(■■The status of women athletes is increasingly valued. The Star)
According to a feature in the Toronto Star, the influence of sports is emerging in various forms. Some are behind the scenes, some are playing an integral role on the sidelines, some are inspiring the next generation to think, and maybe they can too.
Tuesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day, which celebrates the achievements of 22 influential national female athletes or sports-related women in an industry that is often still unpopular Continuing to break down barriers in Canada, their presence is a far cry from the norm, and to show young girls that they can stay on the field, showing that Canadian women’s participation in sport should not continue to decline.
This is not an exhaustive list of Canadian sportswomen, and the presence of these women and their influence does not mean that there will be no jobs to do in the future, and women often play a lower role in sports than men. While diversity is needed both in sports and on rosters, women’s sports are still severely underrepresented in the media.
Leveraging influence to create a better environment
The report emphasized that even a day, a month, a year of emphasizing women’s success would not change these fundamental issues.
Still, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of some of the most influential Canadian women in sports today, using their influence to create a better environment for all who follow.
(1) Elizabeth Benn
Benn has long paved the way for women in baseball. The Toronto woman is the first woman to play in the New York Metro Baseball League. Since 2017, she has worked in the MLB office, starting as an intern, working in industrial relations, diversity and inclusion, and baseball development and operations. Benn is the league’s most senior female baseball employee ever.
(2) Emilie Castonguay
Caston Gui is the assistant general manager of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. She went from being the first female agent certified by the NHL Player’s Association to becoming the first female assistant general manager of the Vancouver Canucks in January 2022. The Montreal woman will play a leading role in player contracts and negotiations, and will manage the collective bargaining agreement.
(3) Stephanie Dixon
Dixon is Canada’s team leader for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The 19-time Paralympic swimming medalist also has many titles on his resume, including coach, mentor, speaker, media broadcaster and inclusion advocate. Aboriginal Dixon from Whitehorse continues to have a strong presence in the disability sports community at home and around the world.
(4) Lisa Ferkul
Fekur, from Toronto, will be the chief marketing officer for Golf Canada. She has been with Scotiabank for over 10 years and is currently responsible for developing Scotiabank’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy in ice hockey and will join the Canadian Golf Association later in March.
(5) Leylah Fernandez
Fernandez is a women’s tennis player. For the past 12 months, she has been the focus of the best sports news in the country. Fernandez was named 2021 Female Athlete of the Year by national media after reaching the U.S. Open final at age 19, but the Montreal teen isn’t just a powerhouse on the court. Since her breakthrough performance, she’s also Demonstrated business acumen, landing endorsement deals with the likes of Gatorade, Google, Lululemon, Air Canada’s Flair Airlines and racket company Babolat.
Other female athletes to be honored include Danielle Goyette, Kayla Grey, Gina Kingsbury, Stephanie Labbe, Brigette Lacquette, Karina LeBlanc and hockey player Sarah Nurse.
