Building belonging with Ottawa Sports Council

In the heart of Ottawa’s vibrant sports community, a powerful and inclusive shift is underway for current and future athletes. The Ottawa Sports Council (OSC), a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking down barriers that advocates for over 800 local sport groups, knew that achieving belonging required a sophisticated plan. They needed a clear, actionable roadmap to reach their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals.

Through Deloitte’s Community Advisory Program (CAP), a volunteer advisory service for local non-profits, OSC’s DEI goals were put into action. “I wanted to help out different people that play sports and help sports communities reach a broader set of audience,” says Yash Karani, consultant in Technology & Transformation at Deloitte who managed this project.

The CAP team conducted operational assessments, implemented data collection strategies using AI, and enhanced their communications, to help OSC lay the groundwork for achieving their DEI goals. As a result of Deloitte’s work, the OSC will expand the second phase of The Belonging Playbook, which defines belonging in sport and provides a great tool for sport organizations on how to create a more inclusive environment.

“Sport is for everyone, everywhere,” says Executive Director Frances Mercer of the Ottawa Sports Council. We want organizations to take action whether it be installing a wheelchair ramp or adding a program for participants new to Canada.”

The information collected utilizing these new tools will advance The Belonging Playbook to help community sport organizations meet goals, develop focused educational material and build stronger, connected communities in Ottawa.

With these tools, the OSC and the volunteer-run sport organizations will operate more effectively, saving valuable resources that can be invested in the people they serve.