Department of Kinesiology professor emerita Margery Holman was recently appointed to the Order of Ontario, recognizing her impact as a mentor and changemaker in advancing the role of women in sport and beyond.
Dr. Holman's contributions have earned her the province's highest civilian honour, which is awarded to Ontario residents for excellence in their field with a lasting impact. The recognition highlights her decades-long work as a teacher, coach, administrator, and researcher, all dedicated to advancing the role of women in sport and fostering equity in athletic spaces.
Professor emerita Margery Holman will join the Order of Ontario in recognition of her commitment to improving the Canadian sport landscape by challenging unethical and inequitable conditions.
The Jan. 1 announcement by Ontario Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont described Holman as someone who "has spent over 50 years improving the Canadian sport landscape by challenging unethical and inequitable conditions, initiating change, and creatively mentoring others to co-create the wide-ranging opportunities for girls and women in sport today."
Reflecting on her work, Holman said she is honoured by the nomination and selection, noting there have been many collaborators and supporters who helped her work become a reality.
"There are really good things happening in the Windsor-Essex community," she said. "All those who nominated me and offered letters of support are the people who have been on this journey with me from the beginning, and I'm so grateful to them. This is our success the collective of people who are willing to share their knowledge, expertise, and time. One person can't do it all."
Throughout her 42 years at the University of Windsor, Holman developed a landmark course on gender in sport, established the University's first employment equity office, and helped create its sexual harassment policy. Beyond campus, she co-founded Leadership for Advancing Women and Sport, an organization focused on creating more opportunities for women in athletics and using sport to build their leadership skills to enhance career opportunities.
"It was about using sport as a platform for education and as a way to encourage organizations to make changes that created more opportunities for women, removed the barriers, and ultimately provided more equity," she explained.
She believes that when done right, sport can go beyond the game, serving as an impactful training ground for leadership and career success.
"We see that happening with men so often, that CEOs and people who excel in business and in leadership roles often have that sport background behind them," she said. "And it wasn't happening for women. So, it's using sport as that platform to develop those qualities that allow them to be more successful in their chosen careers."
Holman's work has tackled systemic inequities in sport, focusing on issues like sexual harassment, abuse, and hazing, while actively engaging the community and working with those positioned to drive change within the sport environment.
"I have been driven by a very strong sense of values that sport is for all, opportunities are for all, and people should not be judged by their sex or sexuality, but on their abilities," Holman said.
"When we look at sport, it has to be fair, it has to be equitable, it has to be a safe environment."
Holman's appointment to the Order of Ontario marks a significant milestone in a decorated career. She will join 28 other appointees at an investiture ceremony in Toronto later this year.
