Play and Care Forum 2027

May 1-2, 2027 | Saint Mary’s University Campus, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Expressions of interest due March 1, 2027

The Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health invites participation in an exploratory forum examining the relationship between the “Field of Play” and the “Field of Care” in sport.  

Those who are deeply involved in sport are intimately familiar with the “Field of Play” —where the action happens—there is a significant gap in the understanding of the “Field of Care”—where support for that action, and the athletes involved, is found.  

The goal of this forum is to raise critical questions and navigate uncertainties in this interplay; identify contradictions, stuck points, or fruitful lines of inquiry; and highlight emerging work across university sport, community sport, and the provincial system. Ultimately, we hope to encourage conversation across and within sectors to clarify how care currently manifests in sport, and to identify the conditions necessary to deeply embed it within sport organization, governance, and administration. 

What We're Looking For

As much as we seek answers and solutions, we also seek stories, narratives, experiences, questions, and observations about the relationship between the Field of Play and the Field of Care.

We are curious to hear how these spaces intersect in practice, and what might change look like beyond online modules, policies, codes of conduct, reporting mechanisms, environmental scans, risk assessments, or shifting more responsibility onto consultants and volunteers.

We also welcome experimental or non-traditional scholarly approaches or ideas (conversation starters, visioning exercises, practical reflections, talking circles, photo essays, or other creative approaches).

How to Participate

We warmly welcome interest from students, researchers, coaches, administrators, volunteers, athletes, policy makers, and more. The structure and format of the forum will be based on the nature of the activities proposed by participants.

Please review this document for the full ontology informing the Forum.

Statement of Interest

Please include the following in your Expression of Interest Document:

• Full Name
• Email Address
• Job Title/Role
• Institutional Affiliation (if relevant)
• Details of your contribution to the Play and Care Forum (including how you plan to engage the audience with your work)
• Please include 1-2 sentences noting the probable format of your participation (e.g. poster, presentation, facilitated discussion, photo essay, narrative, etc.)

Please keep the total word count of your proposal to 500 words or less (not including contact information).

Submit your Expression of Interest by March 1, 2027 using the following link: Registration Form.

Further Information

Please reach out to augie.westhaver@smu.ca with questions or for further information.