Video aims to tackle racism in Manitoba sports
A new video is taking aim at a pervasive problem in sports.
Several prominent Winnipeg athletes, coaches and officials shared their experiences to show the impacts of racism and to stop it from happening.
As a curler, Shawna Joynt medalled at the Canadian Deaf Games held in Winnipeg in 2018. She said because she’s hard of hearing and Indigenous her participation in sport has meant breaking down barriers.
“Trying to make sure I understand to hear properly and I wasn’t given a lot of the opportunity to play because of my skin colour,” Joynt said.
It’s why Joynt, who is now vice president of the Manitoba Deaf Sports Association, shared her experience in the video aimed at demonstrating and eliminating racism in sport.
The video, which was released by the Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign features Andrew Jean-Baptiste of the Winnipeg Valour FC, retired Winnipeg Blue Bomber Obby Khan, volleyball Olympian Wanda Guenette and many other Manitoba athletes, coaches and officials.
Gololcha Boru, a project consultant for the Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign, said recurring incidents of racism in sport prompted the campaign to help ensure the safety of youth participants.
“It’s pervasive and hopefully this campaign can shine a light on it and maybe we can reckon with racism within sport,” Boru said.
The Anti-Racism in Sport Campaign is also working on releasing a research component to highlight how often incidents of racism are occurring in sports throughout the province.
It’s an issue which is still fresh in the mind of parent Roger Brightnose.
His 16-year-old son Keagan had opposing fans and players direct racist remarks towards him at a high school hockey game in Swan River Oct. 31.
Brightnose hopes the release of the video creates more awareness.
“It’s a really good feeling that they’re reaching out to other athletes as well, such as our son Keagan, who’ve experienced this type of behaviour,” Brightnose said.
Joynt, who has two teenage sons of her own participating in sport, is now seeing the issue as a parent and team manager.
“I don’t tolerate that kind of stuff and I get involved and we discuss about this and I make it clear to a lot of the coaches — how would that make you feel if that was your kid going through that,” Joynt said.
She hopes sharing her experience will help demonstrate all people, regardless of their background, have an equal right to play.
The campaign is visiting schools and will also offer anti-racism training opportunities for provincial sport organizations, community centres as well as parents and officials.
You can watch the full video here:
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Golf season a summer tourism driver in Canada
Golf is a sign of spring and summer and a major driver for seasonal tourism, experts say.