Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada Board of Directors

Appointment Opportunities

Positions

Nine positions on the Board of Directors of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) will be vacant as of July 2, 2025, and need to be filled, including:

• three Athlete Representatives;
• a Major Games Organization Representative; and
• a National Sport Organization Representative.

The successful applicants will be appointed to the Board by the Minister responsible for the Physical Activity and Sport Act for a term of not more than three years, which is renewable for one additional term at the discretion of the Minister. A new Chairperson will be designated by the Minister on the same occasion, from among the new and continuing Board members.

Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada

The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) is a not-for-profit corporation, created and governed by the Physical Activity and Sport Act, and funded by Sport Canada. Its mission is to provide the Canadian sport community with information, expertise and assistance regarding the prevention and resolution of sports-related disputes, including as they pertain to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program and the Canada Safe Sport Program. It is proactive in dispute prevention by offering educational resources to help prevent, address and resolve conflicts quickly, minimizing jeopardy for sport organizations, teams, athletes and other members of the sport community. Where the parties involved in a sports-related dispute cannot reach a resolution on their own, the SDRCC offers a timely, cost-efficient and professional national alternative dispute resolution service. Visit crdsc-sdrcc.ca for more information about the SDRCC.

SDRCC Board of Directors

The SDRCC Board of Directors is comprised of 12 members, whose general duties and tasks are to:

• Provide strategic oversight on the operations of the SDRCC;
• Review draft material prepared by the staff;
• Prepare for and attend committee and board meetings, the board retreat and the Arbitrator-Mediator Conference;
• Participate in SDRCC initiatives as may be required from time to time;
• Be familiar with the SDRCC Code, documents, jurisprudence and processes;
• Acquire knowledge about the Canadian sport system, the UCCMS, Sport Canada, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and its Canadian Anti-Doping Program and new Canadian Safe Sport Program, a working knowledge of and familiarity with the general structure and operations of National Sport Organizations and National Multisport Services Organizations in Canada;
• Promote the SDRCC and its services where relevant and act as a representative when designated from time to time by a board committee, the Chairperson of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer;
• Draft documents/letters for the SDRCC; and
• Assist in the implementation of processes to support and/or streamline the activities and work of the SDRCC.

Key areas of competencies

Members of the SDRCC Board of Directors should possess the following competencies:

• A law degree or relevant legal background would be an asset.
• Experience in alternative dispute resolution and/or trauma-informed practices.
• Knowledge of and experience with the Canadian sport system, including familiarity with the federal government’s sport funding framework.
• Previous governance experience within sport organizations.
• Ability to communicate in both official languages.
• Understanding of issues facing amateur sport in Canada.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a team environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to commit sufficient time and energy to the SDRCC.

Selection Criteria

The selected candidates must collectively reflect the following characteristics:

• Canada’s regional and cultural diversity, linguistic duality, and the broad diversity in Canadian sport;
• significant knowledge of the Canadian sport system and the nature of disputes that may arise;
• expertise in alternate dispute resolution and the maintenance of an alternative dispute resolution system; and
• experience working in a volunteer setting.

In addition, the selection of directors must ensure that:

• a minimum of 3 of the 12 directors shall be athletes, either active or retired within the past 8 years;
• one of the directors shall be a coach, either active or recently retired within the past 8 years;
• one of the directors shall be a current National Sport Organization board member or administrator;
• one of the directors shall be a current Major Games Organization board member or administrator; and
• No more than 8 of the 12 directors shall be of the same gender.

Eligibility factors and conditions of appointment

To be considered for these positions, candidates must clearly demonstrate that they meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old, have not been declared incapable by a court in Canada, have not declared bankruptcy, and be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Successful candidates must commit to:

• dedicating an average of 1 hour per week to SDRCC-related business; and
• participating in board meetings (4 to 6 annually), committee meetings (6 to 8 annually) and an annual retreat. Most of these meetings are held via conference call.

Official languages and diversity

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing candidates for these positions. Candidates are therefore encouraged to include in their application their ability to speak and understand their second official language. Preference may be given to candidates who are members of one or more of the following groups: women, Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQI+, and persons with a disability. Candidates can voluntarily indicate, in their cover letter, if they are a member of one or more of the groups identified above. It is not mandatory to provide this information, which will be kept for statistical purposes.

The Government is committed to ensuring that its nominations for potential appointments take into consideration the desire to achieve gender parity and reflect Canada’s diversity, in terms of linguistic, regional and employment equity representation.

Compensation

No director shall receive an honorarium or other remuneration from the SDRCC. However, reasonable expenses incurred by directors in the performance of their duties may be reimbursed, including costs and expenses related to attending meetings of the Board.

How to apply

Candidates who wish to apply should provide:

1. A cover letter outlining their skills and experience while bearing in mind the selection criteria and key areas of competency noted above;
2. A curriculum vitae; and
3. A current letter of reference that confirms their cover letter statements.

All applications must be received no later than midnight (Pacific time) on July 14, 2025 (extended from July 2, 2025). It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the application is received. Applications received after the deadline will not be submitted for consideration.

Cover letter, curriculum vitae and letter of reference must be sent in confidence via email to: nominationsportefeuille-portfolioappointments@pch.gc.ca

Remarks

Information sent by email is not protected. Please ensure sensitive personal information, such as your Social Insurance Number and birthdate, are not included in your application.

Documents received after the deadline will not be accepted. Documents may be submitted in either French or English.

Results of the selection process will be sent to all candidates at the email address provided on their application.

Privacy Notice Statement

The personal information you provide on this application is collected for potential ministerial appointment purposes. This information may also be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates and for statistical reporting on diversity and employment equity. The information is collected under the authority of paragraph 4(2)(d) of the Department of Canadian Heritage Act and uses of this personal information is described in Standard Personal Information Bank PSU 919 - Members of Boards, Committees and Councils.

Your personal information is protected under the provisions of the federal Privacy Act. Under this Act, you have the right to access your personal information and request changes to incorrect information. If you wish to avail yourself of this right or require clarification about this Privacy Notice Statement, contact by email the Director of Access to Information and Privacy, Canadian Heritage. For further details on requests for access or correction, please consult the Info Source publication.