Staff Column: Elana Liberman, Safe Sport Lead
Happy October! For more than five years, Sport Nova Scotia has proudly marked October as Safe Sport Month—and this year is no different. What is different are some fresh faces, new initiatives and bold ideas. But no matter the changes, our commitment at Sport Nova Scotia remains the same: to foster safe, inclusive, fun and accessible sport environments where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
If we haven’t met before—or even if we have—allow me to (re)introduce myself. I’m Elana Liberman, Safe Sport Lead at Sport Nova Scotia. With a background in freestyle skiing and law degrees focused on child protection, it’s been my honour to serve in this role for nearly six years. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside athletes, parents, coaches, officials and sport administrators who believe in the transformative power of sport.
I’m also thrilled to introduce Iain Carew, our new Safe Sport Coordinator at Sport Nova Scotia. With a background in sprint canoe kayak and a bachelor’s degree in science, Iain is excited to work on advancing our safe sport education and programming goals.
Together, Iain and I are continuing to build and support safe sport environments across Nova Scotia. To kick off Safe Sport Month 2025, here’s a look at some of the exciting projects currently underway:
Athlete Engagement Team
Over the past few months, we’ve worked closely with a group of passionate and committed athletes to shape their leadership roles within the sport community. Formerly known as the Athlete Advisory Committee, our now eight member Athlete Engagement Team is ready to connect with athletes across the province through surveys, town halls, webinars and more.
Their mission? To listen, elevate athlete voices and ensure those perspectives are reflected in programs and policy. Keep an eye on Sport Nova Scotia’s social media for updates on their fantastic work!
NS True Sport Athlete Ambassador Program
Now in its fourth year, this program continues to highlight incredible athlete and coach leaders who live out the True Sport principles—on and off the field of play. With changes happening at the national level within True Sport, we’re taking this moment to consult with past and present ambassadors and VIP coaches to reimagine the future of the program.
We remain deeply committed to showcasing inspiring sport leaders across the province—and we’d love to hear from you!
Community Education
Our dedicated team at Sport Nova Scotia is working diligently to design and deliver meaningful Safe Sport education at the grassroots level. Stay tuned for new education sessions launching in 2026, aimed at building awareness and capacity in communities province wide.
Canadian Olympic Committee Partnership
Nova Scotia was selected as one of just three provinces—alongside Quebec and British Columbia—to partner with the Canadian Olympic Committee on Safe Sport initiatives. Over the past year, we’ve collaborated on exciting projects, including a True Sport Ambassador Playbook (available in both English and French) and explored restorative approaches during the Canada Games in August.
We’re incredibly grateful for this opportunity and look forward to continued collaboration across Canada to ensure that sport is safe, healthy and empowering—everywhere, for everyone.
Here’s to another impactful Safe Sport Month—full of learning, listening and action. We hope you’ll join along on Sport Nova Scotia’s social media channels!
