University of Ottawa’s Black Student-Athletes Advocacy Council receives the Ontario Youth Wellness Grant

The University of Ottawa Black Student-Athletes Advocacy Council (BSAAC) is delighted to share that they have been selected to receive the Ontario Youth Wellness Grant.

This grant aids community-oriented sport organizations like the BSAAC as they strive to create recreational programs for the Black student population of the University and of Black youth from underserved communities.

The BSAAC was formed by Gee-Gee student-athletes in 2020 with the goal of increasing BIPOC representation and encouraging equity in sport. It celebrates Black culture in an academic space with the aim of breaking barriers through the power of sports.

Provided by the Foundation For Black Communities, the Ontario Youth Wellness Grant will be used to support several initiatives, including funding Black student-athlete scholarships and events like the Black Excellence Gala, Hoops 4 Heritage and Holiday KickBack. It will also fund the Youth Wellness Community Engagement Initiative through a forthcoming program called The Gee-Gees Day(s) Pilot.

"We are very excited to have gotten this grant, as it gives us the tools to celebrate Black culture in an academic space and aiming to break barriers through the power of sports," said Ketsia Kamba, a member of the Gee-Gees women's rugby program and the BSAAC's Head of Communication.

There is a lack of programming that specifically targets Black students and encourages Black youth to remain in sport after graduating high school. As such, the BSAAC is addressing this deficit by creating their own recreational programming for the Black student population of the University and the Ottawa community.

"This grant allows us to give back to the Black Community around us and provide opportunities to those who don't get them," said Mercedes Cole, a women's rugby player who is the Internal Communications Officer with the BSAAC. "The grant will also draw attention to Black athletes who deserve recognition while contributing to their careers."

The Youth Wellness grant will be used to push recognition of Black achievement in sport within the University of Ottawa and the surrounding communities as well as provide direct financial support through scholarships awarded to Black beneficiaries. The grant allows for these programs to run with full support. More information on these programs and scholarships can be found here.

The Gee-Gees are proud to have been recognized for this grant and would like to commend fellow organizations across Canada in their efforts to provide recreational programs for Black youth from underserved communities.