Simon Darnell

University of Toronto

Evaluating Collaborative Best Practices in Fostering a Positive, Safe and Brave Culture for Youth in Sport

Research project objective:

• Conduct a meaningful evaluation of safe sport reforms aimed at fostering trust-based cultures and creating positive environments.

Lindsay Duncan

McGill University

Strength in Support: Identifying Key Actors and Actions to Support Athletes’ Positive Reintegration into Sport Following Experiences with Disordered Eating and/or Body Shaming-Related Maltreatment

Research project objectives:

• Identify specific actors and actions that can protect athletes and prevent body shaming-related maltreatment behaviours;
• Develop a conceptual model of specific sport participants and stakeholder-specific actions that are needed to foster safer sport environments.

Audrey Giles

University of Ottawa

Baby Steps Towards Safe(r) Policies: Examining Canadian Safe Sport Policies and Support for Pregnant and Parenting Athletes 

Research project objective:

• Examine how/if Canadian National Sport Organization's safe sport policies support pregnant and parenting elite athletes who self-identify as women, trans men, and non binary throughout their athletic careers.

Joseph Gurgis

Ontario Tech University

Developing and Evaluating the Canadian Handbook of Safe Sport: A Comprehensive Guide for Sport Stakeholders in Promoting Safe Sport Practices

Research project objectives:

• Assess Canadian sport stakeholders' perspectives regarding the effectiveness of current safe sport measures;
• Identify specific needs of Canadian sport stakeholders regarding the advancement of safe sport;
• Collaborate with Canadians across the sport sector to develop a comprehensive handbook of safe sport.

Lyndsay Hayhurst

York University

Investigating the Utility of Trauma-and Violence-Informed Sport for Development in Supporting Youth SGBV Survivors in Canada

Research project objectives:

• Explore the activities and benefits of trauma- and violence- informed approaches to sport for development, to support youth sexual and gender-based violence survivors;
• Explore the utility of a toolkit of training resources for athletes, coaches, organizers and sport administrators, and propose changes.

Laura Misener

Western University

Understanding Abuse-Free Sport Policies and Programs in Interuniversity Sport

Research project objectives:

• Consider the institutional policy environment in which safe sport practices reside in the broader university environment;
• Explore the policies and practices, identify barriers, challenges and opportunities that leaders in Canadian universities face in their effort to minimize harassment, discrimination and abuse in sport.

Catherine Sabiston

University of Toronto

Published Report

Assessing Athlete Maltreatment: Questionnaire Development and Nationwide Prevalence Study in Canada

Research project objective:

• Develop and validate a measure of maltreatment in sport.

Sarah Teetzel

University of Manitoba

Impacts of Racism on Community Sport Dropout and Retention: An Intersectional Analysis of Girls’ Experiences of Racism and Knowledge of Mechanisms to Support Abuse-Free Sport

Research project objectives:

• Gain insight into girls' experiences with racism in community sport and the role of racism in girls' decision to dropout or stay involved in sport;
• Explore the protective factors in place to counter the negative effects of racism;
• Assess the extent to which girls, parents, and sport administrators are aware of mechanisms to report racism in sport;
• Provide resources and information to girls, parents, and sport administrators on how to confront acts of racism in sport.

Michael Van Bussel

Brock University

Safe Sport Education: An Evaluation of Safe Sport Resources and Instruction in Canada and Internationally

Research project objectives:

• Determine what safe sport policy and education programs are in place and operating in Canada;
• Explore the effectiveness of current Canadian safe sport education programs in delivering information on the prevention of maltreatment in sport;
• Compare Canadian safe sport education programs to international safe sport education programs;
• Assess how safe sport education, training and certification standards in Canada can be improved.

Danielle Cyr

Royal Roads University

More than Medals: Challenging Organizational Cultures That Inhibit Social and Leadership Development in Performance Sport

Research project objectives: 

• Understand what aspects of organizational culture inhibit or support coaches for social and leadership development. Provide recommendations to remove or lessen barriers and enhance supports;
• Develop a framework to support repurposing and transforming organizational culture factors that facilitate and perpetuate non accidental violence and abuse;
• Provide a transformative process for performance coaches and athletes to question the inherited ideologies and values of the Canadian performance sport system;
• Develop a framework to identify key areas of the Canadian performance sport system that need to change, adapt or enhance to better support performance sport for social and leadership development.

Simon Darnell

University of Toronto

Published Report

Fostering a Positive, Safe and Brave Culture for Youth in Sport

Research project objectives: 

• Inform the development of policies, methodologies, and strategies aimed at fostering trust-based cultures and creating positive environments that acknowledge the intersecting diversity of young individuals in the realm of sport.

Guylaine Demers

Université Laval

Inclusive and Safe Sport Environments for LGBTQ2+ Coaches and Referees: Identification of Barriers and Potential Solutions*

Research project objectives: 

• Identify lived experiences and barriers encountered by coaches and officials who are part of the sexual and gender diversity;
• Identify best practices to include coaches and officials who are part of the sexual and gender diversity;
• Develop tools used in knowledge transfer to equip the Canadian sport community when faced with LGBTQ2+ challenges.

Curtis Fogel

Brock University

Published Report

Digital Violence in Canadian Sport

Research project objectives: 

• Determine the forms, characteristics, prevalence, and harms of digital violence in sport in Canada.

Janice Forsyth

University of British Columbia

Published Report

Appendix A

Addressing the Silence: Understanding Safe Sport for Indigenous Participants in Canada

Research project objectives: 

• Inform our understanding of why indigenous athletes and coaches believe silence is their best option for addressing the abuse they experience;
• Provide clear insight on the critical constraints that need to be addressed in working towards safe sport for indigenous participants;
• Provide recommendations on how to make the Abuse-Free Sport program in Canada safe for Indigenous participants.

Joseph Gurgis

Ontario Tech

Published Report

Investigating Equity-Denied Sport Stakeholders’ Perspectives on the Barriers and Facilitators to Experiencing Safe Sport

Research project objectives: 

• Explore the barriers and facilitators to experiencing safe sport among equity-denied sport stakeholders;
• Identify recommendations to advance safe sport for equity-denied sport stakeholders.

Katie Misener

University of Waterloo

A National Investigation of Safe Sport Practices and Decision-Making in Community Sport Organizations in Canada

Research project objectives: 

• Understand current community sport organizations (CSO) safe sport practices and assess if it is in alignment with recommended/mandated practices from governing bodies;
• Explore aspects of CSOs organizational capacity and leaders’ abilities to manage safe sport (e.g., practices and policies).

Sylvie Parent

Université Laval

Analysis of the Training Needs of Stakeholders Working With Athletes About Maltreatment in Sports Environment*

Research project objectives: 

• Analyze training needs for the integrated support team and sport administrators (stakeholders) regarding athlete maltreatment;
• Describe the attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and behaviors of different categories of stakeholders regarding athlete maltreatment;
• Evaluate stakeholders’ readiness for change regarding athlete maltreatment.

Tracy Vaillancourt

University of Ottawa

A Tolerated Intolerable: A Longitudinal Examination of Soccer Referee Abuse in Canada and its Impact on Health

Research project objectives: 

• Explore the prevalence and the health impacts of referee abuse in soccer in Canada;
• Examine the short- and long-term impact of exposure to workplace violence on physical and mental health;
• Examine the interaction effects of individual and contextual factors on the relation between violence, exposure and health;
• Examine the indirect effects or multiple reciprocal processes on physical and mental health in relation to workplace violence.