Sport Canada Research Initiative

Context

The Canadian Sport Policy, adopted by all federal, provincial and territorial (F-P/T) governments in 2002, identified the need to develop Canada's sport research and knowledge base.

Objective

The objective of the Sport Canada Research Initiative is to create a foundation of knowledge to advance the goals of the Canadian Sport Policy (enhanced participation, excellence, capacity and interaction) and to demonstrate the contribution of sport to other public policy priorities.

Guiding Principles

The implementation of the Research Initiative will be guided by the following principles:

• The initiative supports the federal policy process;
• The initiative emphasizes collaboration with financial, tactical and expert partners;
• The initiative gives priority to peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary and externally adjudicated research;
• The initiative recognizes the importance of knowledge translation and dissemination;
• The initiative recognizes the importance of research that addresses underrepresented groups;
• The initiative recognizes the importance of international comparative research; and
• The initiative assumes a commitment to values-based sport.

Research Streams

Research priorities are defined and monitored by Canadian Heritage (Sport Canada) in consultation with sport experts, researchers and non-partisan sport system experts. The Initiative consists of 4 streams of research activity:

Surveys and Statistics

• Research that benchmarks and describes sport participation in Canada.

Impact analysis research

• Research that evidences the socio-economic benefits and impacts of sport, contributing to an understanding of the articulation of sport with other spheres of social activity and public policy.

Council-based research

• Research that contributes to an understanding of the barriers to, and the benefits of, sport participation with the aim of improving Canadian sport policy outcomes.  For more information, please visit theSCRI council programs page.

Targeted research

• Pressure-related research addressing knowledge gaps; priority areas and topical issues identified by Canadian Heritage (Sport Canada).