Anti-Racism Report

In August 2020, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) took the first step toward actively acknowledging and addressing the systemic racism that exists within university sport with the formation of the Black, Biracial, and Indigenous (BBI) Task Force. In October 2021, Ontario University Athletics (OUA), in conjunction with the Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity, and Anti-Racism in Sport (IDEAS) Research Lab out of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, released the Anti-Racism Project report.

The OUA is now sharing the first progress report on the work, action, and changes that have been completed to date based on the insights and research we have gathered to ensure we are being transparent, honest, and accountable in the actions we have taken and will continue to take moving forward.

As a leader and hub for our community, we have focused our action items for change around areas of education opportunities. This is especially relevant considering how big the knowledge and awareness gap was that racism even existed. In the following document, we’ve outlined how we’re tracking against our priority areas, along with a list of additional action items. In particular, we are proud of publicly committing to change within our OUA community, influencing policy changes, and implementing educational programs. This progress report is shared to provide accountability and transparency into our process. Though we’re proud of our progress to date, we recognize we still have much more work to do. Our work is not done until racism is eradicated.

While we will formally report on our progress annually, we will make sure our everyday actions are our true measure of advancing towards a safe, equitable, and diverse culture for the OUA. We are so grateful to all those who have dedicated their personal time and lived experiences to these efforts thus far, and we look forward to continuing our work together.

READ FULL OCTOBER 2022 UPDATE

Ontario University Athletics (OUA), in conjunction with the Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity, and Anti-Racism in Sport (IDEAS) Research Lab out of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, recently embarked on an Anti-Racism Project to help shed light on members’ experiences with racism. 

The OUA Anti-Racism Project, which was largely inspired by the experiences and recommendations of the of the conference's Black, Biracial, and Indigenous (BBI) Task Force, was undertaken to create and disseminate knowledge about the demographics and experiences of student-athletes, coaches, and sport administrators across the conference.

Said Dr. Janelle Joseph, Founder and Director of the IDEAS Lab, “This project was unique as it’s the only research I have done that examined a singular institution – a provincial athletic conference – from the perspectives of a wide range of stakeholders, including administrators, coaches, and student-athletes. This allowed us to get a good understanding of the relationship between individual experiences and systemic barriers, especially across such a large and diverse province.”

Among those who provided their insights via the questionnaire designed by Joseph and her team were 4,058 student-athletes, 716 coaches, and 227 sport administrators, which equated to nearly 45 per cent of the OUA’s membership. Moreover, 107 members, including all 20 athletic directors, participated in interviews and focus groups that contributed to the key findings and recommendations.

The information collected will support the identification and refinement of strategies to advance efforts to help make the OUA an inclusive and safe community where all people, regardless of race or other socially-determined circumstances, have equal opportunities to achieve their full potential for health, well-being, and academic and athletic success

READ FULL OUA ANTI-RACISM REPORT