Sport'Aide and the Montreal Canadiens launch the Count me in program

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens and Sport'Aide are proud to announce on Saturday a partnership for the implementation of a training and awareness program called Count me in, intended to promote respect among hockey players, as well as those who accompany them in the practice of their sport.

This important initiative is in line with the orientations set out in the Montreal Canadiens' Respect and consent plan and is accompanied by a donation of $250,000 over two years to Sport'Aide.
"Sport'Aide's expertise in the prevention and intervention of all types of violence in a sporting context is recognized in the quality of their initiatives praised by their peers. We are convinced that the actions proposed under this program will bring about positive changes in the hockey community and will facilitate the practice of our sport in healthy and safe environments for all," explains Geneviève Paquette, Vice-President, Community Engagement for the Montreal Canadiens.
The Count me in program will focus primarily on training activities and educational tools that will engage current and former Montreal Canadiens representatives, and it will be integrated into all of the minor hockey development initiatives offered by the organization. The program will emphasize four essential values in terms of respect and well-being, namely teamwork, inclusion, skill development and leadership, and will ensure that participants understand that their well-being and performance can coexist in their sport journey.
"By partnering with Sport'Aide and getting involved as the organization has in this initiative, the Montreal Canadiens are paving the way through an innovative approach that has proven its worth. In fact, research has shown that quality leadership exercised by coaches and athletes can promote cooperation, team resilience and performance, in addition to preventing burnout and promoting the overall health of athletes*. This quality leadership involves embodying, defending and promoting positive values," explains Sylvain Croteau, General Manager of Sport'Aide.

At the same time, building on its first collaboration during the Restoring Hockey theme week last November, the Sport'Aide team and the Montreal Canadiens will again join forces with Hockey Quebec to implement a pilot project which, in the long term, will see the deployment of the program Count me in to all hockey stakeholders in Quebec to encourage them to embody these same values on the ice and outside the arena. This large-scale training approach, adapted by Sport'Aide from the KiVa\\ approach which has proven itself in Finland, will notably include the development of concrete skills with designated leaders in local organisations.
"We all have a role to play in changing the culture of hockey and I would like to salute the initiative of the Montreal Canadiens and Sport'Aide which will allow the implementation of a positive approach to raise awareness in our hockey community and educate our members. We are happy to count on such allies and thus have access to the tools and resources we need to increase respect and provide a healthy environment for our young players to enjoy their sport," says Jocelyn Thibault, General Manager of Hockey Quebec.
About Sport'Aide
Created in 2014, Sport'Aide aims to provide leadership in the implementation of initiatives promoting a healthy, safe and harmonious environment for young athletes in Quebec and to offer a support service to the various sport stakeholders, and this, both at the elite and recreational level. Sport'Aide, recipient of a Together against bullying award, in the "organization" category, offers a listening, support and orientation services to victims and witnesses of violence in a sports context, and provides tools and support to sports organizations. while taking action to raise public awareness of this social issue recognized by the scientific community, sports organizations, government and child protection authorities.