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ONPARA Athlete Ambassador Survey
Leave a CommentSeeking feedback from current and future ONPARA Athlete Ambassadors
As we return to in-person programs and activities, we are updating and revamping our Athlete Ambassador Program!
Whether you have been an ambassador in the past, are currently involved, or would like to be an athlete ambassador in the future, we ask that you please fill out the survey linked below so that we can update our database and get a better idea of how you would like to be involved!
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/1f4SjwqjRJfMAKDs8
Athlete Ambassadors play a key role in so many of our programs and events. We appreciate the time you take to give back to our community, and we couldn’t do it without you!
Katherine Hale
email: katherine@onpara.ca
phone:416-426-7131
Research Studies (Various) – Canadian Paralympic Committee
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The Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Canadian Disability Participation Project are seeking participants for a variety of research projects. Help make parasport better through research by filling out the following form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/9c217852444d4df3a404020677e9b070
Research Projects:
Please let us know which projects you are interested in supporting. The support we are seeking takes between 15 and 90 minutes. Some projects may have a small token of thanks such as a gift card
Women and Girls in Parasport
If you are a woman or girl over age 16 who identifies as being disabled/having a disability, we would like to interview you about your views on how women in sport are portrayed in the media.
Para Coaching
If you are a coach working in Para sport or a para athlete, we would like to interview you or invite you to a focus group to hear about your experiences.
Paralympian Search
If you are a Para athlete who has participated in a CPC Paralympian Search event sometime in the past five (5) years, we would like to ask you to complete a short survey about your experiences.
Transfer National and NextGen Athletes
If you are a current or retired Paralympic sport athlete who was carded at the National Team or Next Gen level, and are interested in sharing your views on transferring/transitioning between sport and/or being a dual-sport athlete, we’d like to hear from you to complete a short survey.
COVID-19 ‘Return to Sport’ Update – January 31
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CAUTIOUS AND GRADUAL EASE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES (January 31, 2022)
With key public health and health system indicators starting to show improvements, Ontario has released details of steps to cautiously and gradually ease public health measures, starting on January 31, 2022.
ONPARA has updated its ‘Return to Sport’ guidelines and Risk Mitigation documents in accordance with the Ontario Government’s newest ‘Returning to Our Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario’ measures. This information can be found on the COVID-19 Information and Resources page on our website.
It is important for us to continue being extra careful about COVID-19 protocols and guidelines at this time, even though we have been allowed to resume activities. The health and well-being of our members, including athletes, coaches, staff and volunteers, continues to be our number one priority.
Ontario will follow a cautious and phased approach to lifting public health measures, with 21 days between each step. The next updates are expected to come into effect on February 21, 2022.
Research Study: Motivations and barriers to playing parasports
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The Algonquin College Human-Centred Design Institute invites you to participate in a survey examining motivations and barriers to playing parasports. This study is being conducted on behalf of Wheelchair Basketball Canada. Findings will help inform the development of a recruitment strategy to attract prospective athletes.
Eligibility:
- must be 18 years of age or older
- must live in Canada
Expectations:
This study is in the form of a questionnaire and follow-up interview. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. During that time you will be asked to answer questions related to your experience playing parasports. At the end of the questionnaire you will be asked if you might be interested in participating in a follow-up interview. You are under no obligation to participate in the follow-up interview after completing the questionnaire.
Questionnaire Link:
Risk:
The risk of participating in this study is minimal. Only aggregate data will be analyzed, and any personal information or identifiers will be removed before analysis and dissemination.
The questionnaire will be conducted via Google Form. Data collected will be exported to a Google Sheet (spreadsheet) for analysis. The follow-up interview will be conducted over Zoom. A video recording will be transcribed to Google Docs (document) for analysis. All data will be password-protected in Google Drive on servers in the United States. As such, data collected is open to access by American regulatory bodies.
You are under no obligation to participate in this study and may withdraw without compromising your relationship with Algonquin College or Wheelchair Basketball Canada. You may withdraw from this study by emailing the Principal Investigator no later than Friday, March 4th. Should you withdraw from this study your data will be destroyed. By participating in this study you have not waived any rights to legal recourse in the event of research-related harm.
Compensation:
There is no financial compensation for participating in this study. At the end of the questionnaire you will be asked if you are interested in participating in a draw for one of ten $100 gift cards.
Contact:
Should you wish to discuss any ethical issues surrounding this project, please contact Jed Looker, Principal Investigator, at (613) 727-4723 x 6437 or lookerj@algonquincollege.com.
You may also contact the Algonquin College Research and Ethics Board at (613) 727-4723 x 5213 or REBAdmin@algonquincollege.com.
Casting Call: Families of All Abilities
Leave a CommentMilo Casting is seeking real diverse families for Canadian Tire photoshoot
Details:
- We are looking for REAL families of all sizes and makeups!
- From single parent or two parent families with one or more kids; grandparent(s) are welcome too!
- Same sex families, single parent families, and families of all abilities
- Seeking families of all ethnic/religious backgrounds with a need for the following, but not limited to: Muslim families, Jewish families, East Asian families, South Asian families, Indigenous families, Black families, etc.
- Previous on set experience is not necessary. Simply looking for REAL loving families that enjoy spending time together!
Compensation: Those chosen for this campaign will be paid $4,000-$6,000 per family (rates will vary depending on number of family members booked)
Availability:
You must be available for the key dates:
SHOOT: Sometime during the week of March 7th (TBC)
Details and Submission Information:
If interested, please email the following information to research@milocasting.com
- Name, age, ethnicity, location, and contact information of one parent.
- We are seeking Ontario based families able to travel to Toronto
- A couple photos of your family. Group shots are great as well as individual shots if you have them. Avoid hats and sunglasses. No more than 250KB per photo.
- Let us know what cultural/religious holidays you celebrate! (i.e. Eid, Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.)
- If you are represented by an agent, please state your agency.
- Please write “Project Canadian Tire Family” in the subject line followed by your family name (i.e. Project Canadian Tire Family – Jackson Family)
Please submit ASAP!
**If an agent represents you please allow them to submit you for this project
Contact
info@milocasting.com
416-546-6974
https://www.facebook.com/milocasting
Research Study: Examining Coach Education for Para sport: Suggestions
Leave a CommentThe Canadian Paralympic Committee and Coaching Association of Canada are seeking to understand the experiences of coaches and athletes in Para sport for an independent study.
Purpose of the Study:
The purpose of this study is to examine current and future delivery of coach education for parasport in Canada. For this study, we are recruiting, on a first come first served basis, coaches with or without a disability who work in Paralympic or Para sport setting (sometimes called disability sport, adaptive sport, etc.) as well as Para athletes interested in coaching to participate in focus groups and/or interviews. Broadly, we will be discussing coach developmental pathways and National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) education for Para sport.
As a participant, you will be asked to participate in one focus group or interview, over Zoom, for roughly 1-hour. If you are interested in participating in this important project that will help to inform the sector on how best to develop coaches for Para sport, please contact the researchers through Iman Hassan. She can be reached at ihass008@uottawa.ca
For more information, please review the research student recruitment letter for this project.
Researchers:
Diane M. Culver, PhD
Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Human Kinetics
University of Ottawa
dculver@uottawa.ca
(613) 562-5800 ext. 4283
Timothy Konoval, PhD
Faculty of Health Sciences and Allied Health
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Deakin University
t.konoval@deakin.edu.au
2022 Ontario Winter Games Postponed
Leave a CommentFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 2022 ONTARIO WINTER GAMES POSTPONED UNTIL 2023
The 2022 Ontario Winter Games to be hosted by the County of Renfrew has been postponed.
The announcement, by County Warden Debbie Robinson, was made amidst the growing concern of the impact the Omicron variant is having on the health and safety of Ontario residents.
All parties will be working together over the coming weeks to explore the possibility of hosting in 2023, and additional information will be shared when a decision has been reached.
“The County of Renfrew was prepared to host the 2022 Ontario Winter Games during a pandemic, but we could not do it while safeguarding the health of the athletes, their families, our volunteers or the community at large,” Warden Robinson stated. “The support from the Provincial Government, especially that of Minister MacLeod and her staff along with our MPP John Yakabuski was outstanding, but there is just too much risk involved to make the Games a reality in less than two months.”
“The safety of Ontario communities is of critical importance right now, so while I also regret the necessity of postponing the Games, I am pleased to continue working with organizers to host this event in Renfrew County when it is safe to do so,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “The Games are an important contributor to the economic and social well-being of the Renfrew County community, and as Ontario works to support the sport sector through the impacts of COVID-19, we will continue to support the Games to ensure their future success.”
Games Organizing Committee Chair, Reeve Peter Emon, has amassed a determined group of volunteers and sponsors who came forward early on to offer their support for the Games, touted as the best ever Ontario Winter Games. He is confident that a delay will not dampen their enthusiasm or commitment to the event.
“Our volunteers, sponsors and community partners all wanted our Games to highlight our community and to encourage athletes, officials and visiting parents to explore and enjoy the rich history and the many splendid settings here in the County,” offered Chair Emon. “The Omicron variant was not going to allow our community to safely shine for our guests and visitors in 2022.”
The decision to postpone the Games is also supported by MPP John Yakabuski. Having played a pivotal role in the County acquiring the Games for 2022, he was frequently updated on the work being done and the challenges the pandemic continued to place on the organizers.
“While disappointing to so many, this is the right decision at this time,” said MPP Yakabuski. “I want to thank the
Games Committee, all of the volunteers and the sponsors for all of the work they have done up to now in preparation for the Games. Their efforts will not be in vain as we are in a great position to host the games in the future. I also want to thank Minister MacLeod for her understanding and continued assurance of her support going forward.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
Paul Moreau, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk, County of Renfrew, 613-735-7288
Sierra Stinson, Media Relations/Grants Coordinator, County of Renfrew, 613-735-7288
COVID-19 ‘Return to Sport’ Update – Temporary Restrictions
Leave a CommentTEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS ON INDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATION (January 5, 2022)
In accordance with the provincial government’s most recent announcement on COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions for sports and recreational fitness activities, ONPARA has paused all in-person programming and events until at least January 27, 2022. We will reassess the status of our programs and upcoming events over the next few weeks as the situation progresses.
The safety and well-being of ONPARA members, volunteers, and staff remains our first priority. We have updated the COVID-19 Information and Resources page on our website and encourage all members to review the information and stay up to date.
Statement of Cancellation – Wheelchair Basketball Events
Leave a CommentSTATEMENT REGARDING WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL EVENTS (December 18-19, 2021)
With more information on the rapidly changing COVID-19 environment, the Ontario Para Network is following the advice of Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s medical staff to cancel the wheelchair basketball events scheduled for this weekend. This includes the Ontario/Québec Challenge Tournament from December 18-19 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Scarborough, as well as the Team Ontario Junior training camp on December 18 at the Abilities Centre in Whitby.
We want to thank Wheelchair Basketball Canada for their leadership and guidance in this matter, as well as all the athletes, parents/guardians, coaches, volunteers, officials, and staff for their continued patience and understanding during these uncertain times. We look forward to the opportunity for Ontario to host our friends from Québec in the future and seeing everyone on court again!
The safety and well-being of ONPARA members, volunteers, and staff remains our first priority. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will make any decisions on future programming and events in accordance with Public Health and government guidelines for the sport & recreation sector. We strive to communicate future updates in a timely manner as more information becomes available to us.
Sincerely,
Josée Matte
Manager, High Performance
ONPARA Launches 2021 GivingTuesday Campaign
Leave a CommentHelp make an impact in the lives of athletes with physical disabilities by supporting our ‘Bridging the Gap’ program this GivingTuesday
The giving season is upon us, and the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) will once again be participating in GivingTuesday – the world’s largest generosity movement, taking place each year after Black Friday.
ONPARA’s theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Making an Impact’ – highlighting the impact that participation in sport has made on our athletes, the impact that our ‘Bridging the Gap’ program makes on individuals and communities across Ontario, as well as the impact that support during GivingTuesday has on our organization.
For the third consecutive year, funds raised during GivingTuesday will benefit ‘Bridging the Gap’, our flagship awareness, outreach, and first-involvement program. This will enable us to continue introducing youth and adults with disabilities to adaptive sport opportunities while ensuring they have a positive first experience. Support will help us provide affordable equipment loans, host ‘Have-A-Go’ Days for new and developing athletes and their families, deliver in-person and virtual education sessions, facilitate peer mentorship, and maintain our inventory of specialized equipment for use within the community.
Created in 2012, GivingTuesday started out at a simple idea – a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, it has since grown into a global movement, uniting millions, and unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Canada, along with over 75 other countries, participate and rally around the unifying theme of ‘Together, we give, thank, stand, help, and heal’.
Sport has the power to make a tremendous impact in the lives of athletes, and we have the privilege of witnessing that impact first-hand. As the sport & recreation sector recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we look ahead to resuming in-person programs, events, and competitions, so that we can continue our valuable mission of growing awareness and opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. Join us in celebrating GivingTuesday this year by supporting and bringing awareness to our campaign. Help make your own impact in the lives of athletes with physical disabilities. Find out more by visiting https://givingtuesday.ca/partners/ontario-para-network
About GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is the world’s largest generosity movement, taking place each year after Black Friday. The “opening day of the giving season,” it’s a time when charities, businesses, and individuals come together to celebrate giving and participate in activities that support charities and non-profits; to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need. https://givingtuesday.ca/
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.