Splash Foundation is a dynamic nonprofit whose mission is to create opportunities for children and adults from under-resourced communities to learn how to swim, build confidence, enhance wellbeing, and spark community connection. Splash believes that swimming is not just a sport — it’s a life skill that opens doors, builds resilience, and fosters belonging.

Libby Alexander, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Splash Foundation. Libby helped start Splash to break down barriers around swimming access, especially for groups like migrant domestic workers, families from low-income backgrounds, and individuals with special educational needs — helping thousands overcome fear, gain courage, and unlock new possibilities in and out of the water.

Links:

SPLASH Foundation

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

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Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

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Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Right To Play is a global organization that uses play-based programs to protect, educate, and empower children who are facing some of the toughest challenges in the world. From supporting kids in conflict and displacement settings, to working with Indigenous communities here in Canada, Right To Play shows how sport and play can be so much more than just fun — they can be tools for learning, healing, confidence, and connection.

Ellen Fesseha is Right To Play’s Play Specialist. Ellen brings her experience as an elementary school teacher and her knowledge of play-based learning through her PhD studies exploring diverse cultural perspectives of play-based learning to her role in supporting Right To Play's use of play and sport for children's holistic development and learning. 

Links:

Right to Play: https://righttoplay.ca/en-ca/

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Isabella Bertold is a professional sailor and cyclist. As captain of Concord Pacific Racing in the first ever Women’s America’s Cup, she led the ‘It’s Time’ campaign, building long-term pathways for girls and women in sailing. She’s also a sharp sport-business thinker, startup advisor and early stage-investor, speaking openly about how women’s sport can attract aligned investment and build athlete-centred business models. She’s recently been featured in Sport Business Journal, Domestique, Shift Cycling Culture and The Feist, and she writes a growing Substack exploring sport, sustainability and tech innovation. Sustainability is core to her leadership. She drove Canada SailGP’s Impact League work and is currently preparing for ‘Paths of Wind and Motion’ a solo sailing and cycling expedition from Plymouth to Bergen and through the Norwegian fjords, gathering microplastics data while raising public awareness. Isabella is the definition of a modern day athlete, passionate, purpose-driven and pushing the boundaries of what sport, sustainability and leadership can achieve.

Links:

Isabella Bertold's Canadian sailing team looks to make waves in America's Cup Barcelona | CBC Sports

Introducing... Isabella Bertold, the Canadian athlete applying the skills of road bike racing to the F50

Isabella Bertold

Isabella Bertold | 37th America's Cup | Team Canada 2024

Women’s sailing needs aligned investment, not just deep pockets

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Maegan Downey is the founder of the Run Forest Run Club, a run club based in Revelstoke, B.C.

Links:

Run Forest Run Club: https://www.instagram.com/stories/runforestrevy/

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Javier Raya is a Spanish Olympian figure skater, DEI advocate, and founder of Compete Proud, a platform focused on LGBTQI+ inclusion in sports. With over 20 years of experience, Javier represented Spain at the European and World Championships, and the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. He founded Compete Proud to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within sports and is an IOC Young Leader (2021–2024). Through his work, he aims to empower athletes, advance social impact, and ensure a more inclusive sporting environment. 

Compete Proud is the leading voice for LGBTIQ+ representation in sports, advocating for inclusivity, diversity, equity, and visibility at every level—from grassroots initiatives to the Olympic stage. Founded by Olympian Javier Raya and supported by the IOC Young Leaders programme, Compete Proud empowers athletes by sharing their stories, fostering safe spaces, and driving positive change. The platform provides educational tools, workshops, and consultancy to sporting organizations and athletes, addressing critical issues like LGBTQI+ rights, gender equality, and accessibility. Through partnerships like Pride House Paris 2024, Compete Proud is creating a lasting impact by increasing LGBTQIA+ visibility and promoting a more inclusive sporting community.

Links:

Compete Proud: https://competeproud.com/

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Dan is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Development with a research and teaching focus in sport for development. His work examines issues of inclusion, equity, and social value.

Dan has worked in a range of sport development, community, and young-people focussed occupations. His professional experience led him to pursue doctoral research that explored the empowering potential of community sport development practices in the UK. He is an active researcher and currently leads a number of commissioned national and regional evaluation projects that examine the impact of sport-based programmes for a wide range of social outcomes, supporting partners to develop their monitoring, evaluation and learning practices.

Dan's research expertise covers several aspects of sport for development theory and practice, with a specific focus on community models of delivery, power and governance, qualitative evaluation methodologies and theory-based evaluation. He has provided research and consultancy services for Sport England, The Football Foundation, Positive Futures, and The Lord's Taverners.

Dan is also passionate about physical activity in the outdoors and is currently engaged in research that explores issues of access and inclusion for underrepresented groups, and captures the social value of green space.

The Centre for Social Justice in Sport & Society at Leeds Beckett University offers innovative methods to help sports organisations understand and evidence the true impact of their community programmes. Traditional key performance indicators (KPIs) often fall short in fully capturing the value and social impact of these initiatives. To address this, the Centre uses cutting-edge ripple effect mapping techniques, which involve gathering insights from all programme stakeholders to assess how, where, and why a programme makes a difference. These methods not only provide a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of a programme's impact but also allow organisations to present their achievements in an engaging and informative way. This approach ultimately supports greater programme efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Links:

Centre of Social Justice in Sport and Society: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/centre-for-social-justice-in-sport-and-society/

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Brian Torrance is the President and CEO of ParticipACTION. He has over 14 years of experience in the SPAR sector, having contributed in both professional and volunteer capacities from organizing a marathon events to guiding national organizations. Our conversation spans a lot more than just the budget.

ParticipACTION is an organization that has become a cornerstone of Canada’s sport and recreation sector. For more than 50 years, ParticipACTION has encouraged Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to move more, sit less, and build healthier communities through the power of physical activity.

Links:

ParticipACTION: https://www.participaction.com/

Sport England: Children’s activity levels rising but inactivity remains too high: https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/childrens-activity-levels-rising-inactivity-remains-too-high

Directly measured physical activity and sedentary time in Canada: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/251017/dq251017b-eng.htm

Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2023 Domestic Travel: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/transport-statistics-great-britain-2024/transport-statistics-great-britain-2023-domestic-travel

Active transportation - How are children getting to school?: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/active-transportation-how-children-getting-school.html

Sport England: Record numbers playing sport and taking part in physical activity: https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/record-numbers-playing-sport-and-taking-part-physical-activity

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Join our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Matt DeCourcey is the Director of Government Affairs with the Trans Canada Trail. He brings 20 years of experience advising decision makers at the local, national and international level to his role as Director of Government Affairs with Trans Canada Trail.

A public policy leader, community builder, and former Member of Parliament, his deep political and public affairs knowledge, experience developing strategic partnerships, and ability to shape and influence policy has helped him advise international NGO’s, post-secondary and business leaders, and Canada’s ministers of finance, foreign affairs and immigration.

The Trans Canada Trail is the longest multi-use trail system in the world and it is always growing. It reaches every province and territory, and connects all three of Canada’s coastlines. Each section of the Trans Canada Trail is managed locally and supports different activities and community needs.

Links:

Trans Canada Trail: https://tctrail.ca/?_gl=1%2A1vt33qr%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AMTIzMDMyNzg0NC4xNzY0MDEzNzMx%2A_ga_Z63TFVPQJ6%2AczE3NjQwMTM3MzEkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjQwMTM3MzEkajYwJGwwJGgxMjgyNjI1NjY4

Bookclub sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=header

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

Build Kamloops is a multi-year, multi-phase visionary program to re-establish the city’s prominence as Canada’s Tournament Capital, foster our recognition as a premier arts and culture destination, and keep pace with our recreation and leisure needs as one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities.

Sherri Holmes is the Sport, Recreation and Wellness Manager with the City of Kamloops.

Links:

Build Kamloops: https://letstalk.kamloops.ca/BuildKamloops

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠

The Canadian Sport Policy helps identify Canadian sport priorities and guides how federal, provincial and territorial governments advance sport. It provides a shared framework for working together to ensure sport contributes positively to the lives of individuals, communities and the country.

Links:

Canadian Sport Policy 2025-2035: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/sport-canada.html

Canadian Sport Policy 2012-2022: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/pch/CH24-46-2012-eng.pdf

Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2022 to 2024: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/251017/dq251017b-eng.htm

Canadian Health Measures Survey: Activity monitor data, 2018-2019: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210901/dq210901c-eng.htm

Canada's Infrastructure Deficit: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-canadas-infrastructure-deficit-threatens-economic-competitiveness-and/

Canada’s public infrastructure “at risk,” new report finds: http://canadianinfrastructure.ca/en/press-release.html

Copenhill: https://www.copenhill.dk/en

Tiny data centre used to heat public swimming pool: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-64939558

Australia’s Sports Diplomacy Strategy 2032+: https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/people-to-people/sports-diplomacy/australias-sports-diplomacy-strategy-2032

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Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.

Send us an email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpact⁠⁠

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impact⁠⁠

Follow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) 

Follow us on Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@sportssocimpact⁠

Visit our website at ⁠https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/⁠