WATERLOO REGION (November 18, 2021) – It is with a tremendous amount of excitement that District 8 announces on Thursday that teams and individual sport qualifiers will be able to advance to the CWOSSA Championships for the Winter athletic season. 

All schools have been eager to extend their seasons into CWOSSA levels of competition, however with the rush of implementing COVID-19 safety protocols to allow a Fall season to occur, the priority was focused on ensuring a gradual and safe return to sport. 

“Through the collaboration of our many stakeholders, District 8 was able to experience a complete and successful fall athletic season,” said Jennifer Tyszka, District 8 President. “This was allowed to happen because of our vigilant safety protocols and the diligence of all involved.”

While the Fall season was a success from many perspectives, including having a record number of students involved in inter-school athletics, there were regular calls and requests for schools to participate in the extended season of CWOSSA and OFSAA competitions. 

“As a board, WCDSB has been so very pleased to see the return of athletics. We know how wonderful it is for the general health and well-being of all involved,” said Loretta Notten, Director of Education for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. “Our fall season was a great success and we are so very grateful to our coaches and athletes who embraced this opportunity.”

Building off the success of the local District 8 competition opportunities, the next step in the safe return to sport was advancing teams and individuals to extended play. However, in order to sanction out of region travel, protocols had to be developed around transportation, potential overnight stays in hotels, aligning competition protocols with other districts and how to safely respond to individuals who may become symptomatic while out of region.

“It is even more exciting and encouraging to be able to see that for the winter season we will return to CWOSSA and OFSAA competition,” said Notten. “We are feeling confident that we can do so safely, and we are thrilled that our athletes and teams who have earned that right, will have a chance to compete at the highest level.  We wish one and all a healthy and enjoyable winter season of sport.”