All-girls sports day aims to empower

CTV’s Camille Wilson reports from TD Place, where the annual ‘Sports Day the Girls Way’ event is empowering girls to stay in sports.

Girls from across the Ottawa region gathered for a day of sport, inclusion, connection and empowerment at the “Sports Day the Girls Way” event at TD Place on Monday.

The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) Foundation’s event is meant to provide girls with the opportunity to get active in sports, and they welcomed over 600 girls from 12 different schools across the Ottawa region for the day of activities.

“At the OSEG Foundation, we strongly believe that girls in sport is powerful,” says Kim McLean, Senior Manager of Community Impact and Engagement at OSEG Foundation.

“What we’re doing here today is creating that environment for girls to feel safe, empowered and like they belong and have a place in sport.”

A 2024 report from the Canadian Women & Sport says that one in five girls leave sport during adolescence.

At the event, attendees got to try out flag football, basketball, wheelchair basketball, tennis and soccer.

The day also featured a panel discussion with four Canadian women athletes and sport professionals, who shared their experience and passion, and spoke about gender inclusion in sports.

“I think it’s so important for young girls have opportunities to participate in sports. A day like this just allows them the opportunity to try new things,” the Ottawa Charge’s Rebecca Leslie told CTV News Ottawa.

“Sport has given me so much and has allowed me to meet new friends and has taken me to incredible places. For a lot of these girls to be introduced to new sports and just to meet new people, I think it’s really special.”

Leslie participated in the panel alongside executive director of Lay-Up Micaëlla Riché, wheelchair basketball Paralympian Kady Dandeneau and Team Canada flag football alumni Mathilde Renaud.

“Honestly, seeing so many young girls out here to play and share community and share time and space with their mentors and their peers is so special. Girls playing sport is a super-hack for anything they want to do in life. It’s a privilege to be a part of this day and to be able to inspire and share some of the lessons I’ve learned with these young women,” said Riché.

After participating and experiencing sport in the gender inclusive space, girls at the event were saying they felt confident and empowered.

“It’s really special to me that girls get a chance to do sports and a lot of people, underestimate girls in their activity,” said event-attendee Saron.

“It’s really fun to play with a bunch of other girls and good coaches and just have female, role models,” said Laura, who also attended the event.

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