Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity & Climate Action through Sport

From Oct. 15 to 17, the DREAMING in Sports Lab, housed in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, will be hosting its first-ever international symposium, “Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity & Climate Action through Sport” at York University.

To eliminate and address the (dis)connect that persists in exploring mobility justice, sport and climate action, this in-person three-day international symposium at York University will bring together global leaders in mobility justice, gender equity, sport studies and sustainable development to explore how sport, movement – and bicycles specifically – can serve as powerful tools for addressing pressing social and environmental issues and inequities across diverse local and global contexts.

Through inter-and multi-disciplinary collaborations and partnerships with The Centre for Feminist Research (CFR), The CITY Institute of York University, LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research at York University, and York University, the symposium will convene a global network of scholars, NGOs, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange expertise and co-develop strategies for inclusive mobility.

Highlights of the symposium will include interactive panels, the launch of policy briefs co-developed with grassroots organizations (to be disseminated through the School of Kinesiology & Health Science’s new partnership with the Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport), the screening of two documentary films: 1) Changing Gears – our SSHRC- and CFI-funded community-led documentary produced in Canada, Uganda, and Nicaragua; and 2) Dirt Relations – a film produced by the Indigenous Youth Mountain Biking Program in Kelowna, B.C., that delves into the powerful connection between mountain biking, reconciliation, and healing intergenerational trauma. The symposium will also feature and mobile art exhibit showcasing the last decade of our visual and digital participatory action research on bicycles, mobility justice and climate action.

The event is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), York Global Research Excellent Seed fund, and York Research Chairs program.

Those interested in the event should register before Sept. 26.

For any questions about the symposium, email dreaminglab@yorku.ca.