STRENGTHENING SPORT IN EDMONTON

Make the voice of sport in Edmonton stronger. Join the Edmonton Sport Council (ESC) and add your members' voices to tens of thousands.

The Edmonton Sport Council (ESC) is the sport community working collectively for the benefit of local sport organizations through the advancement of our Strategic Plan. Increasingly the ESC is being invited to tables to represent sport, to present sport issues, and to work with others to address issues that impact sport. This is far superior to the old situation in which the sport community could only react to decisions which impacted it. Our achievements and influence have been recognized in Edmonton, and beyond, continues to grow, and has been mimicked in Calgary and elsewhere.

Our study on the Economic Significance of Amateur Sport and Active Recreation in Edmonton resulted in a proactive approach to event marketing, administration and bid assistance by Edmonton Tourism and has been a contributing factor in the development of Edmonton Events International. 

Most recently, the ESC co-hosted a stakeholder forum and provided consultation activities linked to the City of Edmonton’s Recreation Facility Master Plan and continues to be an active participant on all three Joint Use Working Sub-Committees. As a founding partner, we’ve also begun working with other sectors on issues of common concern through the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations on such topics as insurance.

Provincially, the ESC submission to an MLA Committee Review of Policies Regarding Charitable Gaming Licensing Eligibility  and Use of Gaming Proceeds resulted in greater eligibility and use of proceeds opportunities for sport organizations. Additionally, the ESC contributed to the development of the Alberta Sport Plan and assisted in mobilizing some 11,000 responses to the Alberta Sport Plan survey. Continuing to advance the need for increased provincial support for sport, we’re working with others to revive Sport Alberta, as a provincial voice for sport by sport.

Our national involvement includes the development of the Canadian Sport Policy and participation in regional ethics in sport consultations and the National Sport Ethics Symposium.  At the national level we are again working with others to create a national voice for sport by sport through Sport Matters.

The common thread locally, provincially, and nationally is that the ESC is seen as one of the leaders in sport advocacy. Yet we do so much more by providing the majority of our resources through our website. Our resources for local sport organizations and web site links continue to expand. We’ve provided opportunities for our members to publicize their events through a Bulletin Board, finding a facility, and through our Sport Contacts, allowing new participants to find you.

Lastly, but most importantly, we’ve tried to keep the sport community informed of what’s going on. Our web site www.edmontonsport.com is a vital tool and received over 12,500 visitors in April 2007. Regular enews and a quarterly Game Plan help keep all informed.

Joining the Edmonton Sport Council isn’t about saving a few dollars. It’s about a vision of stronger sport in Edmonton and working collectively together to achieve this goal. It’s about having someone understanding the larger picture and speaking for sport.

Our voice is strengthened through the membership of individuals, grassroots organizations, city-wide umbrella organizations and provincial sport governing bodies.

Please, fill out your Membership Application today and strengthen the voice of Edmonton’s sport community.