Promotion Network News - ONLINE
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Volume 10 Number 1
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GIRLS AND WOMEN IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT
What's inside this issue...
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Coquitlam Leads the Way | |
Promotion Plus Leadership Award Recipients | |||
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Promotion Plus Update | |
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund | |||
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Research Review | |
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Resource Review | |
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Bursaries for Athletes and Coaches |
Coquitlam Leads the Way
A breakthrough Gender Equity Program was recently launched in the City of Coquitlam to ensure that girls and women receive their fair share of recreation and sport opportunities.
The Program is the result of a mediated Human Rights agreement between the City of Coquitlam and Dave Morrison, the father of Katie Morrison, a Coquitlam gymnast. Dave launched a Human Rights complaint after he realized that his son's hockey team was benefitting from city-built facilities, but his daughter's gymnastics club was being denied funding assistance from the City. After researching the issue and gaining some support, Dave filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on behalf of his daughter and other young female athletes in the Coquitlam area.
The City of Coquitlam officially entered into this special program on March 8, 1999. The program is designed to move the City towards the attainment of gender equity in the context of its sport and physical activity services, programs and facilities.
The agreement is based in principle on the fact that both parties agree that Canadian females are under-represented in many sport, recreation and physical activity experiences. And both parties recognize that, although the City of Coquitlam has taken steps to identify and address gender equity issues, further steps can be taken to redress inequities that may exist.
The long term goal of this Program is to attain
gender equity in sport (and physical activity) in Coquitlam. The short
term goal is a 50% reduction in gender inequities in
sport and physical activity in Coquitlam within five years; including
a similar increase in young female participation rates relative to current
participation rates.
In order to accomplish these goals, the City has agreed to undertake specific initiatives in the following 5 areas:
1. Compilation of Gender Equity Statistics
2. Establishment of a Gender Equity Committee
3. Appointment of a Gender Equity Coordinator
4. Establishment of a Gender Equity Fund
5. Requirement that all user groups have a gender equity policy and make participation statistics available.
The data collected will include the age and gender of participants in the City's sport and physical activity services. From this baseline data, the City will be able to compare statistics from year to year and track its success. The Gender Equity Committee will make recommendations to the City Council regarding the gender equity program and review applications of the Gender Equity fund. This fund will be available annually to non-profit, female dominated sports groups that do not currently have access to subsidized facilities. The Gender Equity Coordinator will be a full time position for a minimum of 5 years and will implement programs that work toward the gender equity goals of the City. The Coordinator will also support the Committee and analyze costs and subsidies of all services by gender while building community and sport groups' awareness of gender equity issues in sport. All user groups of Coquitlam facilities will be required to have a gender equity policy and agree to provide gender related data on their membership.
Does this agreement have implications for other municipalities? Research is currently being done to examine the legal implications on other groups and municipalities. The Chief Commissioner of the BC Human Right Commission wrote in a letter that she is "...hopeful that the establishment and implementation of this Program will not only effect both attitudinal and systemic changes but will also serve as model for other municipal governments to follow in the future."
For more information or a copy of the agreement, contact Promotion Plus.
Promotion Plus Update
WISRAN Update
The final WISRAN breakfast meeting for the 1998/99 season was held on March 31, 1999. Thank you to all volunteers and participants who attended. Due to the changing needs and demands of the Women In Sport and Recreation Administration Network, Promotion Plus will be reformatting these meetings for next fall. If you have any comments or suggestions for creating networking opportunities please contact the office at 737-3075.
New Partnerships
As awareness of issues that effect girls and women's participation in sport and recreation increases, the role of Promotion Plus grows and evolves. To meet these changing demands, Promotion Plus is seeking to form partnerships with organizations in the sport and recreation community and with organizations involved in women's health. By working in collaboration and sharing networks, resources, and information, Promotion Plus will assist organizations to promote physical activity to wider range of groups and individuals.
Snowboard Success
The Promotion Plus Learn to Snowboard Clinic which was held on January 28th, 1999 at Mt. Seymour and proved to be a very popular and fun evening on the slopes. Over 30 women came out to participate despite a heavy snowfall and together, learned the basics of snowboarding. Thank you to Promotion Plus member Caroline Depatie of Mount Seymour for volunteering her time to teach us some new tricks.
New Resources
Promotion Plus, together with Beth Pinnington, a Masters candidate at UBC, has revised and refreshed our resource kits. The kits are now being supported by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), through a grant from Health Canada, and will be distributed nationally. A kit specializing on Diversity issues has been added to the list of available kits and all of the Fact Files have been revised with the latest statistics available. See page 8 for ordering information.
Speakers List
The Promotion Plus Speakers List for 1999 is available with new and exciting speakers joining the already diverse and enthusiastic group of women. To book a speaker for your conference, workshop, or class presentation, call the office to receive a copy of the list and more information.
On the Move Posters
New posters have just been printed to promote physical activity to adolescent young women. These colourful posters depict a variety of young women being physically active and enjoying every minute of it! They can also be used to advertise your On the Move program or other Girls programs. Call Promotion Plus for more details.
Coaching Women
Promotion Plus is partnering with the Coaches Association of BC (CABC) to create a resource on Coaching Female Athletes. We will be conducting focus groups with female and male coaches and athletes to get a diverse range of information. Recent research will complement the success stories and concerns of coaches and athletes. The resource will be available in the fall of 1999. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the focus groups can contact the Promotion Plus office.
Research Review
Adolescent Females and Active Living: The Effects of Active Living Cards on the Transition From Dependency to Self-Efficacy
by Pauline Flemming, M. ED., University of Victoria
Numerous studies have been conducted on adolescent females which have linked low participation levels in physical activity with low levels of self-esteem. These studies have helped to increase the creation of programs to motivate young women to become more physically active and develop increased levels of self-esteem. These programs however are dependent on extrinsic motivation such as roles models or group facilitation for keeping the girls involved and active. Active Living Cards, in contrast, are designed to create an intrinsic motivation to empower adolescent females and to assist in the transition from dependency to self-motivation. This study examined the changes in levels of self-esteem and participation in physical activity of grade 9 and 10 girls with the use of active living cards. Results showed improved self-esteem and increased physical activity in the girls who used the cards. Evaluations of the cards by participating subjects was also very positive. The girls indicated that cards were helpful and that they would continue to use them.
Resource Review
Leisure Access: Enhancing Recreation Opportunities For Those Living in Poverty
written by Wendy Frisby and Jennifer Fenton
On behalf of the to Kamloops Women's Action Project (KWAP), this workbook is designed to assist community leaders bring partners together, to learn about poverty and the direct implications it has on the recreation services offered in the community. Worksheets are included to focus on the issues around poverty within your own community, to move through a community development process, to create an action plan, and to incorporate from the onset of the process, a way of identifying success and ensuring sustainability.
Leisure Access is available from Promotion Plus,
see page 8 for ordering details.
Just For Girls
written by Sandra Friedman
Just for Girls is a completeley revised and updated edition of Sandra Friedman's original eating disorder prevention program Girls in the 90's which is currently in use all across North America. The program looks at what happens to girls in the course of adolescence that causes them to lose their sense of self and begin defining themselves through the opinions of others and the numbers on the bathroom scale. This manual contains the blueprint for the Just for Girls program, an open-discussion group for adolescent girls.
Just for Girls is available from Promotion Plus, see page 8 for ordering information.
Bursaries for Athletes and Coaches
The Bob Bearpark Coaching Bursary Fund
The Bob Bearpark Coaching Bursary Fund - has a total of six funding categories including the Equity and Access bursaries which are available to assist coaches who are women, First Nations, or Coaches of Athletes with a Disability. Women coaches pursuing Level 3 or higher NCCP training can apply for funding assistance. Contact the Promotion Plus office for an application form.
The Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship
The Stacey Levitt Women and Sport Scholarship - is open to a young woman, a girls' team, or a sport organization that exemplifies Stacey's ideals and qualities: a keen interest in sports and a healthy lifestyle, takes the initiative to make positive things happen, is highly motivated and enthusiastic, strives to be the best and doesn't give up trying. A $2500 scholarship will be shared by 5 recipients. Apply in writing to CAAWS at 1600 James Naismith Drive, Gloucester, ON K1B 5N4, fax (613) 748-5775 or email caaws@caaws.ca.
Promotiom Plus Leadership Award Recipients
The Promotion Plus Leadership Award recipients were announced at a reception at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver on Thursday, March 11th in celebration of International Women's Day.
The evening was a great success with over 80 people attending the event which featured Sandy Friedman as keynote speaker on "Growing Up Female and Strong"; the Hon. Sue Hammell, Minister of Women's Equality; the awards presentation; a community trade show; and a silent auction; which raised over $3000 to help support Promotion Plus programs and services. Partial proceeds from the evening were also contributed to the Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund.
The Promotion Plus Leadership Awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and groups in B.C. who have challenged the traditional limits attributed to girls and women in physical activity and sport and in so doing have encouraged them to participate more fully as participants, competitors, and leaders. Following are the 1999 recipients of the Promotion Plus Leadership Awards.
Individual: Cheryl Thomas
Cheryl Thomas is Chair of Program Development on the Board of the Aboriginal Sport/Rec. Association, Chair of the Aboriginal Sport Centre, a Vancouver Island regional representative, a member of the mission staff for Aboriginal Team BC, and a community youth and cultural worker who assists in developing more programs for girls and women in the Sport/Rec. Association as well as being a positive role model for other girls and women.
"Young Woman" Recipient Jasmine Dowker
Jasmine Dowker is a 3-time national wrestling champion, who tirelessly coaches other young women and also manages her senior high school wrestling team. Jasmine is instrumental to the team's survival by seeking out facilities and coaches; is able to maintain a high academic standard; and has single handedly raised funds for her national competitions.
"On the Move": Sara Deteves
Sara is a student at Houston Secondary and has promoted athletics for girls in various sports by organizing, promoting, and running intramural programs for girls and successfully encouraging many girls to sign up for non-traditional sports such as floor hockey.
Team/Program: The Merritt Secondary School Physical Education Department
The Physical Education Department of Merritt Secondary decided four years ago to separate the junior PE classes to promote more activity among the female students and have had dramatic results with increased participation and energy levels. They have provided opportunities for girls to learn new skills in non-traditional sports and have reached out to a diverse group of girls who have not previously been active.
Organization: Osteofit Program at BC Women's Hospital
Osteofit is a unique community based exercise and educational program designed specifically for older women with osteoporosis. Osteofit addresses the missing link between the rehabilitation programs delivered by physiotherapists and the seniors exercise programs that already exist in the community. Twenty-four programs are currently running throughout the province, and 36 are planned by the end of the year.
Provincial Sport Organization: BC Women and Karate
BC Women & Karate has emerged as a voice that has raised the profile of women within karate by both promoting their achievements, ensuring that opportunities exist for female participation and recognition, and encouraging women of all ages to participate at all levels
Media: The North Shore News, Sports Editor, Andrew McCredie
The North Shore News features the accomplishments of high school sports in a weekly feature called "Athletes of the Week", which highlights a female and male athlete every week. By highlighting successes of girls in school sports, the community is able to see the value of sport to both girls and boys and these athletes serve as role models for other young women. These features are equitable in terms of coverage, photos and description, and truly portray young women in a positive and inspiring way.
Congratulations to all of our Leadership Award recipients!
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Bobbie, a tireless advocate for girls and women in physical activity and sport. The fund provides financial support to projects that are dedicated to advancing gender equity in physical activity and sport and the community betterment resulting from female involvement.
The 1999 recipient of the Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund is Sydney Millar. Sydney is a Master's Candidate at the University of British Columbia working with Dr. Wendy Frisby, a former Promotion Plus Board member, and will be studying the experiences of girls within inclusive physical education environments. This research will assist teachers and recreation professionals to learn from the successes and failures of such programs and to identify directions for further change to increase the opportunities for girls and women in sport and physical activity.
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund is a registered charitable foundation. All donations can be made out to the Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund and sent to Promotion Plus at #305 - 1367 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 4A9.
Applications are currently being accepted for
a national Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund Award. Please contact Promotion Plus
for more details.
Promotion Plus believes each individual and group nominated for a Leadership Award is worthy of recognition for increasing opportunities for girls and women in physical activity and sport. Congratulations to all of our nominees!
Individual
Rachel Corkum
Tracy Preston
Cindy Crapper
Cheryl Thomas
Susan Heffernan
Misty Thomas
Allison McNeill
Lois Wood
Young Woman
Davon Callander
Kyra Iannone
Sara Deteves
Amber Magee
Jasmine Dowker
Amy Stewart
Laura Hardy
Team/Program
Hatzic Secondary Dancers
Merritt Secondary School Physical Education Department
SFU Cross-Country / Track Team
Organization
BC Women & Karate
Osteofit Program at BC Women's Hospital
Phoenix Gymnastics Club
Vancouver Basketball Commission
Media
The North Shore News, Sports Editor: Andrew McCredie
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Bobbie, a tireless advocate for girls and women in physical activity and sport. The fund provides financial support to projects that are dedicated to advancing gender equity in physical activity and sport and the community betterment resulting from female involvement.
The 1999 recipient of the Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund is Sydney Millar. Sydney is a Master's Candidate at the University of British Columbia working with Dr. Wendy Frisby, a former Promotion Plus Board member, and will be studying the experiences of girls within inclusive physical education environments. This research will assist teachers and recreation professionals to learn from the successes and failures of such programs and to identify directions for further change to increase the opportunities for girls and women in sport and physical activity.
The Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund is a registered charitable foundation. All donations can be made out to the Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund and sent to Promotion Plus at #305 - 1367 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 4A9.
Applications are currently being accepted for
a national Bobbie Steen Legacy Fund Award. Please contact Promotion Plus
for more details.
Editor/Writer: Perveen Deol Administrative Coordinator
Editor in Chief: Tammy Lawrence Executive Director
Publisher: Promotion Plus
Please contact us with any questions, comments or for more information at:
#305 - 1367 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6H 4A9 Phone: ((604) 737-3075 toll free: 1-877-55-PROMO Fax: (604) 738-7175 email: promotion.plus@telus.net