By Mariana Echeverri Alvarez, Communications Coordinator
Dr. Sandra Kirby: A Trailblazer in Safe Sport and Gender Equity
The first time Dr. Sandra Kirby spoke publicly about sexual abuse in sport, she could feel the change in the air. It was 1994, and the University of Winnipeg sociologist had been invited to give a speech at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, B.C. At that time, dialogue about the problem was still in its infancy; as Kirby spoke, she noticed how raptly the audience listened.
“It wasn’t like other presentations I’d done,” Kirby recalls.
“People sat up and took notice. I remember the moment. And I thought, ‘I really have a message here.’ I already knew it was something I had to pursue, that we can do this together.”
A Life Dedicated to Safer Sport and Inclusion
Thirty years later, sport has made massive strides to become safer for athletes, and Kirby has been one of the leading lights of that movement.
A pioneering Olympian — as a member of Canada’s first-ever women’s rowing team in 1976 — she has dedicated her life to combating abuse and discrimination in sport and building healthy sport communities both at home in Manitoba and around the world.
As an academic, Kirby has authored 13 books and dozens of publications focusing on issues of abuse and gender equity in sport. She is a founding member of Safe Sport International, served on UNICEF’s Task Force on Child Protection in Sport, and remains integral to several International Olympic Committee initiatives. Notably, she guided the development of a groundbreaking safeguarding officer course, now in its fourth year.
Commitment to Sport and Athlete Welfare
In her sport of rowing, Kirby has been a coach and an umpire at home and across the globe; at 75, she still rows six days a week. She’s served on the board of Sport Manitoba and the Manitoba Rowing Association and has helped countless organizations improve their safety practices. For her contributions, she was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 and received the Order of Canada two years later.
Reflecting on a recent race, Kirby shared that even those fighting not to finish last reveal the true heart and soul of sport — a reminder that building community means looking out for all athletes, especially those left behind, and working together to ensure everyone can stay in the race.
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Celebrate Dr. Sandra Kurby and all of our honourees at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, taking place on Thursday, November 7, at the Victoria Inn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the Ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m.
Get your tickets now and be part of this memorable evening.
