Canadian Sport Centre (B.Anderson)

Canadian Sport Centre (B. Anderson)

Recommendation:
That the October 31, 2007, Community Services Department report 2007CSR017 be received for information.

Report Summary

This report provides a response to an Administrative Inquiry regarding the concept of a Canadian Sport Centre in Edmonton.

Previous Council/Committee Action

At the March 6, 2007, City Council meeting, Councillor B. Anderson made the following inquiry:

“I understand that the Edmonton Sport Council and Community Services Staff have been discussing the concept of a Canadian Sport Centre in Edmonton. I would ask Administration to provide the following information to Community Services Committee:

  1. A historical summary of the Canadian Sport Centres existence.
  2. Programs offered at Canadian Sport Centres.
  3. Description of the client population served and the benefit.
  4. Current funders of the Canadian Sport Centres.
  5. Contribution made by other municipalities to the Canadian Sport Centres in their community.
  6. Economic impact of a Canadian Sport Centre to the City of Edmonton.

What would be expected from the City of Edmonton?”

Report

  1. A historical summary of the Canadian Sport Centres existence.
  • Canadian Sport Centres (CSC) are a network of centres across Canada designed to enhance the training environment of Canada’s high performance athletes and coaches to help them achieve international podium success and pursue athletic and personal excellence.
  • The first Canadian Sport Centre was opened in Calgary in 1994 and predominantly serves athletes in the Calgary area.
  • Other Canadian Sport Centres came into existence in the last half of the 1990’s and have now been established across the country to provide services in the following areas: CSC PacificSport (Victoria, Vancouver plus six other Pacific regions); CSC Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Regina); CSC Manitoba (Winnipeg); CSC Ontario (Toronto);Centre national multisport-Montréal (Montreal, Quebec City); and CSC Atlantic (Halifax, Fredericton, St John’s, Charlottetown).
  • In 2006 the Edmonton Sport Council identified a gap in services provided to athletes in the Edmontonarea and subsequently began meeting with the City of Edmonton, the Province of Alberta and the University of Alberta to advocate for a CSC in Edmonton.
  • In 2007 Sport Canada’s funding and support to the CSC network changed to recognize only one CSC in every province or region of provinces/territories inCanada.
  • In 2008 – 2011 CSC will be required by Sport Canada to provide services to all nationally carded athletes within the province and/or region of provinces/territories and create an environment that welcomes all athletes, including athletes with a disability and Aboriginal athletes.
  1. Programs offered at Canadian Sport Centres.
  • The network of centres provides a centralized, coordinated delivery of personal and professional services to Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches.
  • The centres provide access to experts in a variety of areas to help athletes succeed both on and off the playing field.
  • Each CSCis unique in its facilities and scale of service. Specific programs may include; athletic therapy, biomechanics, career counselling, chiropractic care, life skills, massage therapy, media relations, nutrition, personal counselling, physiological assessment, physiotherapy, sport medicine clinic, strength and conditioning, training facilities, and tutoring/educational support.
  • A National Coaching Institute (NCI) is also typically associated with a CSC, providing coach training and other support.
  1. Description of the client population served and the benefit

Population Served

  • Canadian Sport Centres are open to athletes listed on CSC approved training group rostersand athletes carded by Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Development Program (AADP).
  • Each CSChas specific criteria to determine which athletes will be eligible to access programs, support and services. Criteria may include attendance at Olympic and Paralympic events, performanceranking internationally or in Canada, national team membership, provincial team membership, college/university athletes, junior program team athletes, etc.

Benefits

  • Enhanced and coordinated services and support are available to athletes and coaches.
  • Opportunity for athletes and coaches residing in a geographical region to develop and train at a high level without leaving home.
  • Opportunity to attract emerging and elite athletes, high performance coaches and sport scientists to the community.
  • Opportunity to increase funding for research initiated by sport scientists.
  • Opportunity to make use of CSC athletes as role models to encourage and inspire children and youth to become and remain involved in sport and aspire to higher levels of performance.
  • Opportunity to attract new athletes to training camps in the community with top coaches and other competitive athletes.
  • Opportunity to attract international events due to additional services being available in the community.
  1. Current funders of the Canadian Sport Centres.
  • Each CSC is unique in their list of funders, however all have Sport Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Coaching Association of Canada and the appropriate provincial government as funding partners.
  • Other funders are determined by the specific requirements and opportunity available to the CSC.
  1. Contributions made by other municipalities.
  • Other CSC indicate that there has been no financial contribution made by their local municipalities, however other forms of support have included office space and access to recreation facilities.
  1. Economic impact of a Canadian Sport Centre to the City of Edmonton.
  • Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) was unable to provide an economic impact assessment at this time.

What would be expected from the City of Edmonton?

  • That Administration continues to work with the Edmonton Sport Council, the University of Alberta and other partners in exploring and establishing support for Canadian Sport Centre services in Edmonton.
  • When requested by the Edmonton Sport Council or other partners, that City Council provide a letter of support for Canadian Sport Centre services for Edmonton and area athletes and coaches.

Further Information

  • Discussions with the University of Alberta to date have identified unique opportunities to provide specialized support to Paralympic athletes through The Steadward Centre at the University of Alberta.
  • Currently the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre, located at the University of Alberta, provides services to track and field coaches and athletes. This centre is funded by the legacy from the 2001 World Championships in Athletics.
  • Services in Edmonton would have the potential to serve more than 400 athletes from Edmonton and the capital region; 30 National Senior Cards (SR & C-1), 22 National Development Cards, 119 Team Alberta Canada Summer Games Athletes, 80 Team Alberta Winter Games Athletes plus “elite” athletes identified by each of the 50 provincial sport governing bodies.
  • Services in Edmonton would have the potential to serve more than 450 NCCP Level 3 and above coaches from Edmonton and the capital region.

Focus Area

Vibrant Communities – encourages and supports national and international calibre athlete through the provision of resources and opportunities.

Attachments

  1. Canadian Sport Centre – Edmonton – Business Case

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