We’re here so you can play!
OTTAWA – April 16, 2014 – Have you said “THANKS” to a sports official today? Sports Officials Canada is
proud to promote the second annual National Officials Day in Canada. The aim is to increase the
awareness of the importance of officiating to sport and to promote respect of officials.
We’re here so you can play!
OTTAWA – April 16, 2014 – Have you said “THANKS” to a sports official today? Sports Officials Canada is
proud to promote the second annual National Officials Day in Canada. The aim is to increase the
awareness of the importance of officiating to sport and to promote respect of officials.
“We hope that sport organizations, administrators, coaches, athletes and parents are taking time today to
acknowledge the men and women who officiate our sports and to recognize their efforts and the
tremendous impact they have on sport in this country.” said SOC President, Paul Deshaies.
Earlier in the year, Canadians watched their athletes shine on the international stage at the Sochi
Olympics and Paralympics. Hundreds of athletes and coaches – picked as our best – represented Canada
at the biggest sporting event in the world. But there was another team in Sochi from Canada – a team of
53 technical officials representing 16 disciplines. They too were picked as the best, from the over 250,000
Canadian technical officials who help to keep sport running in this country.
Over the weeks of the Olympics, we heard that “We all play for Canada”. Sports Officials are there so we
can play; so we can enjoy the games we love. Take a moment today to say thank you to them.
In fact there are over 900,000 Canadians who perform some sort of officiating duty each year. They’re
someone’s Dad, Mom, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or just a friend. They’re at the rink, the gym, the field –
wherever sport is taking place – at all hours of the day, 7 days a week and in all kinds of weather. For the
majority, it is a volunteer activity – they give up their evenings, weekends and family time to do
something that they love. They are the “keepers of the game”. It i s their role to ensure fair play and
safety for all participants. It is their dedication and passion for what they do which makes them an
integral part of the sport system.
Recent news reports indicate that it can be a thankless and sometimes rough job. Abuse and disrespect of
officials can lead to low recruitment and retention figures in some sports. Disrespecting a sports official is
never acceptable nor should it ever be considered “part of the game”.
Sports Officials Canada has a special individual Partner rate today as well as several contests and draws
for everyone including non-partners, partners and our Facebook friends. Details of all these projects are
available at www.sportsofficials.ca
Sports Officials Canada is a federally incorporated national organization dedicated to promoting excellence
in sports officiating and represents Canadian technical officials as a national voice. For more information
about SOC please visit their website at www.sportsofficials.ca or contact them at info@sportsofficials.ca
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For information about National Officials Day/Sports Officials Canada please contact:
Denise Pittuck
Executive Director
Sports Officials Canada
denise.pittuck@sympatico.ca
613-837-7298 or 613-878-7298 (cell)
