S4N is designed to build and enhance the capacity of Newcomer Service Organizations (NSOs) in Canada leading to increased sport frequency rates and retention of Newcomer Youth. The Initiative aims to build NSO organizational capacity through internship placements of SportWORKS Officers, who assist with the transfer of knowledge and capacity building at NSOs for staff and volunteers, by developing resources/materials, building partnerships with local sport organizations, seeking local program funding opportunities and by assisting with the accumulation of data for baseline results of pilot monitoring and evaluation for future programming and longitudinal indicators.
Making a Difference & Becoming Different
SportWORKS Home
Through the generous support of the Government of Canada and other donors, for 25 years Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) has integrated sport development and sport for development programming to promote individual and community social development, and build national sport system capacity, throughout the Commonwealth. Since that time CSC has led over 125 local sport projects that have impacted more than two million youth in over 30 nations and territories. These initiatives focus on: the empowerment of women and girls, the promotion of gender equity, youth leadership development, HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, and the building of sport capacity.
As described below, over the years CSC’s SportWORKS’ programming has been delivered through a variety of initiatives, including currently through the Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program. More information on CSC's international sport for development and development of sport projects, partners, and people can be found on the related pages accessed above.
SportWORKS Initiatives
Sport for Newcomers Initiative (S4N)
Queen Elizabeth Scholars Program
Since 2015, as SportWORKS Officers and Queen Elizabeth Scholars, elite sport management students from Brock University have partaken in rotating, four-month assignments, as part of multi-year sport for development and sport development projects in Africa and the Caribbean. The projects focus in various areas such as: the empowerment of women and girls, youth leadership development, community engagement, Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD), and multi-sport games planning and implementation. Read more about their experiences here.
Sport Leaders Abroad Program
From 2012-2014, the Sport Leaders Abroad Program (SLAP) leveraged the skills of established Canadian sport personnel to share best practices in a wide variety of areas, such as: coaching, officiating, athlete development, sport sciences, volunteer management, finance, and sport development, while also enhancing the Canadian sport system by providing international experiences to the expert participants.
CGA Capacity Support Program
The Capacity Support Program (CSP) was a joint initiative of Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC), the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), and Olympic Solidarity, designed to develop and strengthen the capacities of Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around the world. From 2009-2014, dedicated Canadian SportWORKS Officers helped further develop hosts’ organizational capacities in various areas of sport administration such as: marketing and communications, administration and governance, membership relations, sport development, and the team Games preparation.
Beyond the Podium
Through the Beyond the Podium program, from 2009-2014, CGC worked with local sport organizations in developing Commonwealth countries to use the transformative power of sport to enhance youths’ physical literacy, personal health and social skills. This included the creation and delivery of programs such as Bowling Out AIDS, a development through sport program whose goals are to improve the game of cricket, as well as improve cricket players’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours around HIV/AIDS.
Canadian Sport Leadership Corps
From 2001-2009, the Canadian Sport Leadership Corps (CSLC) focused on international programs that innovatively applied development through sport to address social issues in developing commonwealth nations spanning: basic education, nutrition and health, capacity building, child protection, and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Commonwealth Sport Development Program
As one of the world’s first international sport for development and sport development programs, the CSDP was a visionary initiative supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Sport Canada. It began in 1993 and continued until early 2000 as new programs were developed as the movement evolved. The CSDP enhanced the capacity of the sport systems in African, Asian, and Caribbean Commonwealth countries by assisting with strategic planning and the training of: coaches, referees, administrators, and athletes. The CSDP also helped regional governments strengthen school-based physical education, and introduced sport management courses in colleges and universities.
Commonwealth Youth Games Support 2023
Working closely with the Organizing Committee, Trinbago 2023, the local community, and Games volunteers, SportWORKS Officers are involved in all facets of the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the Commonwealth Youth Games held in Trinidad and Tobago.
Commonwealth Youth Games 2023
Working closely with the Organizing Committee, Trinbago 2023, the local community, and Games volunteers, SportWORKS Officers are involved in all facets of the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the Commonwealth Youth Games held in Trinidad and Tobago.
