The Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education kicked off the celebration of Black History Month with a timely exploration of the contributions, experiences and achievements of Black Canadians in soccer.
Alicia Lashley, left, moderated a panel discussion featuring Mike Yat, centre, and Alex Lin, right
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, the Faculty’s Black History Month planning group – consisting of KPE students, staff, alumni and faculty volunteers – led efforts to: expand the Faculty’s Black History Here & Now virtual tour to include a new stop focused on soccer; spotlight more Black Varsity Blues alumni; and facilitate a panel discussion featuring Mike Yat, a Varsity Blues soccer alum and founding supporter of the Yat Family Scholarship Award—the first scholarship of its kind dedicated to supporting high-performing student-athletes of colour at the University of Toronto, and Alex Lin, a third year life science student at U of T and goalie on the Varsity Blues soccer team.
Dean Gretchen Kerr delivered the welcome address
“At KPE we believe that movement, whether it is through physical activity, play or sport is a human right and is critical to the health of all people and all communities,” said Gretchen Kerr, a professor and dean of KPE in her welcome address. “Part of our commitment to promoting human rights is realized through working to identify and dismantle barriers and creating and supporting pathways to full participation for everyone.”
High school students were invited to try different drills and learn new skills on the court
Kerr invited guests, including a large group of high-schoolers from the GTA, to meet with the student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and community members on hand to discuss their passion for physical activity - and soccer, in particular. The high-schoolers also had an opportunity to try new skills and drills on court and learn about the history of Black Canadians in soccer – courtesy of Terry Gardiner, the Faculty’s director of equity, diversity and inclusivity - before settling in for the panel discussion.
Terry Gardiner, director of equity, diversity and inclusivity at KPE, spoke about the history of Black Canadians in soccer
Moderated by staff member Alicia Lashley, who is manager of sponsorship and strategic partnerships and a Varsity Blues soccer alum, the panelists engaged in a candid conversation about their experiences, the good and the bad, and answered questions from the audience.
They discussed the importance of representation not only on the playing field, but also in leadership positions, and shared advice on what helped them achieve their goals. Yat recalled surrounding himself with players who were better than him in order to become better at the sport himself.
“That works in sport, but it applies to other areas of life, too,” he said, adding that it’s important to nurture a diverse set of skills and be open to new possibilities.
Alex shared how he learned to accept feedback not as criticism, but something that can help him grow.
Both credited the Blues for instilling a strong work ethic in them and stressed the importance of relationships developed on the team that have continued off the field.
Professor Emeritus Bruce Kidd and women's volleyball coach Kristine Drakich were also spotted in the crowd
“I really enjoyed the line of questioning,” said Yat after the event, describing it as an experience of reciprocal learning. “The high-schoolers learned a lot about me and I learned a lot about what’s on their mind based on their questions.”
“It meant so much to be involved in this event,” added Lin, who’s also been an eager participant of the Blues Buddy Up program, a leadership and character-building initiative that has varsity athletes going into elementary schools across the GTA to chat with students. “I would have loved an opportunity to hear a first-person account of a student-athlete’s experience when I was in high school.”
Following the event, KPE student ambassadors were on hand to take any high school students interested in touring KPE facilities on a guided tour. Judging by the long line of students walking through the hallways of the Athletic Centre a short while later, the interest was high indeed.