Many histories of sport are limited to celebrating successful figures of the past, which is certainly uplifting. But they often fail to unpack why true progress remains elusive within sport and beyond, despite such triumphs.
Join us on February 6 for a special lecture by eminent Black sports scholar Ornella Nzindukiyimana, exploring what it means to be a Black athlete in Canada today and the pivotal role of sport in our culture as both a platform for struggle and liberation.
The lecture will be followed by a moderated Q & A session and a social reception, with complimentary refreshments from The Peoples Caribbean Dutchpot.
Join us in community for an evening of reflection and imagination, as we look beyond the finish line and examine the impact that erasure of Black histories can have on possibilities for visioning Black futures.
Reserve your seat at Beyond The Finish Line: Exploring Black Canadian Sport Histories
About the Speaker
Ornella Nzindukiyimana (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University (located in Nova Scotia, on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People and home to the oldest Black communities in Canada) where she teaches the history of sport and physical culture.
She is a social historian with a background in Human Kinetics who earned a Ph. D. in the socio-cultural study of sport at Western University. Nzindukiyimana studies 20th century and early 21st century contexts, focusing on how nationalism, colonialism, multiculturalism, immigration, along with the intersection of race, gender, class have shaped Black peoples’ practices and experiences in what is currently Canada. Her research has documented histories in boxing, track and field, swimming, and baseball and she continues to explore histories in surfing, basketball, and hockey.
Nzindukiyimana is also currently Co-President of the Black Canadian Studies Association and the Editor of Sport History Review.
Event Details
- February 6, 2025 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Eastern
- In person lecture at the William Doo Auditorium (45 Willcocks St., Toronto)
- Lecture followed by interactive Q & A and social reception
- Complimentary refreshments from The Peoples Caribbean Dutchpot
Registration
Register to attend Beyond the Finish Line: Exploring Black Canadian Sport Histories