Medals Matter Report on Identifying the Supports Required for Enhanced Performance at the 2021 Canada Summer Games by Newfoundland and Labrador Athletes and Teams Submitted To The Honourable Clyde Jackman Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development December 2014 Explanatory Note: The Task Force Report was commissioned by the former Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (TCR), which is referenced throughout the document. Responsibility for Canada Games and competitive sport development now lies with the Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development (SWSD). TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………….. 1 Canada Games Overview…………………………………………………………………. 3 Task Force Committee……………………………………………………………………. 4 Terms of Reference, Goals and Scope of Work…………………………………………… 5 Summary of Process………………………………………………………………………. 6 Summary of NL Canada Games Results 2001-2013……………………………………… 7 Benefits of Hosting 2021 Canada Games and Achieving Peak Performance Results…….. 8 Sport Legacy Outcome…………………………………………………………………….. 9 Overview of Consultation Responses……………………………………………………… 10 Challenges, Barriers and Opportunities……………………………………………………. 12 Best Practice Rationale……………………………………………………………………. 20 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………. 24 Conclusions and Summary………………………………………………………………… 27 Appendix A: Task Force Committee Members and Meeting Dates………………………. 29 Appendix B: Jurisdictional Scan of Other Provinces……………………………………… 31 Appendix C: Online Survey Questions and Responses from Individual and Team Sport Consultation Sessions……………………………………………………………………… 40 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2021, the Canada Summer Games rotates to Newfoundland and Labrador as the host province. Tens of millions of dollars will be invested in upgrading existing sport facilities and providing new infrastructure. Funding is provided through a combination of municipal, provincial, federal and private sector support. The potential economic spin-off benefits of hosting the Canada Summer Games from a tourist industry spill-over effect based on recent Games will be in the range of between $90 to $140 million. Canada Games has approximately an 88% awareness rate among Canadians and nationwide media attention will be focused on the province during the two week event. A Canada Games Task Force was established in December of 2013. The Task Force’s goal was to review the NL sport system and to provide recommendations on how Newfoundland and Labrador athletes could achieve their best ever performances at the 2021 Canada Summer Games. The Task Force met bi-weekly over a four month period from December 2013 – April 2014 and held six meetings. Additionally, two well attended consultations with Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) and two meetings with a Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic representative occurred. An online survey was also used to obtain feedback and information from PSO. Canadian Sport Center Atlantic provided information on best practices nationally and specific details about Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Task Force concluded that the current NL competitive sport system and structure is lacking in many capacities and requires a series of strategic actions and investments if a best ever performance is to be realized. The competitive sport system is under resourced, requires realignment as it relates to governance and philosophical approaches, and an accountability structure needs to be created. Numerous opportunities for competitive sport to thrive should result from this in-depth examination of the sport system. The Task Force concluded that the outcome should not be a temporary spike in high performance during the Canada Games but the establishment of a competitive sport system culture of high performance and excellence that leads to consistent and sustainable success for NL athletes and teams nationally. The task force identified a number of challenges, barriers and opportunities in the sport system as it relates to achieving competitive success. Failure to address these in a timely manner will ensure the trend of disappointing results will continue in the future and prevent NL athletes from attaining peak performances at National Championships and Canada Games. The committee has identified the following challenges, barriers and opportunities: Table I: Challenges, Barriers and Opportunities Time constraints Level of Investment Population Density and Geographic PSO Governance and Capacity Distribution PSO Accountability Coaching Expertise Facilities Sport Science Services Competition Opportunities Culture of Losing As a result of Task Force deliberations, information obtained from other provinces through jurisdictional scans and PSO consultations, the Task Force arranged its recommendations around the following three categories: 1. Organizational/management functions 2. Resources 3. Infrastructure and facility requirements The Task Force also examined Best Practices nationwide and two in particular emerged as highly applicable to NL. The Task Force identified the following two Best Practices for implementation: Provide the level of funding and resources needed for success. Identify/target sports with a high likelihood for success for additional support. The most immediate and pressing issue identified by the committee is the provision of facilities for athletes to train. The following recommendations are proposed: Recommendation #14 It is recommended that TCR take action to ensure the availability of existing training and competition facilities immediately for Canada Games athletes and teams. Recommendation #15 It is recommended that the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation (TCR) create and support opportunities for partnerships, and develop a strategy to provide immediate access to existing facilities province-wide for Canada Games athletes. Recognizing that schools and post-secondary facilities provide opportunities for access to existing facilities, discussions with and support from the Minister of Education, Memorial University St. John’s Campus, Grenfell Campus, The Works and the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District is required to enhance facility access. Other key areas to be acted upon in a timely manner include providing support for professional coaching services in targeted sports, providing support for additional competitions, creating PSO Canada Games accountability criteria, and initiating actions that will lead to immediate infrastructure and facility access for training purposes. Accountability is required for any strategy to have a positive impact on change. The committee recommends establishing a Sport Excellence Board with a mandate to implement and monitor planning, funding support and engage in regular review of Canada Games sports for each preparation cycle of a Canada Games. When implemented, the recommendations in this report, will position Newfoundland and Labrador to achieve improved sport performances at the Canada Games and in national competitions and will further establish a consistent and sustainable competitive sport system culture of high-performance and excellence. CANADA GAMES OVERVIEW The Canada Games is a national multi-sport competition that is held every two years and alternates between Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. The games are attended by amateur athletes representing their province or territory who are Canada’s next generation of national, international and Olympic athletes. These competitive age-group athletes train intensely for the Games and have the opportunity to compete at Canada’s largest sporting event. Since the first Winter Games in 1967 at Quebec, over 110, 000 athletes and coaches have come together to celebrate unity, hospitality, diversity, cultural heritage, and sport. At the Canada Summer games in 2021, approximately 4200 athletes will compete in over 20 sports at approximately 20 different venues during a 16 day period. Hosting the Games provides an opportunity to display the province’s unique hospitality, cultural heritage, and promote Newfoundland as the tourism destination of choice. Traditionally the Games create legacies in the area of athlete and coach development, infrastructure development, and enhanced sport programming. The Canada Games legacy also provides the catalyst for sport and recreation growth and sustainability across Canada and in particular, the host provinces. Cumulatively over $240 million has been spent on the games of which $140 million in infrastructure and capital projects have created a legacy of sport facilities in the 17 hosting cities. In NL these facilities include the Canada Games Aquarena (1977) and the Corner Brook Canada Games Centre and Annex (1999). The total economic activity generated at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Nova Scotia was estimated to be $131 million and for the 2013 Canada Summer Games held in Sherbrooke, Quebec, there was an estimated spinoff of $90-$100 million. The Canada Games are a celebration of youth, sport, culture and community and result from the ongoing collaboration between the Government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, host municipalities, the private sector and the Canada Games Council. The Canada Games Council is the governing body for the Canada Games and provides continuity, leadership and support to Host Societies. These key areas of support include sport technical specifications, organizational planning, ceremonies and protocol, and marketing and sponsorship. TASK FORCE COMMITTEE The Canada Games Task Force Advisory Committee