Nouvelles nominations au RSEQ au secteur scolaire et collégial
Le RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) est fier d’annoncer la nomination de Marie-Claude Lamontagne au poste de responsable du secteur scolaire.
Durant ses trois années comme responsable des sports dans des cégeps et son rôle de coordonnatrice au RSEQ provincial collégial depuis 2017, Marie-Claude a su allier passion et professionnalisme. Depuis 2014, elle est également formatrice pour Égale Action, où elle a activement contribué à la promotion de l’égalité et de l’inclusion dans le sport.Dans son nouveau rôle au secteur scolaire, Marie-Claude continuera à développer et améliorer l’offre sportive pour les élèves, en s’appuyant sur son riche parcours et sa vision stratégique.
Le RSEQ est convaincu que son leadership et son dévouement feront progresser le secteur scolaire vers de nouveaux sommets.
Le RSEQ est heureux d’annoncer également la nomination d’Alexandre Lizotte au poste de coordonnateur au secteur collégial (Sud-Ouest).
Depuis son arrivée au RSEQ en 2023 en tant que coordonnateur au secteur collégial et universitaire, Alexandre a fait preuve d’une remarquable expertise en administration sportive et d’une profonde compréhension des besoins des athlètes et des institutions. Sa vaste expérience sur les terrains sportifs et son engagement passionné pour le développement des sports font d’Alexandre un atout précieux pour le réseau.
Le RSEQ est confiant qu’Alexandre amènera une dynamique intéressante à la conférence Sud-Ouest. Son dévouement et son expertise favoriseront la poursuite des objectifs ambitieux du RSEQ en matière d’organisation, de promotion et de rayonnement des sports.
New appointments to the RSEQ in the school and college sector
The RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) is proud to announce the appointment of Marie-Claude Lamontagne to the position of head of the school sector.
During her three years as head of sports in CEGEPs and her role as coordinator at the provincial college RSEQ since 2017, Marie-Claude has combined passion and professionalism. Since 2014, she has also been a trainer for Égale Action, where she has actively contributed to the promotion of equality and inclusion in sport. In her new role in the school sector, Marie-Claude will continue to develop and improve the sports offering for students, drawing on her rich background and strategic vision.
The RSEQ is convinced that her leadership and dedication will advance the school sector to new heights.
The RSEQ is also pleased to announce the appointment of Alexandre Lizotte as College Sector Coordinator (Southwest).
Since joining the RSEQ in 2023 as College and University Sector Coordinator, Alexandre has demonstrated remarkable expertise in sports administration and a deep understanding of the needs of athletes and institutions. His extensive experience on the sports field and his passionate commitment to sports development make Alexandre a valuable asset to the network.
The RSEQ is confident that Alexandre will bring an interesting dynamic to the Southwest conference. His dedication and expertise will help the RSEQ pursue its ambitious goals in terms of organizing, promoting and expanding sports.
BC School Sports Celebrates Record High Participation in School Sports Burnaby, BC – BC School Sports (BCSS) is thrilled to announce that the 2023-2024 academic year has marked another milestone in school sports participation, with student-athlete registrations reaching an all-time high. Our member schools have wholeheartedly embraced the value of quality athletic programs, witnessing firsthand the positive impact on their communities and students. This year, BCSS member schools have proudly fielded an impressive 7,742 teams across the 18 sports we offer, showcasing the vibrant and growing spirit of school-based athletics.
The 2023-2024 academic year witnessed a remarkable 123,313 student-athlete registrations, marking an 8.2% increase from last year’s record-breaking numbers. This impressive growth represents a 19% rise in participation over the past decade and a 12% surge since the COVID-19 pandemic. In tangible terms, this means 23,819 more students are participating in school based athletics compared to ten years ago, with an additional 14,700 athletes joining since schools returned to normal operations post-pandemic.
Sport-Specific Growth:
Cross Country: This sport continued its impressive multiyear trend of strong growth, with participation rising from 4,783 participants last year to 5,412 this year, marking a significant 13.2% increase. This sustained growth underscores the enduring popularity and accessibility of cross country among students.
Winter Sports: These sports experienced the most substantial overall growth, with Ski/Snowboard participation surging by 15% and 21%, respectively. Wrestling saw an extraordinary growth in participation, including a 19.8% rise among female wrestlers and a remarkable 50% increase among the number of male wrestlers.
Girls’ Sports: Acutely aware of the high dropout rate from sports by girls during high school years, BCSS has focused on retaining female athletes. In 2023-2024, 46% of total registrations came from girls, a strong indicator that the inclusive and welcoming environments is encouraging girls to get involved and stay involved throughout high school.
Multiple Sport Participation and Coaching:
A total of 27,835 (4.9% increase) student-athletes participated in more than one school sport in 23-24, with 15,071 male and 12,764 female athletes showcasing their versatility and commitment.
The dedication of coaches remains vital to the success of school sports, with 14,827 coaches supporting students throughout the 2023-2024 school season. This includes 9,619 male and 5,208 female coaches.
BCSS Executive Director, Jordan Abney, expressed his enthusiastic praise for schools and coaches, stating, “Our 460+ member schools are doing an outstanding job of offering diverse and inclusive opportunities for youth to experience the transformative power of school-based athletics. This is especially commendable given the limited resources available within the system. It is crucial that we continue to elevate the status of school sports within our communities and ensure that the necessary support is provided to sustain these invaluable experiences for generations to come.”
As BCSS gears up for the new school year, the organization is dedicated to expanding opportunities for students to participate in school sports, highlighting the crucial role these activities play in fostering mental and physical well-being. The positive impact of school sports on young lives is undeniable. BC School Sports invites everyone to rally behind their local school teams and join this inspiring journey of athletic growth and excellence. Your support can make a lasting difference in the lives of student-athletes and the broader community.
About BC School Sports: BC School Sports is a voluntary organization of over 460 public and independent schools in British Columbia. It is the governing body for school sport and coordinates and delivers opportunities with our member schools for interschool competitions in over 18 activities to over 123,000 student-athletes each year. BCSS delivers 61 provincial championships annually, with thousands of student-athletes competing at the highest levels of interscholastic competition.
Have you been asked to coach a sport that you don’t know much about? Maybe you are hesitant to get involved because you aren’t an expert in the sport you are being asked to coach. If the main goal as athletic educators is to increase participation and get more students involved in sports, we need to be able to offer a variety of individual and team experiences – but in order to do this, we may need to step out of our comfort zones and take a risk. Read on for some tips on how to create a positive learning experience for your athletes as well as yourself as you coach a sport you’ve never played.
Be confident
Open and honest communication with your team is important. You should be upfront with your players. Tell them that you are new to the sport and you are excited to take on a challenge. Does the team need to know you’ve never done a particular drill, or you don’t know the best strategy to use in every situation? Absolutely not. Do your research and then have confidence in your decisions. You will earn more respect from your athletes if you are purposeful and confident in your actions than if you constantly second-guess yourself. For example, let’s say you want to work on blocking in volleyball. If you ask experienced volleyball coaches what the best drill is for learning blocking technique, they will all give you slightly different tips and ideas. There is no one right way. Have confidence in picking the drill you think will work best and present it to your team.
Get online
You can find warm-ups, skill breakdowns, drills, strategies and more online. There is almost too much information – it can be overwhelming. Guidebooks can be helpful but looking at x’s and o’s on a page can be confusing. So, what’s the best approach? You can try watching YouTube videos. Watching athletes move across the playing area while listening to the coach’s directions will show you exactly how to implement the drill. Listening to the videos introduces you to the sport-specific lingo that goes with the sport. You’ll be able to tell your team to “shag” the volleyballs or complete a “fartlek” run. Slowly, as you watch the videos and plan your practices over the season, you will begin using this language without even thinking about it.
Browse the internet for practice schedules posted by other schools. It may not be exactly what you want to use but it will give you an idea of how to plan your season. When I first took on the cross-country team, I didn’t realize there were so many ways to practice running. After researching workouts online, I gained a better understanding of how to build a runner up using a variety of runs including hill repeats, tempos, long slow, interval, and race pace runs.
Find a mentor
Although you can find everything you need online, it can help to have an expert on hand to learn common training routines. This can be a retired teacher, graduated student, parent volunteer or a teacher from another school.
I was lucky enough to work with a retired teacher who came back to volunteer with the teams she used to coach. At the beginning of the season, she came to every practice and I observed and assisted. After practice, I recorded everything we did. The handover of the team was a smooth transition where I gradually took on more of a role until, I learned the routine. Once she felt I had a grasp of the training program, she came to practice only a few times a week. At first, the team members would always ask if the other coach was coming. It took some time for them to gain confidence in me. I had to prove to the team that I had the ability to lead them to success. Finding a mentor that can come to a practice here and there can be valuable to your development.
Keep in mind that it is important to find a mentor whose goal is to develop you as a coach. All too often, an expert coach will come in and take over the team. This will reduce the authority of the true coach. Choose your mentor carefully and make sure to communicate what you hope to accomplish together.
Rely on your leaders
Identity the players on your team that have participated in the sport before and have a good rapport with the team. Pump up your potential leaders and reward them with praise for leading the group through simple tasks such as warm-ups or tracking jersey numbers.
There are several benefits to encouraging leadership on your team: They will have your back in tense situations. They may say, “I think we’re out of rotation, maybe you should call a time out?” or “Jacob’s getting frustrated – he’s going to foul out soon!” Your leaders will also help take the load off you and allow you to concentrate on fewer tasks. Having a group of students set up the flags for the championship soccer game will give you the time to greet the opposing team and double check your line up.
Developing student leaders will help you raise team players that aren’t dependent on the coach. Your players will be able to think for themselves and use each other to problem solve. If a player is constantly looking to the coach for direction, they are not using critical thinking or teamwork skills to get through a situation. In this case, having a coach that doesn’t know everything about the game will make for stronger, more independent, confident players.
You’re the coaching pro
As teachers, we have all received years of formal education focusing on how to effectively manage children. You may feel intimidated taking on a team with experienced athletes but the chances are, the athletes don’t know as much as you think they do.
I was nervous about coming up with some effective basketball plays when I took on the senior boys’ basketball team. I thought the team would have a bunch of complicated plays they already used in previous years and they wouldn’t think mine were good. It turned out that they didn’t know a single play and were eager to learn. They completely soaked up everything I had to say. Students can tell when you are working hard and putting effort into the team and they respect you for that. You might not be able to do the skills you are having your athletes perform but you are the pro at teaching, encouraging, managing, organizing; you are a pro at coaching!
The next time you are offered the chance to coach a sport you’ve never played, consider taking on the role. Have trust in your ability to lead. Learn as you go. Not only will you gain confidence through tackling a new challenge, you will have given a group of young people an unforgettable experience.
Standing – Left to right: Nolan Kuhlberg, Iain Thomson, Ian McAllister
Seated – Left to right: Poppy Thomson, Chantal Abbott
(Not In Attendance – Lauren Alexander)
OFSAA and members of the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship Fund were on hand for a special awards reception on Friday. Five of the six honourees and their families were on hand at the Emerald Hills Golf Club in Stouffville, Ontario.
These student-athletes, with a track and field or cross country pedigree in high school, will continue their post-secondary education at a Canadian college or university. The scholar-athletes display qualities of honesty, integrity, compassion and an unwavering quest to accomplish the best academically and athletically while supporting fellow team members. These were all qualities of Brian Maxwell. Each recipient will receive $5,000.
The scholarship fund is in memory of Brian Maxwell, a successful distance runner. Brian competed in track and field and cross country and achieved success as an OFSAA champion, and a Canadian junior, juvenile and senior champion. In 1980, he was selected to the Canadian Olympic team and later became a successful entrepreneur who, with his wife, Jennifer, co-founded the nutritional supplement PowerBar.
Brian was born with a defective heart valve and in 2004, at only 51 years of age, died of a heart attack.
OFSAA is proud to offer the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship each year to support students continuing their education in Canada.
Congratulations and best of luck!
Meet our exceptional 2024 recipients:
Chantal Abbott
Chantal is heading to the University of Victoria to study Kinesiology and compete for the Vikings in cross country and track & field. She has an impressive athletic background, having competed in seven OFSAA championships in high school, with highlights including a fifth-place finish in the 3000m and an eighth place finish in the same event in Grade 10.
Chantal is an Ontario Scholar and received an entrance scholarship at UVic for her academic achievements.
In addition to her track and field and cross-country accomplishments, she was a member of her school’s Nordic ski team, where she won two OFSAA gold medals. She was also involved in her school’s soccer team and environmental club. Beyond school, Chantal has volunteered as a coach with the Collingwood Clippers Swim Club, where she also served as a swim instructor and head lifeguard. She is a competitive swimmer who enjoys hiking, camping, and cooking. Her coaches admire her discipline, perseverance, and leadership, noting how she inspires those around her with her passion for sports.
Lauren Alexander
Lauren Alexander is a remarkable student-athlete from Glebe Collegiate Institute in Ottawa. She has qualified for OFSAA track and field and cross-country events eight times, with notable achievements such as a 7th and 14th place finish individually and a silver and 6th place in cross-country over the past two years. In track, she placed 5th in the 800m and 7th in the 1500m as a Grade 10 student. Recently, she finished 16th in the U20 3000m at the Athletics Canada Championships in Montreal.
In addition to her track and field accomplishments, Lauren is a well-rounded athlete who has represented her school in hockey, touch football, and nordic skiing. Academically, she is an Ontario Scholar and will be attending Western University, where she plans to study Engineering and Medical Sciences.
Lauren’s contributions extend beyond athletics and academics. She has served as Co-President of the Glebe Student Council and has been involved in a program that integrates students with developmental delays into sports. Her community involvement includes volunteering at the Caldwell Family Centre, helping with the “Out of the Cold Supper” group, working at summer camps for the Royal City Soccer Club, and assisting with a group that sponsored a refugee family from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In her spare time, she enjoys baking and outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and biking.
Nolan Kuhlberg
A dedicated athlete, he’s a seven-time qualifier for OFSAA in cross country and track & field. His standout moment in cross country was helping his junior team win OFSAA gold in 2021, where he placed 28th individually. In Grades 11 and 12, his school team placed fourth each year, with Nolan finishing 56th and 83rd. On the track, he achieved 17th in the 1500m and 14th in the 800m this past June in London and also qualified for the 1500m in Grades 10 and 11.
Nolan’s leadership qualities are well-recognized, with his high school coach describing him as the undisputed leader of the cross-country team, not just through his performances but through his unwavering support for his teammates. He was also named MVP of his school’s hockey and badminton teams and earned both the LEP Male Athlete of the Year and the Colin Hood OFSAA School Sport Award. He’s known as a natural leader—honest, kind, and driven.
Beyond his school achievements, Nolan’s compassion shines in his community work, including assisting a neighbor through a challenging health situation. He’s an avid alpine skier who coaches U-8 and developmental programs at his local club, as well as coaching with his local track and field club, all while managing the demands of school and sports.
Nolan is set to attend Wilfrid Laurier University this fall, where he’ll be enrolled in the Biochemistry and Biotechnology program.
Ian McAllister
Ian McAllister is heading to the University of Victoria this fall to study Kinesiology. He has an exceptional background in cross country and track & field, having won the OFSAA Cross Country Championship twice in a row (2022 and 2023). His team also achieved significant success, winning the OFSAA Senior Boys’ title in 2022 and earning a silver medal in 2023. On the track, Ian placed third in the 1500m in London and third in the 3000m and 11th in the 1500m in 2023. He was also selected to represent Canada at the World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championship in Serbia this past spring, where he finished as Canada’s top finisher by placing 46th in the world.
In addition to his athletic achievements, Ian has been active in school, participating in wrestling, playing in the strings orchestra, and joining various clubs, including house league sports as well as skiing, and fishing.
He volunteers as a developmental coach at the London Ski Club and with the London-Western Track and Field Club. Ian’s hobbies include skiing, biking, golfing, cooking, hiking, fishing, and beekeeping, where he produces honey production for gifts and sales. His coaches admire his ability, coachability, and dedication to his team.
Iain Thomson
With an impressive track record in cross country and track & field, Iain Thomson has qualified for OFSAA eight times. In cross country, Iain placed 11th, 26th, and 12th individually over the past three years, leading his school to 11th, 5th, and bronze medal finishes. On the track, he placed eighth in the 3000m and 11th in the 1500m this past June. In Grade 11, he was 16th and 12th in the same events and finished 12th in the 3000m in Grade 10. Recently, he finished 6th in the 3000m at the U20 Athletics Canada Championships.
At school, Iain has been active as a Valley Advisor, mentoring younger students and contributing to school spirit. He also served on the DVSS Athletic Council and was a Global Connect Leader, a role that taught him valuable skills in responsibility, organization, and preparedness. He played school badminton, participated in many intramural sports, and was a captain for the cross country and track & field teams.
In his community, Iain volunteered at the Salvation Army and served as a race marshal through his club. He co-founded the Instagram account @runnercycle with a coach to give away lightly used running attire to those in need.
Looking forward, Iain is heading to McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business to study Commerce. He is interested in pursuing a career in business, particularly in the stock exchange, while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental preservation.
Poppy Thomson
Poppy Thomson is a standout student-athlete from Adam Scott Collegiate in Peterborough and a seven-time qualifier for OFSAA track & field and cross country. Her achievements include a sixth-place finish in the 2000m steeplechase this past June, and in Grade 10, she placed fifth in cross country and 10th in both the 1500m and 3000m. An Ontario Scholar, Poppy is heading to St. Francis Xavier University this fall to study Human Kinetics and compete for the Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field teams.
Poppy’s athletic involvement extends beyond track and cross-country, having participated in volleyball, badminton, lacrosse, nordic skiing, and hockey teams at her school. She has also been part of the LEAD Sports SHSM program, which focuses on leadership opportunities.
In her community, Poppy has contributed by assisting with the Peterborough Pride Parade, working with the Pathway Project (an environmental program for children), and volunteering with the Peterborough Relay for Life organization. Outside of school, she enjoys canoeing, camping, biking, swimming, skating, skiing, and crafts. Her coaches commend her gritty resolve and skill, earning her Athlete of the Year and MVP honors at her school.
Poppy is especially proud of her work with the Kate Lynch Scholarship Fund, where she helps raise money to provide educational opportunities for Tanzanian girls. She also volunteers at the New Canadian Centre in Peterborough, supporting refugees as they transition to life in Canada.
Northwest Designs Announced as the Official Merchandise Provider of the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association
The Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association is the governing body that oversees amateur athletics in high schools for the province of Alberta. It is a voluntary, non profit organization that has 400 member high schools. Today it announced that it has signed a multi-year Partnership with Northwest Designs as the Official Merchandise Provider of ASAA Championships.
Northwest Designs will be on site at every tournament —providing a wide selection of apparel offerings and giving each athlete, parent and fan the opportunity to customize their garments on demand. In addition, all Championship Gear will be available for purchase online before and after the tournament. Their ability to print all the products on demand means they will have sufficient inventory and make sure no one goes home without an item! They are also excited to unveil their Unique Dri-Fit “NWD” Product Line that will offer something new.
“We are thrilled to partner with Northwest Designs; their ability to be onsite at the championships changes the experience for our student-athletes” said John Paton, Executive Director for the ASAA. “The quality of their products, along with excellent customer service empowers us to not only provide our stakeholders with the products they need, but generates excitement at our events”.
“We are so excited to be able to provide the best merchandise experience to the student-athletes, Families, and Fans of Alberta. There is so much work that goes into making these Championships memorable and we want to be able to make sure the merchandise experience is top notch for Provincials. We have had many partnerships in Alberta in the past with a great response at our merch booth–we know partnering with the ASAA gives us the opportunity to extend our positive impact.” said Victor Sviridyuk, Director of Sales & Business Development for Northwest Designs.
ABOUT ASAA The ASAA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that was established in 1956 to coordinate a program of worthwhile athletic activities for the young people of Alberta in an educational setting. The ASAA now oversees the coordination of provincial championship events in 11 sports for Alberta’s high school student athletes. Involving over 55,000 student athletes and 10,000 volunteer coaches across 400 high schools, the ASAA believes in creating tomorrow’s leaders through high school athletics.
ABOUT NORTHWEST DESIGNS As the original on-site event apparel company since 1983, Northwest Designs specializes in on-site & online event specific apparel at the largest Provincial & National Championships in the country. Today we partner with 10+ National Governing Bodies, The Largest Girls Hockey Tournament in the world & we look forward to welcoming the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association to our growing list of successful long-term partnerships. more please check us out online at https://nwdinc.ca/
Five deserving student-athletes from Ontario High Schools have been awarded $550.00 scholarships by the OFSAA Alumni Association. Over 45 applications were received from the following eligible associations: COSSA, TDCAA, GHAC, NCSSAA, CISAA & NWOSSAA. This year’s winners are Gabi Grof from I.E. Weldon (COSSA), Anderson Steiner from Nelson (GHAC), Michael Kung of ÉSC Pierre-Savard (NCSSAA), Kaden Busch from St. Patrick (NWOSSAA) and Aya Kinsey from Fr. John Redmond (TDCAA).
Gabi Grof is a grade 12 student who plans to study Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor in the fall. During her time at I.E. Weldon in Lindsay, Ontario, Gabi took part in the following sports: cross country, golf, rugby, hockey, soccer, badminton, and track & field while maintaining a 95% average in her academic courses. She was also the Co-President of the school’s Athletic Union which was responsible for organizing numerous events for students and staff throughout the school year. Gabi was also heavily involved in community organizations including Care for the Elderly, Lindsay Lynx Girls Hockey Association and Fresh FueLL. In her personal statement, Gabi stated that “high school athletics have allowed me to experience a wider variety of sports at different levels of competition and have increased my social confidence significantly”. One of Gabi’s teacher-coaches said this about her importance to the athletic program at I.E. Weldon: “Gabi was considered one of the leaders on all of these teams, as she played a pivotal role for each and every team that she was a part of. Her positivity lifts the team when they need it and the coaches can always rely on her to get the momentum back on their side if need be.”
Michael Kung is a grade 12 student at ÉSC Pierre-Savard in Nepean, Ontario. Michael was involved in numerous sports at the school including volleyball, badminton, ultimate and volleyball while at the same time maintaining an average of over 90%. Michael was also a two-year member of the school’s student council and was President of the Sports Committee for the past two years. He has helped out in numerous school activities like the Relay for Life as the Marketing Director as well as being the photographer and editor of the school’s yearbook. His community outreach involvement is highlighted by his involvement as the volunteer coach in various club and elementary school volleyball programs in the Ottawa area. Michael believes that his involvement in school sport has allowed him “to become a student leader who has dedicated a lot of time into promoting physical health and encouraging people to try new things, in hopes that they will have a good time.” One of Michael’s teachers had this to say about him: “Michael’s leadership capabilities are evident in his current role as a coach for the grade 7 boys’ volleyball team, where he not only imparts his knowledge and expertise but also instills in his players the values of hard work, perseverance, and unity.” In the fall, Michael will be studying Commerce at the University of Ottawa.
Anderson Steiner is a grade 12 student at Nelson High School in Burlington, Ontario. Another outstanding student-athlete with an average of 90%, Anderson participated in six different sports during her high school career. Being involved in basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, soccer, ultimate and badminton clearly illustrate how organized and dedicated Anderson was towards both her studies and athletics. In addition, Anderson was the President of the SAA as well as a member of the school’s Student Council and was the lead organizer in the first ever Relay for Life at Nelson. Her community involvement was extensive and included volunteering in activities like Special Olympics, track and field, and club tennis events. In her letter to the committee, Anderson emphasized that being a part of sports teams has allowed her to “learn valuable lessons about the genuine meaning of being a leader.” In her letter of recommendation to the committee, one of Anderson’s teachers said this about her: “In the realm of athletics, Anderson is a true standout. She is a phenomenal athlete, demonstrating exceptional skill, discipline, knowledge and sportsmanship.” In the fall, Anderson will be studying Business at either Western or Queens.
Kaden Busch is a grade 12 student at St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay. During his time in high school, Kaden participated in golf, football, soccer and track and field. In addition, Kaden was involved in Student Council and Athletic Councils in leadership roles. His community involvement included volunteering as a minor baseball coach, assisting with drama and play productions and offering his services at local craft fairs. In his application, Kaden said this about the role of high school sports in his overall development: “Sports offer the ultimate opportunity to learn about yourself, to conquer your fears, to overcome every obstacle placed in front of you and grow as an individual and to challenge yourself not only physically but also socially, mentally and emotionally.” One of his teachers had this to say about Kaden: “Most importantly, he uses his abilities and personality to advocate for other students and teammates and focuses on making the school community an inclusive one through his kindness, positive attitude, and humility.” In September, Kaden is going to study Police Foundations at Confederation College.
Aya Kinsey is a grade 12 student at Fr. John Redmond CSS in Etobicoke, Ontario. In the fall, Aya is planning on attending Western University to study Economics. While at Redmond, Aya played soccer, softball, basketball, hockey, ultimate and was part of the track and field team. Aya is also an outstanding student, carrying an overall average of 97%. Aya was also extensively involved in community service in her local church and the City of Toronto sports camps as well as playing hockey on a boys’ team in the GTHL. In her personal essay, Aya reflected on her involvement in sport and how it helped to shape her as a person: “As a team player, I learned the importance of respect, dedication, and discipline as I balanced academics and extracurriculars. Through encouragement and challenges by coaches and teammates, I learned the importance of perseverance, as I navigated not only team adversities but personal ones.” One of her teacher-coaches had this to say about Aya and the impact that she has had at the school during her time there: “I have not seen many students her age excel as young leaders and driven people early in life, as a person, athlete and student. Aya has single-handedly transformed athletics at Redmond, where through the use of Instagram to create social media content, highlights and messages resulting she was able to significantly increase traffic in just a few months.”
OFSAA would like to congratulate Gabi, Michael, Anderson, Kaden and Aya and wishes them well in all of their future endeavours.
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is thrilled to introduce BodySense – a new e-learning course that was developed in collaboration with the National Eating Disorder Information Centre. In this interactive course, learners will explore self-reflection activities, tools, and resources to enhance their understanding of navigating body image, bringing balance to both physical and mental health, and working towards greater respect and compassion for the body within and outside of sport. For more information about the course, go to www.cces.ca/bodysense
The Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to six student-athletes who will be continuing their post-secondary education at a Canadian College or University. Three males and three females are awarded a scholarship of $5,000. Preference is given to a student whose character is reflective of qualities that Brian Maxwell demonstrated in his life: honesty, integrity, compassion and an unwavering quest to accomplish the best they can, academically and athletically, while supporting fellow team members.
An awards reception will be held August 16th in Stouffville for the six students, their families and select teacher-coaches from their respective schools.
Congratulations to the 2024 scholarship recipients:
