By Laurier Thériault
Editor’s Note: Some of the points made in the following text are drawn from the Montreal Sports Council’s draft Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy. These points are also drawn from other sources listed below.
Background
The month of June invites us to reflect on the place given to diversity in our community as a whole. I invite us to do so specifically within our sector. We must acknowledge that the sports world is deeply rooted in a traditional culture where there is relatively little room for diversity and differences. Men’s sports remain overwhelmingly dominant, and media coverage reflects this compared to women’s sports… and what about adaptive sports, which we hardly ever see on TV or in sports reports?
A few months ago, while traveling abroad, I saw a sign in a community where they were celebrating PRIDES. The plural nature of this event immediately caught my attention and got me thinking… What do we do with our pride?
When we talk about fairness
Equity is a principle and a process aimed at providing fair conditions for everyone who aspires to participate fully in society. To truly achieve a healthy and active population, it is imperative that everyone have genuine access to sports and recreational activities free from constraints created by practices or any inequitable situations that exclude our fellow citizens who are marginalized due to their origins, a disability, or their sexual orientation, for example.
Groups covered by the equity policy
Equity experts note that equity-focused groups come from communities that face significant challenges in fully participating in society. Generally speaking, it is widely recognized that these communities may face discrimination based on age, ethnic origin, disability, economic disadvantage, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, race, religion, and transgender status, among other factors.
We must therefore all work to ensure that the sports community is inclusive in its practices, so that everyone can thrive in an environment of respect, dignity, and recognition of human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion, or preference. In preparing this piece, I reached out to people in my circle who are younger than me. I wanted to know if things were finally starting to change. Some of the young people I spoke with actually belonged to one or more of the groups identified above. Although they acknowledge some progress, it is clear that we still have a long way to go to create a completely healthy, safe environment where it is enjoyable to play sports. Disparaging comments, prejudices, and biases die hard and are still all too common on playgrounds, in locker rooms, and in our sports and recreational facilities.
When will we see a truly inclusive and supportive environment in sports? What if Montreal became the very first city to be 100% inclusive in sports for everyone?
1. Culture Division, “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy,” May 2021, (accessed August 17, 2023)
2. Culture Division, “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy,” May 2021, (accessed August 17, 2023)
