Athletes on Track
Providing financial support and world-class mentorship opportunities for Black student-athletes
Current Reality
A recent article by the University of Victoria indicated that, like Indigenous students, Black and Asian students are also significantly impacted by racism in Canadian post-secondary education.
They face racial microaggression and higher incidences of stress, drop-out, and mental health struggles that may inevitably lead to lower academic achievement.
Program Description
Athletes on Track is a bursary and mentorship program designed to financially support university-level student-athletes and supply them with the tools necessary to enter and thrive in the job market once they graduate. The program consists of a $5,000 bursary which will be awarded to eight Black student-athletes. A mentor will also be provided to each student by BNI for support and guidance in general skills such as resume building and public speaking, as well as topics targeted more specifically to each student’s requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
- The student-athlete must identify as Black (Afro-Caribbean, African Canadian, and/or racialized).
- The student-athlete must be enrolled at a Canadian University (U SPORTS).
- The student-athlete must demonstrate financial need.
- The student-athlete must be a member of a U SPORTS varsity team.
- Previously awarded winners will be eligible to re-apply in the future for the bursary, should they continue to meet program requirements.
Financial Component
- $5,000 bursary awarded to eight (8) Black student-athletes (one male and one female per conference).
- Recipients are encouraged to use this money towards room and board or books, however, there is no restriction on what the bursary can go towards.
- $5,000 bursary awarded to eight (8) Black student-athletes (one male and one female per conference).
Mentorship Component
- Through the BlackNorth Connect Mentorship Program, each bursary recipient will be paired with mentors, based on identified career aspirations.
- Mentors will include senior leadership & community leaders from our signatories and community network across Canada.
- Designed to improve accessibility for the Black Community to employment, internships, and mentorship opportunities.
Support Us
Scholarships with TMU
Since its creation in 2020, the BlackNorth Initiative (BNI) has been uniquely effective in rallying corporate Canada in the battle against anti-Black systemic racism. From board representation to a diverse workforce inclusion, from educational opportunity to pay equity, BNI has been shining a light on social and economic inequities and putting in place concrete measures and goals to address them.
BNI has focused its attention on the legal profession and legal education and the media industry and journalism education to increase the representation and inclusion of Black talent and voice. BNI’s mission to change the face of corporate Canada aligns with Toronto Metropolitan University’s desire to build a different kind of law and creative school that will equip its students with the multiplicity of perspectives required to be a champion for any and all people.
The Wes Hall Award for Black Journalism
A five thousand dollars annual award to be disbursed to:
- a first-year undergraduate student enrolled full-time in the School of Journalism
- who self-identifies as Black (including as Afro-Caribbean or African Canadian),
- demonstrates financial need,
- and demonstrate a commitment to their community.
To launch in Fall of 2022. For more information, please contact us at programs@blacknorth.ca.
The BlackNorth Initiative Scholarships
A renewable entrance scholarship of five thousand dollars to be awarded to five students:
- the same cohort of students enrolled full-time in the Lincoln Alexander School of Law’s JD Program of September 2021
- who self-identifies as Black (including as Afro-Caribbean or African Canadian),
- demonstrates financial need,
- and demonstrate a commitment to their community.
For more information, visit Scholarships & Awards – Lincoln Alexander School of Law – Ryerson University