June Newsletter – Celebrating Intersectionality in Sport

June marks a time of celebration as the LGBTQ2IS+ and Indigenous communities rings in Pride and Indigenous History Month! 

Although many celebrations will remain virtual for a second year, it is important to commemorate and celebrate LGBTQI2S activism in society and sport while also recognizing the work that still needs to be done. Canadian Women & Sport is proud to be part of the coordinating committee on The Sport Inclusion Task Force to end LGBTQI2S+ bias in sport through education for and promotion of LGBTQI2S+ inclusion in Canadian sport. Learn more about the task force and find out how you/your organization can join.

Looking for resources on how to be a better ally to the LGBTQI2S+ community? Check out our We Are Sport: LGBTQI2S Inclusion panel and our Leading the Way: Working with LGBT Athletes and Coaches publication. 

As we begin #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth, we join in mourning the children who suffered or lost their lives at residential schools across Canada, and in recognizing the legacy of harm to Indigenous communities caused by racist policies, attitudes, and actions over generations. 

We recognize there is still much work to be done to ensure Indigenous women and girls are supported, safe, and championed in sport. We are excited to continue our work with leaders in the community to ensure sport is inclusive to all. Listen in on our We Are Sport: Diversity and Leadership panel to hear recommendations on how to support BIPOC women and girls. Be sure to also check out CBC Sports and CBC Indigenous’ expert panel discussing the successes, shortfalls, and unfinished business of the five calls to action on sport. 

Looking for more information on how to be an ally to the Indigenous community? Learn from sport leaders such as the Aboriginal Sport Circle, understand the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada by visiting the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, view ON Canada’s Project resources for how settlers can take action to educate ourselves and support the Indigenous community, and educate yourself on the five sports and reconciliation calls to action.

What’s happening at Canadian Women & Sport in June?

• The board of directors’ election has officially closed after a successful process by our nominations committee. We’re excited to welcome our newest members: Rahim Mohamed, Director of Soccer at Saskatchewan Soccer Association (SSA); Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer at Kruger Products; and Trinh Tham, Chief Marketing Officer at Harry Rosen. We would also like to thank our previous Chair, Nathalie Cook, and directors Rochelle Grayson and Leanne Nicolle for their tireless efforts pushing for gender equity in the Canadian sport system the past six years. 
• The Gender Equity Playbook is a three-part program that supports sport leaders to strengthen their organizations by making more equitable decisions. Baseball Canada, Sport for Life Society and Alpine Canada are three partners in the program who have shared their insights from their assessments. Learn about what these organizations took away from the program and what insight they gained through their assessments. Missed the panel? Check out the recording now. 
• In partnership with E-Alliance, Canadian Women & Sport is running a FREE webinar on the Sporting Experiences of BIPOC Women and Girls in Canada on June 9th, 2021. Be sure to register and tune in at 12pm EST to discover the findings of the research project and hear from local sport organizations on their experiences in sport. Live French translation will be made available. The webinar will also be streamed on Facebook Live.
• Game On is a quality sport and leadership initiative for girls aged 14 to 18. This 8-week program is designed to be safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate while building leadership competencies in girls to keep them in the game. A big thanks to our pilot organizations for helping us explore opportunities to test the program in different sport environments.  
• Our 2020-2021 Women in Sport Leadership Snapshot has identified that while key sport leadership roles held by women either held steady versus one year ago or moved slightly up, there is still much work to be done. This report, in partnership with E-Alliance, analyzes the successes and shortfalls of board and staff representation of women in the Canadian Sport system.

While you’re here…

• Conversation 2021, the National Women and Sport Conference, will be taking place June 8, 10-11 with Canadian Women & Sport as a partner! Be sure to register and learn from a diverse group of women sport leaders across Canada who will exchange and create ideas focused on immediate and lasting changes for women and girls in sport. Hope to see you there! 

Thanks for reading!