Welcome to episode 8 of the Curling for Change Podcast! In this limited series, our host, 2023 All Heart Curling Award recipient Wil Robertson, will chat with folks from all corners of the curling community to hear their stories, their perspectives, and how we can change the face of curling and promote inclusion within our sport.

In this series, we have discussed all kinds of critical subjects relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have heard the challenges the sport faces, and what it ought to do to be more inclusive and welcoming for all from athletes, coaches, experts, and others from all walks of life and backgrounds. Today, we hear from those who work on DEI in curling regularly, to hear what they believe the challenges facing the sport are, and what we can all do about them.

Our guests: 

Dr. Roselle M. Gonsalves (She/Her) – Edmonton, Alberta: Dr. Gonsalves is a strategic inclusion practitioner, public speaker, and governance professional, having worked in the areas of systemic equity and strategic inclusion within diverse sectors including social services, consulting, and post-secondary. She currently serves on the Board of Governors at Curling Canada, and serves as an Inclusion expert for the World Curling Federation. She is also Managing Director of Inclusion & Reconciliation at ATB Financial, where she heads up the strategic initiatives to weave equity, inclusion, and socio-economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities into all aspects of the organization’s endeavours. In 2022, Roselle was named one of Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40 for the broad impact of her work in the field of equity and inclusion. Roselle is a racialized, immigrant settler woman, who makes her home in Amiskwaciwâskahikan, the city of Edmonton, in Treaty 6 territory.

Richard Norman (He/Him) – Toronto, Ontario: Richard is a researcher + lecturer + futurist dedicated to transforming our world to be more equitable and socially just for racialized and marginalized persons. His work disrupts traditional narratives and reimagines our sport institutions using creative, responsive, and innovative techniques suited for our rapidly changing world, notably with his role at Curling Canada as Director of Community Futures and Innovation. His research draws upon transdisciplinary approaches that intersect notions of race, whiteness, hegemony, and colonialism, and privilege storytelling as ways-of-knowing and -being honoured in the traditions of First Peoples around the globe. Richard believes research is a tool for social change and collaborates avidly with others on projects funded through a variety of sources, such as SSHRC, SafeSport, and corporate partners (JumpStart Charities, Carnegie Initiative, and the NHL). His passion for service is epitomized by his work with UnitedWeCurl, a not-for-profit organization working to open spaces for racialized and marginalized persons in curling. 

Andrew Paris (he/him) – Truro, Nova Scotia: Andrew is a settler currently residing in Truro, Nova Scotia but is originally from Summerside, Prince Edward Island. In addition to being a Collaborator at INclusion INcorporated, he is also the Coaching Lead for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Mentorship at the Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic. During his downtime, Andrew is the Founder of the Black Rock Initiative. Their mission is to create opportunities for BIPOC youth to experience the sport of Curling while also providing Curling clubs with the tools and resources necessary to be a welcoming and inclusive facility to their entire community.

Katherine Henderson (She/Her) – Ottawa, Ontario: Katherine joined Curling Canada in 2016 as its Chief Executive Officer after her successful stint as senior vice-president of marketing and revenue for the Toronto Organizing Committee for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. At Curling Canada, Henderson was a leader in bringing pay equity for all athletes while pushing for increased diversity in the sport.