Our Vision
SMRC-CRMS is the leading source for innovative, evidence-based insights that are accessible, relevant, and engage the sports industry.
Our Objectives
To position Ontario sport management scholars as the leading source for evidence-based insights.
To contribute to the national dialogue on sport management policy and practice.
To bridge the gap between research and practice by collaborating with sports industry partners.
To promote collaboration among Ontario sport management scholars.
Our History
From L. to R.: Luke Potwarka (University of Waterloo), Jess Dixon (University of Windsor), Laura Wood (University of Windsor), Shannon Kerwin (Brock University), Alison Doherty (Western University), Lucie Thibault (University of Ottawa), Lisa Kikulis (Brock University), Cheri Bradish (Ryerson University), Ryan Snelgrove (University of Windsor), and Katie Misener (University of Waterloo). Note: institutional affiliations reflect the time the photo was taken.
June 6, 2013
On the recommendation of Cheri Bradish, a group of sport management researchers from throughout southern Ontario met at Brock University to discuss how they might be able to enhance collaboration among the sport management academy and industry partners, promote sport management scholarship, and strategically position the sport management academy in Ontario. From this meeting, it was decided that faculty from these institutions would share ideas and resources for how to improve the quality of sport management research and education, provide opportunities for graduate students and faculty to network on a bi-annual basis, and collectively leverage their capacity to communicate the value of sport management as both an academic discipline and professional practice. At this meeting, it was decided that the group would use the name ‘Ontario Sport Management Collective’ (OSMC).
February 7, 2014 – Western University hosted a one-day research symposium for faculty and students to learn about the many different types of research projects being carried out at each institution, and potential opportunities for collaboration across institutions.
May 24, 2014 – Collective members met in the lobby of the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA, prior to the Opening Reception of the annual conference of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). Members provided updates regarding the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and Sport Canada Research Initiative (SPRI) funding opportunities, successes, and challenges. Discussions also took place about the development of joint graduate courses and travel abroad opportunities for students. Later that year, an application was submitted by Jess Dixon, Karen Danylchuk, and Cheri Bradish to the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) to fund the development of an online course that would service graduate sport management students from throughout the province that would leverage the high concentration of Earle F. Zeigler Lecture Award recipients in the province.
December 4, 2014 – A meeting was hosted by Ryerson University in the Mattamy Athletic Centre (the former Maple Leaf Gardens). Here, the Collective continued work on its strategic plan, met with Canadian sport industry insiders, discussed funding sources to support its initiatives, and planned how best to communicate its research insights in ways that are accessible and relevant to practitioners.
February 5, 2016 – Hosted by Brock University, with financial support of Cheri Bradish at Ryerson University, faculty and students converged on the new Tim Hortons Field (home of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats) to participate in a research roundtable involving practitioners from the professional sport, non-profit sport and recreation, public, and university athletics sectors. Following a series of panel discussions, students worked in groups to design research studies that would assist practitioners to solve problems that they faced in their daily work. Faculty continued work on the strategic plan, knowledge mobilization initiatives, and planning future events. Shannon Kerwin served as the key contact for this event and the first rotating Chair of the Collective.
October 27, 2016 – Members met in advance of the Sport Canada Research Initiative (SCRI) conference in Ottawa, ON, to propose future meeting dates and locations. At this point, the group also laid out a plan to further the group’s agenda, including the SSHRC Connection Grant application to support hosting an event in 2018.
February 3, 2017 – Meetings took place at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, which included a workshop on marketing communications facilitated by Steve McAllister on how to position the Collective as the leading source for evidence-based insights in sport management throughout Ontario and beyond. A directory of Collective members and their expertise was compiled by Alison Doherty and sent the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport as information. An updated version of the directory was subsequently circulated to media in advance of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February of 2018. The remaining time was spent resolving outstanding issues related to the strategic plan and piecing together a communications plan. The further discussion also took place related to a potential SSHRC Connection Grant to support a one-day conference at the University of Waterloo, led by Katie Misener.
June 19, 2018 – Faculty from the University of Waterloo hosted the Collective on campus for a day of meetings that included a guest presentation by Debra Gassewitz of the Sport Information Resource Center (SIRC) regarding potential partnership opportunities. Further discussion took place that eventually led to the resolution of the strategic plan and the outlining of practical steps for how the plan would be operationalized. The day was capped with a keynote lecture delivered by CBC Sports Broadcaster and author, Scott Russell.
Back row from L. to R.: Alison Doherty (Western University), Ryan Snelgrove (University of Windsor), Ann Pegoraro (Laurentian University), Sarah Gee (University of Windsor), Jess Dixon (University of Windsor), Terry Eddy (University of Windsor), Katie Lebel (Ryerson University), Milena Parent (University of Ottawa), Marijke Taks (University of Ottawa), and Debra Gassewitz (SIRC); Front row from L. to R.: Luke Potwarka (University of Waterloo), Patti Millar University of Windsor), Julie Stevens (Brock University), Shannon Kerwin (Brock University), Lucie Thibault (Brock University), Kirsty Spence (Brock University), and Katie Misener (University of Waterloo). Note: institutional affiliations reflect the time the photo was taken.
Back row from L. to R.: Ann Pegoraro (Laurentian University), Katie Lebel (Ryerson University), Terry Eddy (University of Windsor), Julie Stevens (Brock University), Luke Potwarka (University of Waterloo), Milena Parent (University of Ottawa), Scott Russell (CBC), Katie Misener (University of Waterloo), Marijke Taks (University of Ottawa), Shannon Kerwin (Brock University), Ryan Snelgrove (University of Windsor), Lucie Thibault (Brock University), and Patti Millar (University of Windsor). Note: institutional affiliations reflect the time the photo was taken.
June 20, 2018 – For those who could make it, a golf outing was planned the next morning, which allowed members to network and share potential research ideas and knowledge mobilization tactics. Fore!
September 18, 2018 – After consultation with various working groups within the Collective, Alison Doherty (Chair) circulated the new strategic plan. The group name was also changed following the consultation to the ‘Sport Management Research Collective – Collectif de Recherche en Management du Sport’ (SMRC-CRSM), along with an updated media directory of all members.
May 29, 2019 – SMRC-CRMS website and Twitter feeds are officially launched during a brief meeting at the Sheraton New Orleans prior to the Opening Reception of the annual conference of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM).
From L. to R.: Terry Eddy (University of Windsor), Lucie Thibault (University of Ottawa), Katie Misener (University of Waterloo), Ryan Snelgrove (University of Waterloo), Shannon Kerwin (Brock University), and Patti Millar (University of Windsor). Note: institutional affiliations reflect the time the photo was taken.