by understanding how to adapt, improve, and meet the needs of youth. She shared some feasible evaluation practices and discussed supports and capacity building opportunities available to stakeholders in the sector.
A Panel Discussion on Soccer in Ontario
Hosted: October 28, 2020
In collaboration with the Italian Studies program from the Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (MLLC) Department, Paul Stalteri, pro soccer player and coach, and Carmelina Moscato, Olympic Bronze medalist and coach, spoke on the topic of the sports industry in Canada in anticipation of the Summer Canada Games in Niagara. Stalteri and Moscato focused on their own careers, the access of their trainings to coaches and managers, and the path they took that lead them to national and international levels. MLLC course instructor Teresa Russo moderated this event.
Understanding Same Game
The self-Guided Gender Equity Toolkit
Hosted: September 30, 2020
CSC member Dr. Shannon Kerwin in collaboration with Greer Gemin and Jenny Lim from Canadian Women & Sport, walked attendees through the Same Game toolkit, the research behind why it works, and answered questions about how it can across organizations/clubs.
COVID-19 Legal Issues Facing Sport and Recreation Organizations
Hosted: April 30, 2020
In the webinar, Dr. Hilary Findlay shares her thoughts, from a legal perspective, on what should be done now and in the future to prepare for the resumption of sporting and recreation activities after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Building Resilience in Your Athlete
Hosted: September 18, 2018
Centre member Dr. Kirsty Spence, along with Meg Salter and Jim Grabb, delivered the Building Resilience in Your Athletes webinar as part of our Sport for Life webinar series.
