WINNERS

2012 Women in Sport Encouragement
(WISE) Fund Recipients

Claire Marentette - Saskatoon SK
Sport: Diving
Supported by: Diving Canada Plongeon

Claire has been involved in diving as an athlete, coach and official since 1994. Over the past 2 years, she has officiated and served as event referee for numerous regional, provincial and national competitions. She has completed her Level 1 and Level 2 Official exams, providing her with advanced knowledge of rules and regulations to officiate at local, regional and provincial level competitions. In June 2010, Claire had an opportunity to shadow judge at the Senior National/Commonwealth Games trials in Saskatoon SK, where she worked with a Canadian Senior Official to evaluate the dives and to discuss judgment and technique. This past September, Claire was accepted in the Diving Canada Plongeon’s Officials Development Program. The WISE Fund will be used to cover the cost of travel and accommodations to the 2012 Summer Senior National Championships and 2012 Olympic Trials in May. There she will work with many Senior National Officials and other Diving Canada Plongeon Committee members. This competition will provide an excellent learning and development opportunity for Claire.

Lisa Harlow - Saint John NB
Sport: Football
Supported by: Football Canada

Lisa Harlow has been playing women’s football for the past 6 years, earning a silver medal as a member of Canada’s Senior Women’s National team at the 2010 IFAF Women’s World Championship in Sweden. Lisa is currently coaching a junior girls (ages 14-17) tackle football team, and last year conducted player development camps for girls in the same age group. She has completed the NCCP Competition Stream – Introduction Context (Introduction to Competition), and will use the WISE Fund to further develop her coaching skills and knowledge of the game. Grant monies will be used to send Lisa to the 2012 Football Canada Coaches Association (FCCA) Convention in Burlington ON. She will be one of the few NCCP certified female football coaches attending this top level coaching development opportunity which features presentations from some of the premier minor, junior, Canadian and American university, as well as the Canadian Football League and National Football League coaches.

Nicole Ban - Edmonton AB
Sport: Volleyball
Supported by: Volleyball Canada

Nicole Ban is currently a volunteer assistant coach with the Grant MacEwan Women’s Volleyball team, where she played from 2005-2007. After playing with the Griffins for two years, Nicole moved from college to the university level where she played for Brandon University. Nicole always dreamt of playing professional volleyball and was able to fulfill that dream last year, playing in Norway on team Oslo Volley. Since then she has come to realize that while she loves playing the game, her true passion is to share her knowledge and experiences as a coach. The WISE Fund will further help Nicole develop her skills as a coach, enabling her to complete the NCCP training modules. Nicole will also use part of the funds to offset the cost of travelling to the various competition sites.

Club de biathlon Courcelette - Québec QC
Sport: Hockey
Supported by: Biathlon Canada

The Courcelette Biathlon Club was started 20 years ago. As is common in most sports, the female participation rate in biathlon is low and decreases gradually as the girls enter their teenage years and early twenties. The Courcelette Club is planning to set up a four-part program, in the summer of 2012, involving five or six girls, ages 12 to 20. The idea is to promote their self-esteem as athletes, get them interested in coaching their peers in their early teens, and create biathlon role models. At the beginning of the season, the girls will receive theory training and qualifying community sport coach training in biathlon. They will then be asked to promote the biathlon and act as assistant coaches in “biathlon initiation” for girls, age 8 to 14, in day camps throughout local municipalities. Finally, the assistant coaches will have an opportunity to spend time with high performance athletes by attending a summer training weekend with members of Team Québec and share in their passion. The WISE Fund will be used to offset a variety of costs such as promotional materials and apparel, equipment rental, and NCCP training and certification.

Girls Gone Gazelle - Darmouth NS
Sport: Running
Supported by: Athletics Canada

Girls Gone Gazelle is a not-for-profit running club that will provide ten girls an opportunity to participate in a non-competitive running group. The objective of this free girls-only running club is to foster an enjoyment of physical activity through a learn-to-run 5K program, while also building self-confidence and learning about healthy eating. Beginning in March, the girls will meet once a week and train together for the 2012 women’s only Sole Sisters 5k race in June. Nutritious snacks and drinks will be provided at the end of each session, when the girls will also hear from various guest speakers. The running club will provide a safe and respectful environment, ultimately helping the girls create memorable experiences, life-long friendships and foster a sense of belonging to a group of like-minded peers. The WISE Fund will be used to offset the costs of a team uniform consisting of a t-shirt and sweater, running shoes and apparel (as needed), and a website and marketing materials.

Pacers Speed Skating Club of Ottawa - Ottawa ON
Sport: Speed Skating
Supported by: Speed Skating Canada

The Pacers Speed Skating Club of Ottawa intends to offer a program to introduce girls and women to the sport of short-track speed skating. Targeting girls and women who may not be involved in the sport and/or those who may not know that speed skating is an accessible sport at the recreational level, the program’s objectives are: to provide an engaging and supportive learning environment, to demonstrate that speed skating is a welcoming and accessible sport for all ages, and to provide basic skills and confidence for participants to enter the club’s regular program or otherwise pursue the sport further. Upon completing six weeks of on-ice training with female instructors, participants will have an opportunity to attend two practices in the Pacers club program free of charge and later join the club for the remainder of the season. Skates and equipment will be provided to eliminate any barriers to entry. Through this new program, the Pacers hope to raise awareness of the sport and remove entry barriers such as inaccessibility, ultimately providing opportunities for more girls and women to have fun in a new sport. The WISE Fund monies will be used primarily for promotional materials and marketing, including print and radio advertising. Funds will also be used to offset rental costs of mandatory safety equipment as well as honorariums for volunteer instructors and helpers.

Paralympic Sports Association - Edmonton AB
Sport: Sledge Hockey
Supported by: Hockey Canada

The Paralympic Sports Association (PSA) is a local Edmonton non-profit organization that has been providing recreation and sport programs for individuals with disabilities for over 46 years. PSA provides a sporting and recreation environment to develop the physical skills of its members who have a disability through the media of wheelchair and adapted sports and recreation. The WISE Fund will be used to acquire two new sledges for the PSA Women’s Sledge Hockey program, ultimately minimizing the barriers that exist for individuals with a disability. The grant monies will also enable PSA to continue subsidizing programs and offering sledge hockey equipment at no charge to its players.

Rebelles Espoirs Hockey Féminin - Jonquière QC
Sport: Hockey
Supported by: Hockey Canada

Since 2005, Rebelles Espoirs has been dedicated to developing and growing women's hockey within the region of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean. The project submitted consists in providing young female players, ages 3 to 8, with an initiation program at the pre-novice and novice levels; a program that currently exists only for male minor hockey players in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. This female program would be offered twice-monthly in connection with women’s hockey, to promote the enjoyment of the game. Activities will include friendly games, girls-only mini-tournaments, skills workshops with high level players (i.e. Midget AA, post-secondary and provincial), and mini skating and shooting competitions. By providing a safe and welcoming environment, Rebelles Espoirs hopes to instill important values such as teamwork and a sense of belonging, while also enabling these young girls to play the sport of hockey and have fun. The WISE Fund will be used to offset various costs such as t-shirts, equipment (e.g. pucks, cones, etc.), medals and trophies, and promotional materials.

Regina Soccer Association - Regina SK
Sport: Soccer
Supported by: The Canadian Soccer Association

Better than Botox is a fun recreational soccer league aimed at encouraging women who are new to soccer and/or who haven’t played in years to participate in the game and grow women’s soccer in Regina SK. All women over 30 years of age (or even close to 30) are invited to go out weekly from October to March, and enjoy the exercise and social benefits of the sport. As part of the program, the league also offers two skills clinics taught by a certified coach as well as a rules clinic led by a senior official. The WISE Fund will be used to provide honorariums to the instructors, to purchase adequate equipment for participants (e.g. pinnies and soccer balls), and to subsidize the cost of childcare, making it more accessible for more women.

Rundle Mountain Cycling Club - Canmore AB
Sport: Cycling
Supported by: Canadian Cycling Association

The Rundle Mountain Cycling Club (RMCC) is a not-for-profit organization in Canmore AB with a mission to function as an organization through which people of all ages may pursue their passions for cycling in the many forms of the sport, including road riding, mountain biking, racing, training, skill development and social riding. In 2011, RMCC created a new program for riders (ages 13-16) who wanted to get into cross-country mountain bike racing but still have fun and learn. While the Rampage program was a huge success, RMCC recognized the need to split the program by gender. As such, RMCC will be offering the same program to young women aged 13-16 years in 2012. Beginning in mid-April, the program runs through to mid-July and will include an age-appropriate, individualized, monthly training program. Riders will have the opportunity to increase their understanding of their own body's potential and the training processes while preparing for 3-5 races. The WISE Fund will be used to help offset a variety of program expenses, including marketing, NCCP training and certification, and subsidies to reduce costs associated with program participation fees and jerseys.

Smithers Junior Softball Society - Smithers BC
Sport: Softball
Supported by: Softball Canada

Since 2006, the Smithers Junior Softball Society, together with their volunteers, has organized and delivered the amateur softball league based in Smithers BC. The league provides affordable, accessible, structured and skill-development focused recreational opportunities for children and youth (ages 14-18) from the communities of Telkwa, Quick, Smithers and associated rural areas as wel as First Nations communities such as Moricetown and Hazelton. The rural community is faced with many challenges, preventing interested parents, volunteers and youth to obtain the necessary coach and/or official training and certification. The Smithers Junior Softball Society recognizes the need to further support current female coaches, increase the number of female coaches, and improve the number of female youth officials and umpires. The WISE Fund will be used to send existing, interested and recruited female coaches and youth officials to the Smithers Junior Softball Society annual spring coaching and officials clinics where they will receive NCCP and Softball BC training and certifications.

Triathlon Manitoba - Winnipeg MB
Sport: Triathlon
Supported by: Triathlon Canada

Triathlon Manitoba kicks off their triathlon season with a Girls Only Triathlon Clinic, and event that gives girls and women an opportunity to try the sport in a non-competitive, safe environment in the hopes that they continue to participate in one or more events throughout the race season and beyond. The clinic will be led by a local female triathlete (and Ironman finisher) and will include swim drills; transition skill development; cycling and running drills; information on nutrition and hydration; and tips for race day (what to expect, what to bring). The day will finish with a mini-Tri so participants can practice what they have learned. All that is needed to participate is swimming and running gear, a bike in good working condition and helmet, and a willingness to have fun. All participants receive a gift for participating in the clinic and healthy snacks will be provided. The WISE Fund will be used to offset facility rental costs, increase marketing and promotional materials along with other clinic hosting expenses.