Macewan gets $65,000 grant to address racism in hockey
Macewan University has received a $65,000 funding boost to address racism in hockey.
The funds are a grant from the federal Anti-racism Action Program and go toward a project called For the Growth of the Game being developed by Irfan Chaudhry, director of Macewan's office of human rights, diversity and equity.
“Sport is a community-building experience,” said Chaudhry in a news release. “We need to work to ensure the opportunity to participate should be open to everyone.”
Working with Macewan Athletics and community partners, the project will develop resources to address racism in, and barriers in access to, organized hockey to make the sport more inclusive.
The project will focus on small group associations and community-based sports groups, helping make them aware of the barriers they might have in their own programs. This project is one of 85 anti-racism projects across Canada to receive funding from the Anti-racism Action Program.
Through the program, the federal government is providing $15 million to projects that will work to combat systemic racism and discrimination, as well as fund organizations confronting racism and discrimination.
“Through Canada's Anti-racism Strategy, introduced in 2019, we are funding projects to combat racism in all of its forms,” said Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger, who announced the project Oct. 15.
“These projects will help address the systemic barriers that are preventing Indigenous peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities from participating fully and equitably in all aspects of society.”