First Safe Sport Research Symposium Lays the Foundations for the Future 

Montréal (Québec) – In 2021-2022, ten knowledge syntheses were funded through the Safe Sport Research Grant Program on ten themes identified by an expert working group. Following the completion of those knowledge syntheses, the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) held its first Safe Sport Research Symposium on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the University of Toronto. The event was another step in the right direction in promoting safe sport in Canada. In attendance were all recipients of the 2021-2022 grant, their collaborators, members of the SDRCC Research Working Group and Athlete Advisory Committee, as well as SDRCC staff and board members.

Bringing together a group of individuals with diverse expertise and background has proved to be a success, as rich discussions took place to inform the Abuse-Free Sport program and its current and future initiatives. “Maltreatment in sport is a complex issue that would greatly benefit from interdisciplinary approaches and solutions,” said Katie Misener, Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo. “It was encouraging to bring together perspectives from different research disciplines including clinical psychology, legal studies, medicine, sport management, indigenous studies, athlete welfare, communication, and child and sport psychology.” Through these knowledge syntheses and engaging discussions held during the symposium, researchers identified gaps in safe sport research and formulated recommendations that will inform future policies, practices and research. To view these recommendations and research priorities, please visit: https://abuse-free-sport.ca/symposium

A Call for Proposals for the next round of funding will be launched on November 1, 2022. Please visit the Abuse-Free Sport website for more information.

About Abuse-Free Sport
Abuse-Free Sport is an independent program that is part of a growing national movement to rid Canadian sport of all forms of harassment, discrimination and abuse. It aims to prevent maltreatment at all levels of sport across Canada through education, training and research. It is also responsible for addressing reported violations of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport at the national level.

About SDRCC
The SDRCC is a not-for-profit corporation created by federal legislation and funded by the Government of Canada. The mission of the SDRCC is to provide the sport community with a national alternative dispute resolution service and strengthen the culture of fairness in Canadian sport by resolving disputes quickly and efficiently and to provide expertise and assistance regarding alternative dispute resolution.

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For more information, please contact:

Marie-Claude Asselin 
Chief Executive Officer, SDRCC
Mobile: (514) 465-7339
mcasselin @ crdsc-sdrcc.ca