Goal of online survey in Calgary is to combat racism in sports

Calgary officials are conducting an online survey with the goal of helping leaders better support sports organizations in their efforts to combat racism in the western Canadian city.

Individuals are encouraged to anonymously submit The City of Calgary’s Racism in Sports survey.

Submissions will be accepted until Dec. 15.

The survey can be viewed here www.calgary.ca/RacismInSports

It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the survey.

City officials are hoping the survey helps them to better understand the participation and experiences of Indigenous, Black and diverse racialized Calgary residents involved in sports.

This marks the first time Calgary is conducting a survey on this issue.

Jyoti Grewal, a learning and development consultant with the city of Calgary, said the survey was prompted because local officials have heard through a pair of organizations that individuals have stated they have experienced racism while competing in sports.

City officials are working alongside Sport Calgary and the Sport for Life to conduct the survey.

Sport Calgary is an organization that assists, supports and influences the growth of sport in the city. And the Sport for Life is a national organization looking to create necessary changes within the sport and physical activity ecosystem.

“This is kind of the first step in a multi-step process,” Grewal said of the survey.

Besides city reps, Grewal said Sport Calgary and Sport for Life officials will also be reviewing information obtained via submitted surveys.

Grewal said information will also be shared with other sports organizations in Calgary.

City officials are expected to begin hosting focus groups early next year as the next phase of this project.

And then by next spring it is expected that actions will be recommended to combat racism in Calgary sports.

The survey went online on Nov. 12. An early December date had originally been set for the survey to be completed.

But Grewal said that deadline has now been extended until the middle of the month. City officials are conducting a media campaign blitz, hoping to spread awareness of the campaign.

“We want to hear from as many diverse people as we can,” she said.

But Grewal is uncertain how many individuals will complete the survey.

“I don’t know if I can guess what that ballpark figure would be,” she said.

Though information obtained through the survey will remain confidential, those who complete it will have the option to enter to win some prizes.

Ten adult pool passes will be handed out. And 10 family leisure centre passes will also be awarded.

City officials are not immediately looking at surveys as they come in. The plan is to wait until Dec. 15 and then start viewing the submitted surveys and tabulating results.

Grewal said officials created the anonymous survey as they wanted to create safety and allow those making a submission to speak freely.

But Grewal added there is space in the survey for those who do wish to be contacted about specific racism incidents they have encountered.