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Queen's Athletics I-EDIAA Task Force

Indigenization- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, and Accessibility (I-EDIAA) Task Force (Formerly EDII)

"Within our athletic community, our varsity sport programs and entire department - as a collective – are committed to continued education and the sustained advancement of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity.  Together with talented student-athletes, student-leaders, coaches, support staff and sports experts, we are working toward making Queen's Athletics & Recreation a safer and more welcoming community that values and respects the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences of our members.  We strive to create an environment where all members feel included, where we openly and thoughtfully recognize and celebrate that our diversity makes us stronger.  We aspire to proudly claim that WE ARE ALL GAELS."
by Leslie Dal Cin, Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation
Leslie's complete message can be viewed here. (PDF)

"Queen's University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. To acknowledge this traditional territory is to recognize its longer history, one predating the establishment of the earliest European colonies. It is also to acknowledge this territory's significance for the Indigenous peoples who lived, and continue to live, upon it –people whose practices and spiritualities were tied to the land and continue to develop in relationship to the territory and its other inhabitants today. The Kingston Indigenous community continues to reflect the area's Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee roots. There is also a significant Métis community and there are First Peoples from other Nations across Turtle Island present here today."

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Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Anti-Racism, Accessibility (I-EDIAA) Coach and Staff Education Program
 
As of March 2022, the Athletics and Recreation (A&R) Department, in collaboration with the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), is putting together a year-long I-EDIAA focused education program to sustain the development of a welcoming and inclusive environment in A&R. All full-time staff and coaches are participating in a series of education sessions. Some examples of session topics include:

  • Power and Privilege
  • Anti-Racism
  • Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Pedagogies
  • Navigating Difficult Conversations
  • Gender and Sexual Diversity
  • Microaggressions

Through these sessions, staff and coaches are increasing their awareness of important I-EDIAA related concepts and issues that impact our student-athlete population, A&R, and the greater Queen's community. Additionally, these sessions aim to foster a space to engage in challenging conversations to develop practical, actionable steps for long-term change.

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A&R I-EDIAA Task Force (Formerly EDII Task Force)

April 2021

With unanimous support of the University Council on Athletics and Recreation (UCAR), A&R has formed an I-EDIAA Task Force.  

The Task Force will provide advice, identify priorities, and make recommendations to the Executive Director on matters of policy, practices and operations that impact I-EDIAA.

Pursuant to the Terms of Reference, the Task Force will:

  • Provide an ongoing forum and safe space for equity-deserving and marginalized individuals and groups to share experiences, voice concerns and influence change within A&R; 
  • Develop a shared understanding and commitment to creating a positive and inclusive culture that supports all members of our community, creates a sense of belonging and contributes to the achievement of academic and athletic goals;
  • Encourage greater diversity in our programs and operations, including identifying issues that are barriers to inclusion; 
  • Inform A&R, our leaders and members, about challenges faced by equity-deserving and underrepresented individuals and groups; 
  • Provide input on education and awareness programs for all members of the A&R community so that we may gain a deeper and more empathic understanding of the needs of equity-deserving and underrepresented individuals and groups; 
  • Identify supports and resources that would benefit equity-deserving and marginalized individuals and groups;
  • Enhance communication among A&R equity-deserving and marginalized individuals and groups; 
  • Identify areas that require further data collection and analysis; and 
  • Advise on the development of outreach and recruitment procedures that will foster sustainable diversity in all levels of A&R. 

 
Most importantly, the work of the Task Force will lead to concrete and achievable plans and actions which strive to dismantle biased systems, foster anti-racism, promote inclusion, and allow the A&R community to stand together against hate, intolerance, and injustice.  The Task Force's strategic priorities (PDF) will be posted, providing information, timelines, and updates on actionable goals to illustrate progress and continued commitment.

The A&R I-EDIAA Task Force full Terms of Reference can be found here. (PDF) 

The I-EDIAA Task Force has determined Priorities (PDF) for 2021-22:

  1. A&R Demographic Data Collection
  2. Development/Integration of BIPOC Awareness & Education
  3. Speaker Series - BIPOC Education/Awareness
  4. BIPOC Student-Athlete Network

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A&R I-EDIAA Task Force Members

February 2022

NOTE:  We are currently seeking two student members from our Recreational programs who are interested in joining the Task Force. Interested parties should contact Linda Melnick, Interim Executive Director at athletic.director@queensu.ca 

Task Force Co-Chair

  • Dr. Courtney Szto, Co-Chair (she/her) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies. Her research focuses heavily on the intersections of race and gender in sports. Dr. Szto co-authored a policy paper urging hockey organizations and government to enact policy change and education on the importance of anti-racism and was a lead advocate for Roundtable on Racism in Hockey.  She has published many articles including her first book Changing on the fly: hockey through the voices of South Asian Canadians.

For a complete list of A&R I-EDIAA Task Force Members, please see the Task Force Membership List (PDF)
 

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A MESSAGE FROM QUEEN'S ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
 
team
TASK FORCE MEMBERS

 
meeting notes
MOST RECENT TASK FORCE MEETING SUMMARY NOTES 

I-EDIAA Story Archives

Cass Penalosa on playing with Gaels Women's Basketball, winning U SPORTS bronze medal, and her work with EDII initiatives (May 11, 2022)
Jock Climie on his career in and out of sports, and the business of sport (Feb. 10, 2022)
Amelia Stapley on BIPoC Student-Athlete Network and Mentorship Program (Feb. 9, 2022)
Former Gaels student-athlete Curtis Carmichael on his time at Queen's, his bike ride across the country, and his book Butterflies in the Trenches (Feb. 3, 2022)
Queen's Men's Basketball's Ayden Adeyanju-Jackson on For Us By Us Toolkit (Nov. 21, 2021)
Anti-Racism research provides insights and action items for change across OUA (Oct. 26, 2021)
New Bursary to support Black and Indigenous Student-Athletes (Sept. 17, 2021)
Athletics & Recreation launches Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Indigenization Task Force (May 11, 2021)

A&R's I-EDIAA Speaker Series

  • Kristen Worley, a world-class cyclist, is joining Queen's on Monday, Oct. 3 to discuss her story as a former athlete and the implications of gender in sport and integrative design. More details
  • Jhanelle Peters hosted a workshop for Gaels student-athletes, coaches & staff about The Mental Health Impact of COVID: The Added Layers for Student-Athletes. Jhanelle is a Registered Psychotherapist and the Mental Health Clinician for the Toronto Raptors. Jhanelle also works with various grass-root community organizations as a Mental Health Professional and with individual clients through her Toronto-based private practice Jhanelle Peters Psychotherapy. 
  • Saroya Tinker is a professional women's ice hockey player for the NWHL's Toronto Six. A graduate of Yale, Saroya has found a passion for educating others and using her social media platforms to encourage and provide resources for others. View Soraya Tinker's Presentation to Queen's Student-Athletes. (Nov. 14/21)
  • Curtis Carmichael, Queen's Grad and former Gaels Football Player, is an award-winning social entrepreneur, mobile app developer, and author.  He shares his story with the launch of his book Butterflies in the Trenches, a memoir of his journey as one of the most courageous athletes and anti-racism activists. (Nov. 30/21)

Task Force Documents

  1. Task Force Priorities - 2021-22 (PDF)
  2. Conversations with Varsity BIPOC Members: Reflecting, Listening, Learning (February 2021) (PDF)
  3. A&R I-EDIAA Task Force Terms of Reference (PDF)
  4. 2021-22 Task Force Members

Task Force Summary Notes

Important Links

Resources