Sail Canada launches a survey for a more accessible and diversified sport

Sail Canada launches a survey for a more accessible and diversified sport © Sail Canada

As an action step from its 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, Sail Canada launched today a survey to better understand the Canadian sailing community, its diversity and the challenges members face, a first step to improve the accessibility of sailing in the country.

Sail Canada is asking members of the Canadian sailing community to fill out the confidential online survey which consists of around 30 questions and should take around 15-20 minutes to complete at www.sailing.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity. The deadline to complete the survey is Monday, October 4.

This survey includes questions which will help Sail Canada to have a better portrayal of the Canadian sailing community, and to better understand potential barriers that members may have experienced in the sport, as well as getting input on how Sail Canada's programs could be more inclusive, diversified and non-discriminatory.

Once completed, Sail Canada will analyze the results and share the findings in a report to be made available for all. Sail Canada will then work with its partners to develop resources and take actions to improve the inclusivity of sailing for all Canadians.

"We invite all members of our community to complete this survey to better understand the sailing community in Canada", said Sail Canada Chief Executive Officer, Don Adams. "With a better understanding of the diversity of our community, the better our action plan will be in the coming years to make our sport grow and be more accessible to all. The more participation we will have from national, provincial and local levels, the more accurate the demographic information will be. Please fill out now the survey as soon as you can at www.sailing.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity."

Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) committee

The survey is an initiative lead by Sail Canada's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) Committee, a panel of coaches, athletes and community members from across Canada. The creation of this committee was based on the feedback and input that help create Sail Canada's new 2021-2024 Strategic Plan.

The committee is lead by Chair Nick Allinson from the Sail Canada office and includes 2020 Olympian Sarah Douglas, board member Zac Baum, and other members Emmanuelle M. Barea (sailor, instructor and coach), Braden Gray (sailor and coach), Yanick Landry (Senior Vice Commodore at Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club and sailor), Amanda Norquay (coach) and Max Robinson (windsurfing athlete).

Canadian Sailing Community members can fill the survey starting now until Monday, Oct. 4 inclusively, at www.sailing.ca/inclusion-diversity-and-equity.