York University becomes the first Canadian academic institution to join a global network advancing gender equity in sport through research, policy and advocacy.
The School of Kinesiology & Health Science in York University's Faculty of Health has established a new partnership with the Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport (GO), an international organization dedicated to advancing gender equity in and through sport.
Through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed this summer, the school becomes the GO's first and only Canadian academic institutional partner. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the GO serves as a hub for global data collection, knowledge sharing and collaboration among governments, sport organizations and academic institutions. It works to close knowledge gaps through research, promote evidence-based action and catalyze systemic change.
That mission aligns with the school's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in physical activity, health and sport. Through the MOU, the school will contribute its research, expertise and outreach to support shared goals with GO.
"York's School of Kinesiology & Health Science is committed to systemic change that dismantles inequities and sparks meaningful progress for girls and women in physical activity," says Parissa Safai, professor and Chair of the school. "Partnering with the Global Observatory expands our impact and, in turn, affords us an opportunity to meaningfully collaborate with and contribute to this remarkable organization's vision of an inclusive future where all women and girls thrive through physical activity and sport."
York's contributions to the partnership will include participation in the Global Observatory Advisory Council, involvement in expert working groups as well as co-created research and advocacy initiatives.
York's contributions to the partnership will include participation in the Global Observatory Advisory Council, involvement in expert working groups and the development of joint research and advocacy efforts. One of the first major initiatives will see the school help launch a Regional Hub in collaboration with the GO - the first of its kind - to bring together scholars and community experts from across Canada who focus on gender equity in sport. The partnership will also involve co-hosting workshops, producing shared publications and policy briefs, and exploring new ways to measure impact through a feminist data justice lens. Faculty and students will benefit from hands-on opportunities including case studies, community-service learning and training for early-career researchers.
"This partnership represents a powerful opportunity to bolster and co-create research, policy and advocacy initiatives that centre the voices and experiences of those most impacted by systemic and structural inequalities in and through sport," says Lyndsay Hayhurst, associate professor and Tier 2 York Research Chair in Sport, Gender, and Development & Digital Participatory Research. "By combining York's strengths in feminist research with the Global Observatory's global platform, we aim to advance gender-transformative frameworks, mobilize knowledge across borders and drive collective action toward a more equitable, inclusive and justice-oriented sport system - locally and globally."
The MOU builds on the school's strong foundation of equity-focused and community-engaged research. That includes trauma- and violence-informed sport initiatives led by Hayhurst and associate professor Rebecca Bassett-Gunter, and projects like Bicycles for Development, which examines how bicycle access supports mobility and empowerment among women and girls in Canada, Uganda and Nicaragua.
Several faculty members contribute work rooted in justice and inclusion across diverse contexts. Safai investigates gender and high-performance coaching to better understand the underrepresentation of women in coaching roles. Amanda De Lisio, an assistant professor, explores feminist solidarities in response to state violence and urban development in mega-event host cities, drawing on the experiences of women (cis and transgender) in popular economies across the Global South. Assistant Professor Ashley Day brings an Indigenous health lens, focusing on relationships that affirm Indigenous sovereignty and support culturally safe policy.
Emerging scholars also play an important role. PhD student Gobi Sriranganathan, with associate professor Yuka Nakamura, examines the experiences of Tamil sport leaders in the Greater Toronto Area to inform mentorship opportunities for Tamil girls and women.
The school's diverse portfolio of research and community engagement reflects the depth of expertise that York brings to this partnership. This strong foundation, coupled with shared values, positions the collaboration to make a meaningful global impact.
"To truly have a global reach, meaningful engagement and a multidisciplinary approach to meeting the vision of safe and inclusive sport for girls and women in all their diversity, we have established this partnership with York," says Lombe Mwambwa, interim CEO of the Global Observatory. "The University has demonstrated expertise and a deep commitment to equity and justice, which are important to the Global Observatory both now and in the long term. We are excited by this step toward developing strong and extensive relationships with stakeholders across Canada and globally."
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter
