Issue #8, Fall 2016



Alberta Sport E-News

Message from the Chair

August and September always seems to fly by, and is it just me, or does fall seems like it getting shorter every year?  Without a doubt, fall can be a busy and hectic time for many Alberta families and sport organizations.

At Alberta Sport Connection we are looking forward with much anticipation to continuing our work with our many partners as we look ahead to the change of seasons, the coming year and the many great sport events and activities that will be happening in Alberta.   

Thank you to all of our sport partners, sponsors, organizers, volunteers, participants and officials in Alberta, and throughout Canada, for everything you do to promote and enhance sport development and the quality of life in our communities.

Happy Halloween!

John Short

Alberta honours its 2016 Olympic & Paralympic Athletes
       Minister Ricardo Miranda & Alistair McQueen                        Federal Minister Carla Qualtrough & Erica Wiebe
     Chad Jassman, Mike Sametz, Stefan Daniel                                 ASC Chair John Short & Allison Beveridge
Alistair McQueen, Jennifer Brown & MLA Deborah Drever

2016 Celebration of Sport Luncheon in Calgary 

On Thursday, October 13, Sport Calgary hosted the 2016 Celebration of Sport Luncheon and along with the Government of Alberta, Alberta Sport Connection and the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, the Alberta athletes, coaches and mission staff who represented Canada in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games were honoured in a special celebration.  

The event was emceed by former Olympic Gold Medal speed skating champion, Catriona Le May Doan and attended by Lieutenant Governor, Lois Mitchell, Federal Minister of Sport and Persons with Disability, Carla Qualtrough, Ricardo Miranda, Minister of Culture and Tourism and Naheed Nenshi, Mayor Calgary, all of whom congratulated our Alberta athletes on their achievements at the Games and thanked them for representing Canada and Alberta.

The Luncheon also featured a panel discussion on Sport with Scott Russell, CBC; Carla Qualtrough, Federal Minister of Sport and Persons with Disability; Jim Peplinski, Former Calgary Flame; and Ian Allison, Marketing Director, Spruce Meadows. 

Alberta is home to, and trains, some of the best athletes in Canada. ASC is proud to have them represent us on the world stage and to support them through our sport system. Through Podium Alberta, ASC provided more than $850,000 to support more than 200 Alberta-based athletes pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition while fulfilling their educational goals.  For more information please see:  Podium Alberta.  

International Sport Exchange, Gangwon Korea (2014)


International Sport Exchange coming to Alberta

Cross Country Skiing - November 2016

November 20 - 29, 2016, Alberta Sport Connection (ASC) will be welcoming another delegation of 10 athletes and five leaders as part of an International Cross Country Ski Exchange with Gangwon Korea. The athletes will train in various locations throughout the province and compete in the Alberta Cup in Canmore on November 26-27, 2016.
 
Alberta Sport Connection is dedicated to the development of sport, inspiring participation and building partnerships. We are pleased to be a part of this unique initiative that helps us to share our customs, culture, and love of sport, while strengthening our relationship with our sister province of Gangwon Korea. A special thank you to Cross Country Alberta and everyone involved for helping to make this sport exchange possible. 

Join us for the 2017 Alberta Sport Leadership Conference

April 27-29, Banff Centre

Alberta Sport Connection is very pleased to once again host the Alberta Sport Leadership Conference. The Conference is a training and development opportunity for the provincial sport sector aligning with the outcomes of the Alberta Sport Plan. The theme of our 2017 Conference is "Celebrating Sport in Alberta". The Conference program will focus on the key characteristics of sport including: quality coaching, technically sound sport, organizational excellence, safety and ethics, and inclusive and accessible for under-represented populations. Join us to hear exciting speakers and the chance to network with other professionals working in sport.  

Prior to the Conference, a number of full-day workshops focusing on coaching and long-term athlete development will be offered. The Conference sessions begin the evening of Thursday April 27 and continue till Saturday April 29. The Leadership Conference will feature key note speakers, plenary sessions, panel presentations and workshops. The Alberta Sport Recognition Awards Banquet will take place on Friday, April 28.  

Our website will be continually updated with additional Conference details as they become available. Registration for the Conference will open in January. Please see: 2017 Alberta Sport Leadership Conference 

Upcoming Alberta Events

Upcoming Alberta Games

  • 2018 Alberta Winter Games, February 16-19, 2018 - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
  • 2018 Alberta Summer Games, July 19-22, 2018 - Grande Prairie

Upcoming Inter-Provincial/Territorial Games

  • 2017 Canada Summer Games, July 28- August 13, 2017 - Winnipeg, MN
  • 2018 Arctic Winter Games, March 17-24, 2018 - South Slave (Fort Smith & Hay River), NWT
  • 2019 Canada Winter Games, February 15 - March 3, 2019 - Red Deer, AB
  • 2019 Western Canada Summer Games, Dates TBD - Swift Current, SK
Did you know that in 2014, Sport GDP in Alberta was $750 million and involved more than 11,000 jobs? See "Stats Canada" for more. 

Did you know that more than 91% of Albertans believe sport contributes to quality of life?

See 2016 Survey of Albertans (Page 46) 

          Opening Song at 2016, AFL celebration                                   Recognition and appreciation of AFL Elders

Alberta's Future Leaders (AFL)

Celebrating Indigenous youth 

Alberta Sport Connection partners with First Nations and Metis communities throughout the province, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Alberta Indigenous Relations and other government departments, the RCMP and corporate sponsors to provide Indigenous youth, ages 9 - 25 with new experiences, positive role models and opportunities to build confidence, overcome barriers and realize potential through sport, recreation, arts and cultural experiences.

The AFL program runs each year from May through August. A wrap-up celebration of Indigenous youth was held on August 22, 2016.    

For more information on this year's activities and program information please visit: Alberta's Future Leaders Program

ASC would like to acknowledge the commitment and support of our corporate sponsors and partners: ATCO; Canadian Tire Jumpstart; Wingate by Wyndham; PNK Transportation; and the Red Cross, for helping to make the 2016 Alberta's Future Leader's Program a success. 


Copyright © 2016 Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation, All rights reserved.