On December 27, The St. Catharines Standard reported on the first Women’s Coach School at Niagara College, a two-day workshop attended by 28 women as young as 16, focused on increasing the number of women coaches at all levels of sport.

NC’s Michele O’Keefe, associate director, Athletics and Recreation, provides commentary on the initiative which is part of a larger women in sport strategy at Niagara College. With a partnership between NC’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport, the coach school is the first at NC tailored specifically to women.

O’Keefe cites the importance of female role models, and how representation of women in coaching is lacking world-wide. O’Keefe, former president and CEO of Canada Basketball, cites her own experience as one of the few women in sports administration.

“We wanted to create this space for young women. We want (them) to see what’s out there. What you could do if that’s what you choose to set your mind to…It’s important that it all becomes normal,” said O’Keefe.

See the full story at this link.