Corporate
BMO Announced as Title Sponsor for 2024 U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship
U SPORTS, in conjunction with BlackNorth Initiative (BNI), announced today the recipients of the Athletes on Track bursary. Eight Black student-athletes from across Canada, within the U SPORTS ecosystem, were awarded the bursary in the program’s second year of operation.
Funded through BNI by Scotia Wealth Management, and Sherrard Kuzz LLP and Canada Basketball, the initiative offers a $5,000 bursary to eight Black student-athletes. BNI will additionally assign a mentor to each student, providing assistance and guidance in various general skills like resume construction and public speaking, as well as addressing individualized needs tailored to each student's specific requirements.
To be eligible for the bursary, the student-athletes identified as Black (Afro-Caribbean, African Canadian, and/or racialized), and are enrolled at a Canadian university, as well as being members of U SPORTS varsity team. The students also demonstrated financial need.
Canada West:
- Amou Madol (Saskatchewan – Women’s Soccer)
- Ethan Keen (Mount Royal – Men’s Soccer)
OUA:
- Qeila Mbonihankuye (Algoma – Women’s Basketball)
- Brendan Amoyaw (McMaster – Men’s Basketball)
RSEQ:
- Daniella Mbengo (McGill – Women’s Basketball)
- El Hadj Saliou Diop (Montréal – Men’s Track and Field)
AUS:
- Jennifer Nkuah (New Brunswick – Women’s Basketball)
- Wilfreid Kindo (Dalhousie – Men’s Soccer)
"We are immensely proud to support these talented Black student-athletes through the Athletes on Track program," said Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, Chief Executive Officer of BlackNorth Initiative. "This initiative is not just about financial assistance; it's about empowering these young individuals with mentorship and resources that transcend the playing field. By investing in their education and personal development, we are contributing to a future where diversity and excellence are celebrated in all spheres of Canadian life."
"It is with great excitement that we extend our congratulations to the deserving recipients of the 2023 bursaries,” said Pierre Arsenault, Chief Executive Officer of U SPORTS. “As the national governing body in Canadian university sports, U SPORTS is firmly committed to championing the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion and we embrace these ongoing opportunities to celebrate and to grow support for our Black student-athletes.”
About BlackNorth Initiative
The BlackNorth Initiative is on a mission to end anti-Black systemic racism throughout all aspects of our lives by utilizing a business-first mindset. We are committed to the removal of anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians. For more information, visit: https://blacknorth.ca/ and follow us on social media @blacknorthca.
About U SPORTS
U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 15,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides high performance international opportunities at FISU Winter and Summer World University Games, World University Championships, University World Cups and various educational initiatives.
U SPORTS works in collaboration with 57 members and four conferences as well as the Canadian sport system and Corporate Canada on the growth and delivery of university sport to student-athletes across the country.
For further information, please contact:
Zach Weese
Manager of Governance & Special Projects
U SPORTS
226-919-7335
zweese@usports.ca
John Bower
Director, Marketing and Communications
U SPORTS
780-667-5646
jbower@usports.ca
Sagal Abdi
Director of Social Impact & Sustainability
BlackNorth Initiative
437-997-6933
sabdi@blacknorth.ca
Shelton Mpala
Associate Director of Strategic Communications
BlackNorth Initiative
437-997-7110
smpala@blacknorth.ca