The Windsor District Labour Council is hoping to help the city become a leader in inclusion and equity in sports.
It's inviting minor sports organizations, players, parents and coaches to participate in a forum to create better practices and cultures in the sporting community. They say sport teaches valuable lessons in so many ways and should also teach children and athletes how to have respect for diversity and healthy gender roles.
"It's not about how can I shoot, how can I throw a ball, it's about teaching kids life lessons and this bylaw improvement, this sharing of ideas will make that happen," says Brian Hogan, president of the Windsor District Labour Council.
The labour council began developing the forum after Windsor Minor Hockey Association president Dean Lapierre made derogatory comments on social media toward women. Hogan says they were shocked to find the association had no guidelines or bylaws to help them navigate the situation.
Victoria Paraschak with the Faculty of Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor will be one of the guest speakers at the forum. She says the forum is about helping organizations build on their strengths.
"What do you want the environment within which sport occurs in this community to look like and we want to see where we can agree on stuff and then that becomes the framework within which we do stuff," says Paraschak.
The forum will be held on May 3 from 7 until 9 pm at the Ciociaro Club.
