Sportsnet and Ryerson University Partner to Launch the Sportsnet Diversity and Gender Equity Initiative

TORONTO (January 30, 2020) Teaming up to champion diversity and inclusion in sports media, Sportsnet and Ryerson University’s Faculty of Communications & Design, FCAD, have announced the Sportsnet Diversity and Gender Equity Initiative, set to launch for the Fall 2020 semester.

The Sportsnet Diversity and Gender Equity Initiative empowers students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in sport media. Sportsnet has committed $100,000 to FCAD’s Sport Media program to provide scholarships to four students, plus year-round diversity workshops at the university’s Global Experience Sport Lab (GXS). The scholarships will be awarded to two high-performing third-year students and two students entering the program who identify as a woman, Indigenous, and/or a member of an equity-seeking group.

As part of the partnership, Sportsnet will also provide resources and mentoring opportunities to foster a culture of diversity in the workplace for Sport Media students.

“Sportsnet is dedicated to cultivating a new generation of media professionals that reflects Canada’s diversity,” said Bart Yabsley, President, Sportsnet. “The Sportsnet Diversity & Gender Equity Initiative embodies the core values and identity we strive towards as a network and media leader in Canada. We are tremendously excited to work with Ryerson to offer this program to Sport Media students.”

“It’s through important partnerships like this with Sportsnet that enable us to provide a unique program centered on diversity and inclusion to prepare students to become tomorrow’s changemakers and thought leaders,” said Charles Falzon, Dean of FCAD at Ryerson.

“At FCAD, we foster a community for women and men to come together and engage in activities and discussions related to gender equity and diversity in sport media,” said Laurel Walzak, Director, GXS and Assistant Professor of Sport Media at FCAD.

As Canada’s #1 sports network, Sportsnet is committed to the unification of diverse communities across the country through the power of sport. In addition to the national production of Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition for the past six seasons, Sportsnet has been a key contributor to the Blue Jays: Pinoy Edition broadcasts on OMNI Television and the historic NHL broadcasts in Plains Cree on APTN.

Based on 70 years of excellence and renown, FCAD at Ryerson is recognized as a prominent thought leader and educator in media, design and the creative industries with strong links to influencers and strategic partners from around the world.

About Sportsnet

Sportsnet is Canada’s #1 sports network. Uniting Canadians through sport, Sportsnet’s multimedia offerings include Sportsnet (consisting of 4 regional channels: East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, the Sportsnet Radio Network, Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet NOW, SN NOW+, the Sportsnet app, and podcasts. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national multiplatform rights holder, and is the regional broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Sportsnet also has extensive coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, Rogers Cup, CHL, IndyCar, WWE, Premier League, and FA Cup. Sportsnet is part of Rogers Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI). Visit Sportsnet.ca.

About FCAD at Ryerson University

FCAD is an impactful education hub and innovation ecosystem at the heart of Canada’s media, design and creative industries. It is grounded in Canadian values but with a truly international perspective and scope. It is home to many of Canada’s top schools and programs in their field and recognized as a leading institution around the world. The GXS Lab is the connection between scholarly research and industry practice in sport and sport media that focuses on the intersection between globalization, digitization and commercialization.