Community Development Committee Call Out

ONTARIO WEIGHTLIFTING ASSOCIATION

18 King Street East, Suite 1400, Toronto Ontario

info@onweightlifting.ca

www.onweightlifting.ca

The Ontario Weightlifting Association is seeking motivated, community-minded, and results-oriented individuals to serve on its Community Development Committee (CDC).

The Community Development Committee is an Operating Committee of the OWA, reporting to the VP Administration and President, and plays a central role in growing the sport, strengthening community connection, and building a more sustainable future for weightlifting in Ontario.

This committee supports the OWA Board by planning, coordinating, and delivering initiatives that strengthen community engagement, fundraising, sponsorship, and outreach across all levels of the sport—and by making related recommendations to the Board.

We are looking for people who want to roll up their sleeves: to bring new people into the sport, build partnerships, raise funds, and help create events and experiences that make our community stronger.

Role Overview

The Community Development Committee helps OWA grow participation, diversify revenue, and build a more resilient and connected sport system across Ontario.

This committee focuses on outreach, fundraising, sponsorship, and community engagement. This includes identifying and delivering community outreach events that promote the sport and raise OWA's profile (such as the Her Sport Festival), developing partnerships with schools and community organizations, building sponsorship and fundraising pipelines, and strengthening connection and belonging within the membership at OWA events and gatherings.

To avoid duplication, the Community Development Committee coordinates with the EDI Committee: the EDI Committee leads on equity-driven access and representation, while the Community Development Committee leads on revenue generation, outreach events, and community partnerships. Where the two intersect—such as outreach to underserved communities—the committees coordinate through the VP Administration and President.

This is a practical, working committee focused on delivery—not just discussion, but planning, organizing, and getting initiatives done on the ground that improve recruitment, retention, and the long-term sustainability of the sport.

Key Responsibilities

The Committee will lead, coordinate, and support work in the following areas:

In alignment with OWA's strategic plan, support outreach, fundraising, and community engagement initiatives that strengthen participation, recruitment, and long-term sustainability across the sport
Recommend strategies to diversify and grow revenue and membership through sponsorship, fundraising, and community partnerships
Broaden recruitment pathways for schools, community organizations, and other groups, including outreach to underserved communities
Identify, secure, and deliver outreach and community events, including opportunities, partners, sponsors, volunteer mobilization, event coordination, promotion, and on-site delivery
Evaluate outreach initiatives and develop delivery guides for local clubs to leverage engagement strategies independently
Plan and support the OWA through community-building and member engagement activities at OWA events and gatherings

Committee Composition & Eligibility

The Community Development Committee is composed of five (5) to nine (9) members, including:

Chair: Appointed by the OWA Board
Members (four to eight additional members)

From among its members, the Committee designates leads for its core workstreams. When applying, you're welcome to indicate interest in one of these roles:

Sponsorship & Fundraising Lead – sponsorship pipeline, fundraising campaigns, and partner stewardship
Events Lead – planning, delivery, and documentation of outreach events
Member Engagement Lead – community-building and member engagement activities

Applicants may include individuals from across the OWA community, including:

Club operators and/or coaches
Athletes (including Masters and/or high performance pathways)
Individuals with relevant lived or professional experience in areas such as fundraising, sponsorship, marketing and communications, community outreach, event delivery, education, or partnership development

Applicants must:

Be 18 years of age or older
Be a resident of Ontario
Be a Regular Member of the Corporation in good standing
Be in good standing with the PSO

Members are selected by the OWA Board from a pool of applicants. The Board reserves the right to appoint, recruit, or remove members to ensure appropriate composition and committee effectiveness.

Additional Responsibilities of the Chair

In addition to the general responsibilities of committee members, the Chair helps lead the work of the Committee by:

Developing agendas and ensuring meetings are properly documented
Developing work plans and delegating tasks between meetings
Chairing meetings and guiding recommendations within the Committee's mandate
Acting as the primary liaison between the Committee, VP Administration, President, and Board
Preparing written reports of recommendations and progress for the Board
Representing the Committee to the Board and Members as requested
Helping ensure the Committee stays aligned with OWA priorities and strategic goals
The Chair works closely with the VP Administration and President throughout the term.

Essential Skills

Successful candidates will clearly demonstrate strength in the following areas:

Reliability and follow-through
Oral and written communication
Collaborative decision-making
Initiative and a hands-on, delivery-focused approach
Analytical and critical thinking
Systems-level thinking
Professional judgment and integrity

Additional Essential Skills – Chair Applicants interested in the Chair role should also demonstrate:

Strong facilitation and leadership skills
Organizational and planning skills
Governance awareness and/or experience
Professional credibility and sound judgment

Assets

The following experience or qualities are considered strong assets:

Experience with fundraising, sponsorship, or revenue generation
Experience with event planning and delivery
Experience with marketing, communications, or partnership development
Experience serving on committees, boards, or working groups
Experience in sport leadership, non-profit governance, or community engagement
Connections to schools, community organizations, or potential sponsors and partners

Commitment

Term: Two (2) years
Meetings: Approximately once every 1–2 months
Additional work: Ongoing between meetings as required, particularly during active fundraising or event periods
Members are expected to prepare for meetings, engage in committee work, and maintain confidentiality of committee discussions.

Application

If you want to help grow the sport, build partnerships, and deliver events and initiatives that make weightlifting in Ontario stronger and more sustainable, we would love to hear from you.

This committee is an opportunity to make practical change—bringing new people into the sport, strengthening community, and building the partnerships and resources that will support weightlifting in Ontario for years to come.

To apply, please fill out the form below with a short statement of interest and any relevant experience by Monday, July 29th, 2026.

Full Name

First NameLast Name

Email

example@example.com

Are you a current OWA Member?

Are you an Ontario resident?

Have you read the role description and the time/duration commitment?

What role are you applying for?

Are you also applying for the position of Chair?

Tell us about your connection to Olympic weightlifting and the OWA. What draws you to the Community Development Committee, and to work that grows the sport through outreach, fundraising, and community partnerships?

This helps us understand your connection to the sport and the organization, your motivation for applying, and what perspectives, experiences, or values you would bring to the role. This may include your involvement as an athlete, coach, official, club leader, volunteer, or other relevant professional or lived experience.

The Community Development Committee works to grow the sport and diversify OWA's support through outreach, fundraising, and partnerships. Where do you see the biggest opportunity for OWA to strengthen its community or build new pathways into the sport?

This helps us understand your perspective on current barriers, opportunities for growth, and how you think about meaningful change within the sport.

How would you like to contribute to this work, and what experience, connections, or professional background would help you move it forward effectively—whether in fundraising, sponsorship, events, outreach, communications, or partnership building?

This may include lived experience, coaching, athlete experience, club leadership, education, advocacy, professional expertise, or community work.

Committee work often involves ongoing communication, preparation between meetings, and steady follow-through alongside work, school, and personal commitments. How do you typically manage competing priorities and ensure you can stay consistent with long-term responsibilities?

This helps us understand your capacity, reliability, and approach to sustained volunteer leadership.

Please describe a time you helped lead, organize, improve, or advocate for a project, program, team, or community initiative. Please include how you approached communication, collaboration, and helping move the work forward.

This helps us understand your leadership style, initiative, and how you work with others to create meaningful progress.

Chair: If you are interested in being considered for the Chair role, please describe any experience you have with committee leadership, facilitation, governance, or helping guide group decision-making and accountability.

This helps us understand leadership readiness for applicants interested in supporting the committee in a Chair capacity.

Upload resume

2026 Community Development Committee Call-Out