The Ottawa Sport Council is pleased to announce the release of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panel Discussion Video.  This video is being released with the continued support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund as part of the Ottawa Sport Council’s  Rebound program. The program complements and enhances the resources found in the Ottawa Return to Play Roadmap.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Panel Discussion Video

The EDI Panel Discussion Video is a conversation among leaders in our sport community about creating fun, safe, and welcoming sport experiences for everyone. Panelists share their lived experiences and perspectives on levelling the field of play. 

Meet the EDI Panelists:

• Shauna Bookal, Field Hockey Ontario
  Shauna is the Executive Director of Field Hockey Ontario as well as a part-time professor for Durham College’s Sport Management program. Shauna also has extensive experiences with the Coaching Association of Canada and the Black Canadian Coaches Association. Shauna brings a wealth of knowledge to the panel discussion and believes in the power of representation and inclusion for all.
• Justin Bobb, MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership)
  As the Director of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion for MLSE, Justin supports using sport as an agent for positive change and a tool for engagement for youth facing barriers. Justin has previously worked with MLSE LaunchPad, Toronto Community Housing, as well as the Toronto Sports Council. He also has been a dedicated basketball coach.
• David Muddiman, Gay Ottawa Volleyball
  As the President of Gay Ottawa Volleyball, David works to create space for athletes who may have had negative experiences around sports, having been alienated, intimidated, or even bullied in athletic spaces due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. David and Gay Ottawa Volleyball believe in the power of sport to create inclusive communities and bring folks together.

The panel is moderated by Ian Mendes, a Canadian journalist currently working as a senior writer for The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, Ian was the afternoon talk show host for TSN 1200 as well as a television reporter for Rogers Sportsnet. Ian is dedicated to the diversification of Canadian sports journalism.

The objective of this panel discussion is to start a conversation regarding how to enable Ottawa community sport organizations to be more inclusive and to create a safe, fun and welcoming experience for all members of our community. Later in the fall, we look forward to hosting facilitated conversations (Huddles) for Ottawa community sport organizations.  The EDI Huddles will build on the conversations from the EDI Panel Discussion Video and give members of the community an opportunity to participate. Further information including how to register for the Huddles will be communicated on October 13, 2021.

Click here to watch the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Panel Discussion Video and stay tuned for more details on how to join the conversation.