StopVAW event aims to spark conversation on sports culture in Perth County

A nationally recognized sports journalist will be in Stratford next month as part of a community effort to encourage discussion about respect, accountability and healthy relationships in sport.

Stop Violence Against Women (StopVAW) Perth County is hosting Tackling Sports Culture Together featuring TSN senior correspondent and author Rick Westhead May 5 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Burnside Agriplex. The free public event will explore how sports organizations, families and communities can work together to foster safer and more respectful environments for young athletes, particularly in light of recent high-profile cases involving hazing, abuse and sexual violence in Canadian sport.

Jen Olenewa, manager of public education at Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and coordinator with the StopVAW coordinating committee, said the idea for the event came after she heard Westhead speak previously and recognized the relevance of the conversation for Stratford and Perth County’s strong sports community.

“I know we’ve got a big sports community here and that this is an issue that we all should care about,” Olenewa said. “What Rick talks about in his book really helps people understand not only the experiences of women who have been sexually assaulted, but also the male-on-male violence that can happen within locker rooms as part of hazing. It’s harmful and it’s often silenced.”

Westhead’s book, We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture, examines the culture surrounding hockey in Canada and the systems that can enable harmful behaviour, while also highlighting efforts to create change through education and accountability.

Olenewa said one of the goals of the event is to broaden the conversation beyond supporting survivors and encourage more engagement among men and boys.

“We can protect survivors all we want, but if men remain disengaged from the conversation, then we never see an end to this,” she said. “We need to start having honest conversations about how behaviours that are normalized in locker rooms can have impacts far beyond sport.”

The event will include a presentation on Coaching Boys Into Men, an evidence-based program designed to help coaches promote healthy relationships, consent awareness and positive team environments among young athletes.

Olenewa said coaches, parents, athletes and sports organizations all play an important role in shaping the culture young people experience.

“Coaches often spend more time with these young people than almost anyone else in their lives, so they have an opportunity to help shape who they become,” she said. “If we’re teaching respect, consent and healthy relationships, those young people will carry that into the community.”

Organizers are encouraging anyone involved in sports, including athletes, parents, coaches, team officials and community members, to attend.

“We want people to be part of this new conversation,” Olenewa said. “If we want safer communities, we need to be willing to look at how sports culture influences behaviour and what we can do differently.”

A youth-focused session for Grade 11 and 12 students involved in sports is also being planned earlier in the day May 5, from 2-4 p.m., giving young leaders an opportunity to discuss how they can help foster positive team environments.

A few weeks after the event, organizers hope to hold a community debrief session to continue the conversation and identify practical next steps for local organizations.

Community members interested in attending either the evening or afternoon session can learn more by contacting stopvaw@optimismplace.com.