We are seeing more and more women in sports, outdoors and physical activity in Quebec. Now that the momentum has been given, everyone can encourage the girls and women around them to follow this path through small daily actions.
La Lancee offers five ways to contribute:
1. Act early to inspire passion for the sport
Louis Rodrigue, La Lancee project manager, passes on the joy of exercise to his children. For girls in particular, the idea of enjoyment makes it possible to avoid doing sports and physical activity in adolescence.
To promote an active lifestyle among girls and women, “we need decision-makers and influencers in the world of sport to act together as quickly as possible and adapt their practices,” specifies Louis Rodrigue, project manager of La Lancee, an inclusive initiative that supported by the Government of Quebec and implemented by M361 in collaboration with Fillactive and Égale Action.
Rethink and improve the range of activities for girls and women, make traditionally male sports more accessible and propose a more female-friendly approach, e.g. B. the opportunity to train with each other without competition (since they place great value on the feeling of competence). and the concept of pleasure) are among the paths to be pursued.
2. Be a role model to inspire girls and women to get moving
Photo credit: Arianne Bergeron. When it comes to promoting women’s empowerment, promoting influential and positive female role models remains essential. Ms. Chantal Pilon is a good example of this with her inspiring journey.
As an adult, becoming a role model for young people by staying active, exposing them to women’s sports and engaging in an inclusive discourse without gender stereotypes will motivate them to exercise more.
As a father of four children, including two volleyball players aged 11 and 13, Louis Rodrigue wants to instill in them “a taste for exercise in every way and throughout their lives” by introducing them to different physical activities and the practice environment designed in a varied way.
In addition, “too often we underestimate the importance of a word spoken by an important person,” claims Chantal Pilon, general director of the organizing committee of the 57th Quebec Games finals in Rimouski, summer 2023. In fact, by exploiting the potential of a Person recognizes or trusting them can change a life.
By promoting influential and positive female and male role models, girls and women are also encouraged to play sports and take risks. A good example of this is welcoming U13 women’s baseball teams to the finals of the Quebec Games for the first time this summer. In areas where men are more present, they can also act as allies to encourage girls and women to participate and mobilize.
3. Volunteer and create a desire to get involved
Volunteering in a sports organization “to gain experience is worth its weight in gold” and it makes the positions you seek “less inaccessible than we thought,” adds Ms. Pilon, the first woman to serve as the sports organization’s executive director was active memorial cup. It is also an opportunity to share a common desire to invest in the sport and share in its influence.
4. Promote inclusive writing in sports communication
By using inclusive writing instead of immediately favoring the masculine, girls and women become more visible. Simply use the focal point (e.g. participants), full wording (e.g. athletes) or epicene wording (e.g. athletes) to make them feel more engaged. .
5. Join the La Lancee Movement
Photo credit: Arianne Bergeron
La Lanceée is a mobilization whose mission is to “mobilize, engage and inspire stakeholders, managers and decision-makers in the fields of sport, outdoor and physical activity to “facilitate the participation and leadership of girls and women”.
If you would like to contribute, visit the website The start!