Ottawa, ON: On May 10, 2022 the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) launched Canada’s first ever Anti-racism in Coachin (AriC) e-learning module for sport coaches. The Black Canadian Coaches Association and the University of Toronto IDEAS Research Sport Lab, were named Content Lead partners for the project. Together the organizations sought to create a widely accessible tool for sport coaches of all levels across the country.
To ensure a diverse range of sport perspectives were part of the development process, a Task Force of sport participants served as an an Advisory Committee – representing current and former athletes, academics, sport coaches, administrators and more.
About the Module:
Coaches in Canada play an integral role in creating a fair and inclusive environment for their sport. While the impact of racism in sports and coaching can be far-reaching, so too can the effects of anti-racism coaching education.
The Anti-racism in Coaching module will help coaches and members of the sport community to:
- Build their knowledge of issues related to race and racism in Canada that affect coaching
- Expand their understanding of what it means to be an anti-racist coach, and
- Cultivate the skills needed to support racialized participants in sport.
This 60-minute module is now available in the Locker at a cost of $15. The fee will be used to sustain and update this module as new information and practices become available. It will also support the CAC’s grant program to increase opportunities for equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives in the sport community. Coaches who are maintaining their NCCP certified or trained status will earn 2 Professional Development (PD) points upon completion of the module.
“The BCCA is proud to have played a role in the production of this important resource to combat racism amongst Canadian sport leaders and participants. “Though this module is specified for “coaches” we should also acknowledge that the coaching profession in Canada is often one of many hats that sport members wear at the amateur and collegiate level. We’ve created this model in a way that makes it just as relatable to athletes, parents, spectators and sport administrators alike. Enroling and maintaining certification in the Anti-racism in Coaching course should be a mandatory onboarding and professional development process for all members of the Canadian sport community, including recreational, high performance, provincial and national programs and Canadian post-secondary athletic departments. “
– Lee Anna Osei, Founder The BCCA
“We needed this e-learning tool because the research on experiences of racism in sport in Canada clearly shows that racialized athletes and coaches experience overt and subtle abuse and regular exclusions from recruitment and hiring. Coaches at every level have an important role to play in protecting the well-being of racialized athletes and in educating themselves and all of the athletes they serve in anti-racist practices. I’m so excited the IDEAS Research Lab was involved in creating this e-module because having a shared anti-racism vocabulary and base knowledge about the different ways racism can be experienced by different groups, and about themes like colonialism, intersectionality, and active allyship will allow coaches who have contact with so many people year after year to influence a broader culture shift. Sport coaches will be at the forefront of enhancing equity in Canada.“
– Dr. Janelle Joseph, Founder & Director, Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity and Anti-racism in Sport (IDEAS) Research Lab
“This module is part of a collective effort to continue to raise the standards for sport in Canada. For coaches to be true leaders they must ensure that there is no place for racism in sport. By developing anti-racism policies and implementing equitable practices, we can all be a part of creating positive change at every level of sport.”
– Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO of the Coaching Association of Canada
Learn more by visiting the Anti-racism in Coaching webpage.
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