By Ethan Ready
Black History Month

UNBC’s Tyrell Laing selected to speak during U Sports Black History Month live event

Feb 10, 2021 | 11:30 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – Tyrell Laing is proving he’s not done.

It was only a few weeks ago that Laing, a fifth-year guard with the UNBC Timberwolves Men’s Basketball team, said it was his duty to continue to be an advocate for equality and anti-racism here locally.

That same week, Laing won the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District VIII grand gold award for his message in UNBC Athletic’s Black Lives Matter: A Student’s Plea To Be Seen, Heard. The video was produced and released last June. CASE District VIII represents post-secondary institutions across the Pacific Northwest in the United States as well as Western Canada. But Laing’s mission isn’t over.

On Wednesday (Feb. 10), Laing was named as a speaker for U SPORTS Conversations, a live event celebrating Black History Month featuring several prominent Black personalities with ties to university sports in Canada. The event is set to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Homeowner grant
Local politicians raise concerns over province "taking advantage of the north"
48m ago
Highway of Tears
Public safety ministers attend Highway of Tears Symposium
1h ago
Council of Forest Industries
Economic impact report on forestry grim
1h ago
Courtesy: U Sports

The live event will be hosted by NBA TV Canada/Toronto Raptors personality and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Producer Savanna Hamilton – a former member of the Ryerson Rams women’s basketball team from 2014-18 – the event features eight panellists, including prominent Black student-athletes, coaches, sports administrators and alumni of U SPORTS member athletic programs and institutions.

The live conversation represents an opportunity for U SPORTS to hear from those in their athletic community that has not been available in the past – by celebrating the success stories of the Black community.

“We are proud to showcase today’s BIPOC leaders across all levels of university sport in celebration of Black History Month,” said U SPORTS Interim CEO Dick White. “This is an important opportunity to listen to their experiences, educate our network and support our Black teammates and colleagues as they empower the next generation.”

Speakers scheduled to participate include:

  • Tyra Blizzard (2020 graduate, Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s basketball)
  • Tyrell Laing (Fifth-year guard, UNBC Timberwolves men’s basketball)
  • Kryshanda Green (2020 graduate and team captain, Ryerson Rams women’s hockey)
  • Lee Anna Osei (Head coach, StFX X-Women basketball & Founder, Black Canadian Coaches’ Association)
  • Charles Kissi (Head Coach, Guelph Nighthawks (CEBL), former police officer)
  • Tenicha Gittens (Head coach, Concordia Stingers women’s basketball)
  • Donnovan Bennett (Sportsnet personality; Former running back, Western Mustangs football)
  • Dr. Ivan Joseph (Vice-President Student Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University)
by Ethan Ready

What's Trending

Homeowner grant
Local politicians raise concerns over province "taking advantage of the north"
48m ago
Highway of Tears
Public safety ministers attend Highway of Tears Symposium
1h ago
Council of Forest Industries
Economic impact report on forestry grim
1h ago
Wanted Wednesday
32-year-old man wanted on drug trafficking charge
1h ago
Tidewater
Tidewater penalized for 'high-risk violation'
3h ago