Tribunal asked to ban ‘racist’ team names

TORONTO • “Racist” team names and logos are creating a hostile environment for parents and children alike in local arenas and should be banned, a parent claimed before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Monday.

Brad Gallant, an indigenous parent, alleges that the city of Mississauga, Ont., discriminated against him by allowing minor league teams to use names and logos that are offensive to some.

Gallant’s children played organized hockey at cityrun rinks in Mississauga, where he said banners and trophies bearing the logos of teams like the Mississauga Braves and the Lorne Park Ojibwa created “a hostile environment.”

“I’m not ashamed of being native,” said Gallant, who is a member of the Qualipu Mi’kmaq First Nation. “I want to raise my kids to be proud of the fact that they’re indigenous.

“I just want to be able to go into the stadium and relax.”

But the city of Mississauga argued that it was a neutral party that doesn’t select the team names or logos. City lawyer Graham Walsh said Gallant refused the city’s offer to arrange a meeting with team organizers. He said the city was open to looking into removing the banners in question, but Gallant filed a human rights complaint after city staff asked for a few weeks to investigate further.

“The city is being placed in the impossible position of determining what’s discriminatory and what’s not,” Walsh said.

Gallant’s lawyers, however, said the city failed to promptly investigate his concerns.

Gallant took issue with five minor hockey teams that play around Mississauga: the Mississauga Reps and Braves, both of which use a logo similar to the Chicago Blackhawks; the Mississauga Chiefs, which uses an arrowhead in its logo; the Meadowvale Mohawks; and the Lorne Park Ojibwa.

The Ojibwa, however, changed their name this year to the Wild, without any indigenous themes — though Gallant said the old names are still displayed on championship banners in city rinks.

“When you stick them on the walls,” Gallant said in his more than three-hour testimony to the tribunal Monday, “you’re perpetuating a (hostile) environment.”

The tribunal hearing will continue on Tuesday.

PETER J THOMPSON Brad Gallant is alleging the use of offensive names and logos by minor sports teams is discriminatory.