On December 9, toronto.com ran an opinion piece written by NC’s Associate Director of Athletics Michele O’Keefe.
In the piece, O’Keefe, who is the Chair of the Ontario Sport Network (OSN) Board of Directors, writes about the importance of sport and recreation for Ontarians of all ages, making special mention of how accessibility and inclusivity can help break down barriers in sport.
O’Keefe weaves in the story of Canadian Paralympic sprinter Marissa Papaconstantinou, references a survey conducted by OSN, which aimed to better understand the social and economic barriers around sport for children and adults, and notes that enrolment rates are down for sport and rec leagues across the province due to the closures and restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
O’Keefe’s message coincides with the launch of OSN’s new awareness campaign – “This is Your Sport” – and she concludes her piece with the following comment around the important work of the OSN: “The ultimate goal of OSN and its partners is to shift perceptions of accessibility and safety around sport, encourage all Ontarians to start thinking about ways to enroll in leagues/programs and raise awareness of the benefit of sport and recreation for every Ontarian, at any age, any level of ability, any time.”
