As a national sport organization, Equestrian Canada (EC) takes its responsibility to address racial and ethnic inequities very seriously and views this as a critical systemic issue that requires attention, resources, and decisive action. 2021 has seen a prioritization of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) at EC with a new coordinator of REDI and Safe Sport hired this fall to continue to implement initiatives across the organization and equestrian sport nationwide.

EC initiated a REDI program at the beginning of 2021 and later partnered with experts, The Inclusion Project (TIP) in May to further shape its goals and an effective and actionable plan. The partnership with TIP has strengthened EC’s intercultural competence and provided guidance in understanding the scope and impact of the long-term work ahead.

The work began with community forums being held in January followed by a readiness assessment in the spring where input was provided regarding inequalities in Canada’s equestrian sport landscape. Specific recommendations from individuals with lived experience were provided that helped shape many of the initiatives created in the REDI action plan including increasing representation of visible minorities and under-represented diverse/racial/ethnic groups, preparing coaches and officials to effectively handle situations of equestrian participation; auditing and enhancing policies; and reviewing and revising materials used in marketing and communications to be more inclusive.

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