The pair started a high school wheelchair basketball program based on the True Sport principles
(OTTAWA, ONT.) – Emily Glossop and Jenn Talbot are the recipients of the 2023 True Sport Award in recognition of their commitment to community sport that’s healthy, fair, inclusive, and fun. The pair received the award during a half-time ceremony at the Ottawa Invitational tournament.
Glossop and Talbot created a high school wheelchair basketball program which included three key activities for schools in the National Capital region: a parasport education session, the National Capital High School Wheelchair Basketball Tournament (NCHSWBT) for students to participate in, and a field trip to watch Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team compete against the Netherlands at the Ottawa Invitational tournament.
“We are thrilled that the True Sport Award is being presented to two well-deserving individuals at Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s Ottawa Invitational Tournament,” said Karri Dawson, Executive Director of Values-Based Sport at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. “This award recognizes inspirational Canadians who exemplify the True Sport values of fairness, excellence, inclusion, and fun in a meaningful way. Through the pursuit of sporting excellence, these leaders showcase dedication, perseverance, teamwork, respect for others, and a true love of sport.”
Parasport education facilitated by the Abilities Centre Ottawa provided students of all abilities with an opportunity to experience the inclusive sport of wheelchair basketball. These sessios focused on increasing the students’ awareness about disability and the barriers their classmates with a disability might face, with a goal of reducing stigma and fostering a community of inclusion within the school. Additionally, Glossop helps educators to understand better how they can offer adaptations to participation within their class curriculum to meet the needs of students of all abilities.
From these sessions, staff selected a diverse and inclusive team of students to compete in the NCHSWBT on behalf of their school. This tournament, organized by the Athletic Leadership students from John McCrae Secondary School, provided a unique opportunity for students of all abilities to represent their high school team on the court with their peers.
Through a partnership between Wheelchair Basketball Canada, John McCrae Secondary School, the Abilities Centre Ottawa, and PHE Canada students from the participating schools were supported in attending Team Canada’s game against the Netherlands at the Ottawa Invitational tournament. Students were provided with a cheering kit for the game and had the opportunity to meet some of Team Canada’s athletes post-game.
About True Sport
True Sport is an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), which is designed to give people, communities, and organizations the means to leverage the benefits of good sport, from a platform of shared values and principles. As a values-based sport network leader, the CCES believes that activating the True Sport Principles, on and off the field of play, will contribute to a positive shift in Canadian sport culture. Learn more at www.truesport.ca.
About the Ottawa Invitational
The Ottawa Invitational tournament, presented by Meridian Credit Union, runs May 17-21, 2023, at the Carleton University Ravens’ Nest. The five-day tournament will feature the top wheelchair basketball athletes from Canada, the Netherlands and the United States as they prepare for the upcoming IWBF World Championships. The event is supported, in part, by The Government of Canada and Ottawa Tourism. Please visit Wheelchair Basketball Canada’s Ottawa Invitational event page for further information, including the complete schedule.