McMaster University's Anti-Racism Symposium, 'Future Directions in Anti-Racism: Spotlight on University Athletics & Recreation', will take place Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022.

The Anti-Racism Symposium programming has been curated to assemble and engage student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and administrators from across Ontario University Athletics (OUA), U Sports institutions, and other sport-focused organizations for discussions about anti-racism within the sector. 
 

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Future Directions in Anti-Racism: Spotlight on University Athletics & Recreation
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022

Purchase Anti-Racism Symposium tickets | Click here

The day will include a keynote address from Waneek Horn-Miller, interactive panel discussions with leaders from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), workshops focused on sharing emerging and established anti-racism initiatives and best practices in areas of interest to student-athletes, coaches and university administrators, such as recruitment, education, evaluation, and culture, as well as networking opportunities.

"Coming out of the Black Student Athlete Experience review (PDF)" says Keenan Jeppesen, Associate Director, High Performance, "we realized that as a department we gathered a ton of valuable insights and learnings that could only benefit our peer institutions. The Anti-Racism Symposium was developed to create a space for discussion and sharing."

Jeppesen says that the symposium was developed with the goal of creating a forum that can help to further the conversation of anti-racism at all levels of competitive sport in Canada. 

"We truly hope that sharing the uncomfortable but important work our department has done over the past year empowers our peers to do the same. We hope to foster dialogue between student-athletes and their coaches and administrators that will lead to meaningful change."

Shawn Burt, Director of Athletics & Recreation, acknowledges that progress has been made at McMaster, but insists there is more work to be done.
 
"The steps we are actively pursuing as a community are not only to become better informed, but to better empower all of our people to enact real change both within our own programs and across the conference," says Burt.

With support from the Black Student-Athlete Association (BSAC) and McMaster University's Equity and Inclusion Office, Indigenous Student Services and Student Affairs programming for Future Directions in Anti-Racism has been developed to discuss equity, diversity and inclusion work being done at McMaster and elsewhere, and to exchange approaches with peers across the province to improve the overall racialized student-athlete and staff experience.

"The Anti-Racism symposium will act as an important mechanism to encourage ongoing discussions around supporting equitable and inclusive environments for student-athletes and staff" says Sheereen Harris, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Lead for the Department of Athletics & Recreation. 

"I hope this symposium serves as an opportunity for shared learning and a reminder that continued efforts are needed to advance equity, diversity, and anti-racism in athletics and recreation."
Marissa Dillon, a founding member of the Black Student-Athlete Council and a fourth-year student-athlete on the women's rugby team, believes that events like the Anti-Racism symposium will help to bridge the gap between BIPOC student-athletes, support-staff, administration, and coaches, while providing a space for learning and shared dialogue on anti-racism and institutional initiatives.

"The symposium is an opportunity for BIPOC student-athlete voices and experiences to be at the forefront of the conversation," says Dillon. "It will offer institutions a chance to gain a deeper understanding, through each of the workshop topics, on how they can break down and alter existing practices to better support and improve the BIPOC student-athlete experience."

"It's important to note that there is no finish line in anti-racism work" added Burt. "Our collective effort to implement the anti-racism action plan is ongoing and we look forward to building on this training through continuous dialogue and learning opportunities such as the Anti-Racism Symposium. I would like to commend our entire staff and partners across campus who have played a critical role in ensuring sustainable practices are implemented for long term, positive impact. None of this would be possible without their passion and hard work."

Participation is open to peer institution members and space is limited - attendees are encouraged to register early. Tickets for the event are available for $75, and are on sale now at mcmaster.universitytickets.com. Capacity is limited to 150 attendees, with 50 tickets being offered free of charge to OUA and McMaster Marauder student-athletes. Breakfast, refreshments, lunch, snacks and on-campus parking will be covered with admission.

Anyone requiring accommodations for the Anti-Racism Symposium should contact arequity@mcmaster.ca.

Purchase Anti-Racism Symposium tickets | Click here
 

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Speakers & Presenters

Waneek Horn-Miller - Keynote Speaker
Mohawk Olympian, Mother & Motivator

Similar to the arduous process of making wampum beads, the journey of that Waneek Horn Miller doesn't begin and end with being a Olympic Water Polo athlete. A Mohawk from the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montreal, Waneek was behind the lines during the Oka crisis in 1990 when she was stabbed by a Canadian soldier's bayonet. It was a near-death experience that marked a turning point in her life. Waneek has overcome discrimination and violence to emerge as one of North America's most inspiring female Indigenous speakers with a compelling perspective and dynamic stories to share. 

Her presentations and keynotes are aimed at bridging the gap and repairing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. While she recently stepped down from her role as for the MMIWG Inquiry to focus on her family, she continues support the goal of the Inquiry and advocates on Indigenous issues in other ways to help build healthy and prosperous communities. Waneek is an advocate for building indigenous sport and has worked with the Assembly of First Nations to develop their sport, fitness and health strategy. Drawing on her experiences as the former co-captain of Canada's Olympic women's water polo team, Waneek shares her story and teaches how to build self-esteem through a balance of education and sport. Waneek? travels extensively from border to border, speaking to Indigenous and non- indigenous audiences on issues of reconciliation, sport and why it is important we must all strive for our dreams.  

Waneek, a Carleton University graduate,  is currently working with the Indigenous forward company Manitobah Mukluks in several capacities, markedly as the the director of the Storyboot Project ? a program that facilitates mukluk, moccasin and beading workshops from one generation to the next, while also supporting traditional Indigenous artists by selling their work worldwide, online!? 

As one of Canada's few Indigenous Olympians, Waneek has used her unique experiences in life and sport combined with a passion for her culture to influence Indigenous and non-Indigenous leadership in sport and wellness, Indigenous business, women in business and community building. The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Recently named her one of Canada's most influential women in sport."If we want reconciliation, for ourselves and our children, we need to have hard conversations, build common ground, and really listen to each other." 

Teri Dennis-Davies - Panelist
Senior VP, Equity Diversity & Inclusion, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)

Justin Bobb - Presenter
Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)

Justin Bobb is the Director of Equity Diversity & Inclusion for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. He previously served as Director, Sport and Operations for MLSE LaunchPad since 2016 where he has assisted in bridging the gap, using sport as a tool of engagement for communities facing barriers. In addition to his leadership experience within the not-for-profit sector for organizations including Toronto Community Housing Corporation, Fillactive/FitSpirit and Toronto Sport Council, he currently holds Board of Directors roles for Canada's National Ballet School and the Coaches Association of Ontario as well as strategic committee roles with City of Toronto Sport Reference Group, the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and Canadian Paralympic Committee's Ontario Parasport Collective.

Marika Warner - Presenter
Director, Research & Evaluation, MLSE Launchpad

Sabrina Razack - Speaker
PhD Candidate, Women & Gender Studies - University of Toronto

Sabrina is a PhD candidate completing a doctorate at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education with a collaborative specialization in Women and Gender Studies. The focus of Sabrina's research involves the analysis of media, race, sport, gender and social movements. Sabrina's doctoral research, Beyond the Score: How 'Networks of Hope' in Digital Feminist Sport Media influence gender and racial social movements, examines the impact of social networking sites intended to progress social justice work.

Alexandria Town - Panelist
Team Canada Wrestler - York University

Alexandria Town is a Team Canada wrestler of mixed race descent, including Black, Mi'kmaq, and European ancestry. She has collected an impressive resume of international performances including Canada's first ever U23 World Championship gold and 3 Pan American Medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze). She is a York U Alumni, current Teacher Candidate, and First Aid instructor who works primarily with Indigenous community organizations. 

Chris Cheng - Panelist
Head Coach, Windsor Lancers Men's Basketball

Chris Cheng is the head coach of the Lancer men's basketball team, and just the sixth coach in Windsor's program history. 

Prior to joining the Lancers, Cheng served as the first-ever head coach of men's basketball at Nipissing University in North Bay. At Nipissing, he built the men's basketball program from the ground up and led them into their inaugural appearance in U SPORTS in the 2014-15 season. His Nipissing team entered the OUA in the tough east division and their continued improvement saw them qualify for the OUA playoffs in only their third season in existence in 2016-17, where they defeated Queen's in the first round.
 
Before his time at Nipissing, Cheng served as an assistant coach at York University. During Cheng's five seasons at York as an assistant and a recruiter for the program, the Lions reached the OUA post-season in each of those years. He also previously served as an assistant coach at Humber College. During Cheng's time at Humber, they earned two provincial championships (05, 06) and two Final Four appearances at the national championships.  Beyond his duties with their men's varsity team, Cheng also developed and served as the Head Coach for the Humber College junior varsity men's basketball team. 
 
In addition to his experience coaching in U SPORTS and the OUA, Cheng has an extensive resume with both the Canadian national and Ontario provincial programs. He was an assistant coach with the Junior Men's National team for Canada Basketball in the 2018 FIBA Americans winning a silver medal and the 2019 U19 World Championships in Greece. Before these accolades, Cheng served as a Team Manager for the Cadet and Senior Men's National Team from 2015-2017 and was the Manager of Youth Development from 2012-2015. 

He also previously served as head coach of Ontario Basketball's U17 boys provincial team from 2010-2012. Cheng's teams captured back-to-back national championships in 2011 and 2012, and he was named the 2011 Ontario Basketball Men's Elite coach of the year. Chris is also a Centre of Performance coach with the Ontario Basketball Association.
 
Cheng is a graduate from York University where he earned a Sociology Degree and an Education Degree. He is also a graduate of Humber College where he completed both his Early Childhood Education and Recreation and Leisure Services diploma. He was awarded the provincial Jill Logon Teaching Award, the Sport Alliance Award and was the recipient of the Humber College Board of Governors Award during his time there. Cheng is also currently completing his Masters of Kinesiology in Sport Management at the University of Windsor. 

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