Sport’Aide and the Montreal Canadiens launch the Count me in program
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens and Sport’Aide are proud to announce on Saturday a partnership to implement a training and awareness program called Count me in, which aims to inspire respect among hockey players, as well as those who guide them through practice, to promote their sport.
This important initiative aligns with the guidelines of the Montreal Canadiens’ Respect and Consent Plan and is accompanied by a two-year donation of $250,000 to Sport’Aide.
“Sport’Aide’s expertise in the prevention and intervention of all types of violence in sport is recognized in the quality of its initiatives, which are praised by its peers. We are confident that the actions proposed under this program will create positive change in the hockey community and will make it easier for everyone to play our sport in a healthy and safe environment,” said Geneviève Paquette, vice president, community engagement for the Montreal Canadiens.
The Count me in program will primarily focus on training activities and educational tools involving current and former Montreal Canadiens representatives and will be integrated with all smaller hockey development initiatives offered by the organization. The program will emphasize four essential values related to respect and wellbeing, namely teamwork, inclusion, skill development and leadership, and ensure participants understand that their wellbeing and performance can coexist in their sporting journey.
“By partnering with Sport’Aide and the organization’s involvement in this initiative, the Montreal Canadiens are paving the way through an innovative approach that has been proven to work. In fact, research has shown that quality leadership from coaches and athletes can work collaboratively.” , promote team resilience and performance, prevent burnout and promote the general health of athletes.* This quality leadership involves embodying, defending and promoting positive values,” explains Sylvain Croteau, General Manager of Sport’Aide.
Video: Sport’Aide and the Habs start the “Count me in” program
At the same time, building on their first collaboration during last November’s Restoring Hockey theme week, the Sport’Aide team and the Montreal Canadiens will once again team up with Hockey Quebec to implement a pilot project that will support long-term implementation of the Count Me Count program all hockey players in Quebec to encourage them to embody the same values on and off the ice. This broad training approach, adopted by Sport’Aide from the KiVa** approach proven in Finland, will specifically include the development of concrete skills with proven leaders in local organisations.
“We all have a role to play in changing hockey culture, and I would like to applaud the initiative by the Montreal Canadiens and Sport’Aide, which will enable the implementation of a positive approach to raising awareness within our hockey community and educating our members. to count on such allies and thus have access to the tools and resources we need to increase respect and provide a healthy environment for our young players to enjoy their sport,” said Jocelyn Thibault, General Manager of Hockey Quebec.
About Sport’Aide
Established in 2014, Sport’Aide aims to be a leader in the implementation of initiatives to promote a healthy, safe and harmonious environment for young athletes in Quebec, offering a support service to the various sports actors, both at the elite and intermediate level in the leisure sector. Sport’Aide, winner of the Together against Bullying award in the Organization category, provides listening, support and guidance services to victims and witnesses of violence in the context of sports and provides resources and support to sports organizations. at the same time take action to raise public awareness of this social issue, which is recognized by the scientific community, sports organisations, governments and child protection agencies.