Canada Soccer hosts Women and Girls Idea Day

In celebration of International Women's Day 2024, Canada Soccer has opened registration for the first-ever IDEA Women's and Girls' Day, presented by Visa, to support inclusion, diversity, equality and accessibility. The online speaker series next Thursday, March 21 will feature Olympic champion Erin McLeod as keynote speaker alongside community club leaders from Swan City FC (Grande Prairie, Alberta), United DFC (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia), and North Shore Girls SC ( North Vancouver, British Columbia).

International Women's Day is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In sports, Canadian soccer are the current Olympic champions and the only women's program to have reached the podium in each of the last three Olympic soccer tournaments. Goalie McLeod was the hero when Canada captured the nation's hearts and captured a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. After missing the 2016 tournament due to injury, she returned to the lineup when Canada won gold in Tokyo in 2021.

McLeod is more than just a hero on the field. As a pioneering athlete and advocate for gender equality in sport, McLeod brings a wealth of experience and passion, sharing invaluable insights on overcoming obstacles and achieving success in sport and as a mindfulness champion through The Mindful Project.

Women & Girls in Canadian Soccer Idea Day, presented by Visa, will amplify the great work being done in communities across our country and serve as a catalyst for change, inspiring participants to create more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible spaces. Canada Soccer will highlight best practices and success stories from soccer organizations in Canada that have made significant progress in advancing IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Access), with a particular focus on women and girls.

Canadians can register for the March 21 event using the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/recording/WN_PfkMML2wRoGuZMmzlmHoIg#/registration

To learn more about International Women's Day 2024, visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/.​

Keynote: Erin McLeod

Erin McLeod is an Olympic champion and Canadian soccer record holder from an international career spanning more than two decades. She was one of Canada's champions at the 2012 London Olympic Games, a team that was recognized as Canada's outstanding soccer team and honored by the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. She was also at her best at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Canada when Canada reached the quarterfinals in front of record crowds. Still active as a professional soccer player with Stjarnan FC in Iceland, she left international soccer in 2022 and ranks first all-time in goalkeeper contributions in Canada and second in all-time clean sheets.

Erin's interest in mindfulness began in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games when she began working with renowned sports psychologist Dr Ceri Evans. Although mind games have always been a part of her training, this has helped Erin achieve significant growth that has directly contributed to her success on the soccer field. Outside of her professional career, Erin is also a motivational speaker and outspoken advocate for human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQIA2S+ rights.​

Alongside McLeod, Women and Girls Idea Day, presented by Visa, will also highlight three amazing community club leaders who are making a real difference at a grassroots level. These three leaders are committed to attracting girls to football and ensuring their continued participation.

Swan City FC – 4HER Program (https://swancityfc.ca/)
4HER was developed with the ultimate goal of achieving gender equality through sports within the Grande Prairie community. The initiative helps empower girls and women as active participants and leaders, thus creating lasting change in their communities and beyond. 4HER is designed for females and is based on the four pillars: Empowerment, Equality, Leadership and Athletics.​
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United DFC – W-Inspire Conference (https://www.udfc.ca/content/w-inspire)
Born from a vision to empower female leaders in sports, W-Inspire began as a day-long event, which has now evolved into a vibrant platform for women and individuals of different genders involved in sports in Nova Scotia. W-Inspire supports gender equality and encourages women to break barriers in sports. It extends far beyond Nova Scotia, welcoming diverse voices.​
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North Shore Girls SC – Female-Centered Programming (https://www.nsgsc.com/nsgsc/).
​North Shore Girls SC is one of the oldest and largest female-focused, non-profit community soccer clubs in Canada. For over 35 years, North Shore Girls SC has had a dedicated team of coaches, staff and volunteers who are passionate about soccer as well as the long-term positive impact of the sport. They are committed to the growth and development of girls and women in their community as well as the continuing legacy of soccer on the North Shore.