Halifax, NS: Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic (CSCA) has hired Andrew Paris as as its first Coaching Lead – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and Mentorship with a strategic mission to increase equity-deserving groups participating and coaching sport at the community level across Nova Scotia.
Andrew began coaching in 2006 at the Dartmouth Curling Club in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and immediately developed a passion for how to make Curling accessible to all, in particular youth. He took over running the junior program at the club in 2013 and within two years, grew the program from 30 kids to a high of 135 kids just two years later. His work earned him the Volunteer of the Year award from Nova Scotia Curling in 2016 and was named a finalist for the National Volunteer of the Year by Curling Canada.Andrew formerly served as the Technical Director for Nova Scotia Curling and a regional physical activity consultant for the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.
In 2020 Andrew founded Black Rock Initiative, a learn to curl program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) youth that connects curling clubs with the BIPOC community.
In this role I hope to provide BIPOC coaches with the supports and tools needed to be a successful coach but I also want to provide all coaches with the education and tools necessary to ensure their teams/programs are inclusive and accessible to everyone. It’s truly an honour to be the first person in this position. I get to take a leadership role in EDI in sport not only in Nova Scotia but across Canada. While it’s an honour, it’s something that I take very seriously and I look forward to the day when that little girl from Membertou has the exact same sport experience as everyone else.
On appointment as Coaching Lead by Canadian Sport Centre Atantic
To learn more about the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic, visit: https://cscatlantic.ca/
To learn more about Black Rock Initiative, visit: https://bricurling.ca/
Leadership Through Sport – We Are #StrongerTogether!