(April 17, 2019) Last weekend saw 60 women from across the province take part in the 5th annual Women in Sport Conference in Red Deer. This event marked the first year the conference featured speakers and guests from multiple sports, including hockey, basketball, swimming, and more.  

Hailing from Edmonton, Cochrane, Ponoka, Calgary, Red Deer, Innisfail, Airdrie, Ft. Saskatchewan, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, British Columbia, and Ontario, those in attendance serve as board members, administrators, referees, coaches, players, and parents in their communities.

The weekend provided a platform for each of these participants to connect and network with other female leaders in sport, gain practical tools and skills to implement in their personal and professional environments, and be inspired by those who shared their unique personal stories. 

There is something very powerful that happens when you bring a group of women together and provide a platform to explore their journeysThe Women in Sport conference provided this opportunity for females in Alberta to share their journeys at different stages of life. The opportunity to collaborate with other woman through their own triumphs and defeats allows us to gain courage, strength and confidence by each experience we observe,” shared Jacquie Hertlein, Development of Women in Soccer Committee Member and Executive Director of Calgary Women’s Soccer Association. 

Click here to view pictures from the weekend 

The conference, a coordinated effort between Alberta Soccer and Hockey Alberta, offered keynote speeches, workshops, and panel discussions on a variety of topics, including:  

  • Mentorship 
  • Being a female in sport 
  • Physical Empowerment 
  • Leadership 
  • Communication 
  • Addressing gender issues and influencing change 
  • Bullying 
  • Public Speaking 
  • Women Behind the Whistle (multisport referee panel)

Quotes from the weekend 

“Thank you to you and your staff for creating a top-class event. PSOs can take a page out of your book for not only the event itself but the merging of forces with Hockey Alberta. This event proved that as women, we all need that supportive community to connect with!”
– Carmelina Moscato, Olympic bronze medalist and three-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Team member
 

“Having time to speak with each panel member separately following their stage Q&A was great and allowed for time to ask many questions in a personal/social environment. Loved it!”
– 2019 Conference 
participant 

“Women behind the whistle was a unique opportunity to see how various high-level female officials have faced the challenges on the field/court/ice. It doesn’t matter the sport, the challenges we face are the same, but we can still learn from and support one another. Our end goal doesn’t change, we all want to be the best official that we can, and to see more fellow female officials picking up the whistle.”
– 
Sim Lakhyan, Alberta Referee and member of the Development of Women in Soccer Committee 

Thank you to the event sponsors for supporting the conference: