The Redesign Conference is an annual conference hosted by Sport & Rec's official Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) team. This year's conference is focused around wellness in the weight room and how various identities uniquely intersect and experience weight lifting spaces. Help us redesign movement spaces together!
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in thoughtful discussion with Saja Awida, Val Gerlings, Vanessa Treasure and more. Topics of focus include accessibility and the experiences of women and the 2SLGBTQ+ community in weight lifting spaces.
Val Gerlings (they/them) is a Queer, non-binary Registered Kinesiologist, movement professional, social justice advocate and life long learner. They graduated from the Master of Professional Kinesiology Program at the University of Toronto in 2023 with a specialization in Health and Wellness and have a lens for equitable approaches to movement and community building. With 6 years of clinical, rehabilitative and strength based programming experience, and a lifetime of being involved in athletics and recreation (in varying degrees), they bring a unique lens to existing, working, creating and advocating for access & inclusion in all movement spaces. Most recently their work has been centered around creating access and community for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals through group based programming and empowerment focused approaches to gender affirming practices.
Saja Awida (she/her) is a UofT alum from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE). She is currently a senior Fitness & Performance Coach with UofT and I found her passion for fitness at the young age of 13, when she discovered CrossFit. At the age of 15, she started to compete in CrossFit competitions and in 2020, became the 5th Fittest Woman in Egypt. Soon after, she started coaching and competing in Olympic Weightlifting. Saja is excited to share her unique experiences as a young egyptian woman in weightlifting, who moved to Canada from Kuwait.
Food and drinks will be provided. Registration is FREE and currently limited to students, Sport & Rec members, and KPE faculty and staff.
Register at recreation.utoronto.ca!
Registration opens February 28.
Questions? Please email edib.sportandrec@utoronto.ca.
Accessibility needs? Please email sportandrec@utoronto.ca.