My name is Brandon Bourcier and I work for the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. We are a not for profit based in Ottawa that aims to promote diversity and advocate for the LGBT community in many different faucets. Our resources and programming can be used to uplift gender and sexual minorities, as well as give the tools to wider populations in building allyship. As a leader in anti-discrimination work, CCGSD runs programming all over Canada and the United States. Because of our hundreds of volunteers, we are able to reach over 250,000 people annually
I've always been very involved in various athletic communities- I completed my Kinesiology degree at the University of Ottawa and have been playing competitive sports for as long as I can remember. So being more aware of inclusivity and accessibility in sport is something I'm very passionate about!
As the Sport Inclusion Coordinator, my focus is on athletic communities, and a large part of my job is education- I can offer free sport inclusion training to your volunteers, coaches or staff (in which they receive a Sport Inclusion certification from the CCGSD upon completion of the workshop). I've travelled across Ontario and have run many workshops and presentations regarding inclusion in sports and all the issues we may face now that more LGBT identifying people are out and comfortable with being open. I feel like it is a great training for anyone in an athletic community to have, especially coaches, and I would love the oppourtunity to get involved with your organization in any way that I can.
Here is a description of what I talk about during my workshops (I can tweak it to focus on certain topics that pertain to wherever I'm running the workshop);
This workshop is meant to begin conversations surrounding heterosexism (homophobia) and cissexism (transphobia) within sports that typically involve exclusionary policies and professional challenges surrounding coming out. We will foster an understanding of the varying experience of LGBTQ+ athletes by introducing definitions and examining barriers that exacerbate the lack of queer individuals participating in sports. We will facilitate discussions surrounding negative slurs, locker room challenges and on-the-field and management challenges directed towards LGBTQ athletes. This will be implemented through examining the histories of exclusion (e.g. gender verification testing, gender inequalities in sport) that resulted in athletes facing extreme levels of emotional trauma, public and media ridicule, and even being banned from playing. Finally, we will provide participants the tools to challenge everyday actions of exclusion and instruct them how to create inclusive spaces and ways to become an ally within their organizations.
I've done presentations that have been 45 minute sessions, and alternatively I have done full day training sessions as well. The youngest groups I've presented to would be about 10 years old, and on the flip side of that I have trained university students, coaches, volunteers, and staff of various establishments.
If this is something you're interested in pursuing, please do not hesitate to contact me with any more questions, comments, or concerns!
Mr. Brandon F. Bourcier
(pronouns: he/him/his)
Sports Inclusion Coordinator / Coordinateur sportif de l'inclusion
The Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity |
Le Centre canadien de la diversité des genres & de la sexualité
C304-440 rue Albert St, Ottawa, ON K1R 5B5 (territoire Algonquin Territory)
sports@ccgsd-ccdgs.org | Tel: 613-400-1875