Celebrating Canada’s Diversity
Q&A WITH
CABBIE RICHARDS
Mediaplanet sat down with renowned Canadian Sports Media personality Cabbie Richards to chat about his journey through Canada's sports and media.
Growing up in Canada, how would you describe the level of representation in Canadian media you observed?
Growing up in Canada, the level of representation on Canadian television was sparse. My childhood was filled with Saturday Morning cartoons and assorted kids shows, so I locked into "Reading Rainbow" with LeVar Burton (although not Canadian), enjoyed "Today's Special" with Nerene Virgin, and "Where In the World Is Carmen Sandiego?" the game show with Lynne Thigpen (again not Canadian). PBS and TVO were the networks that I watched in the 80s and not the evening news. Once the 90s hit, "In Living Colour", "The Fresh Prince of BelAir" and "Martin" were transformative shows for me, as Black actors and comedians were leading sitcoms and a transcendent sketch comedy show.
A lower barrier of entry using digital platforms has democratized creators, personalities, broadcasters, and opinion givers.
Younger consumers engage with sports leagues via highlights and moments on YouTube and via social platforms, namely TikTok and Instagram, and in group chats. Huge change in consumption.
Canadians from minority backgrounds often describe an expectation to conform versus their desire to be authentic to themselves, how did you balance this during your career?
How would you describe your experience starting out in the Canadian sports media landscape early in your career? What differences have you noticed between today's Canadian media ecosystem and yesterday's?
Optimism and differentiation are defi ning characteristics of my career. When I started as an intern at The Score Television Network writing highlight scripts for the hosts, (a 24 hour national sports cable network - no longer in existence) it had to differentiate to gain attention and traction with Canadian viewers. The permanent ticker (at the bottom of the screen with stats and info) was a differentiator. On air personalities were younger, encouraged to be their full selves not generic television announcers. The programming featured University sports (football and basketball) and unique personalities narrating highlight packs. The vibe was cool. Subconsciously, all this planted a seed of differentiation.
All this to say, the workplace culture was conducive to trying new ideas like a chubby “reporter” walking the streets of Toronto interviewing random Canadians about silly sports topics. This segment “Cabbie On The Street” aired on Sunday nights on The Score Television Network (Started in August 2001). The Score wasn’t a United Colours of Benetton catalogue, as there were only two other people of colour featured on the network: Lance Winn (weekend host) and (occasionally) Trevor Thompson (reporter from the Detroit area).
In the early-mid 2000s, the coveted youth demographic was being serviced by talented personalities at MuchMusic (Namugenyi Kiwanuka, Rainbow Sun-Francks, Sarah Taylor, Matte Babel, Richard Cazeau), Phil Guerrero at YTV, Mark Strong, Jemeni and “Hollywood” Rich on Flow 93.5 (a Toronto radio station) and later MTV Canada with Gilson Lubin and Nicole Holness. These were my peers in Toronto and represented the idealized version of Canada on television screens.
The Canadian sports media landscape overall is awesome in that there are many more voices contributing to the coverage and culture than twenty years ago when I began my television journey.
The expectation to conform and assimilate started in my elementary school days when I was often the only Black child in my class growing up in North York. Conforming wasn’t overt, but it’s an experience that I am positive thousands of other visible minorities navigated through their childhoods in Canada. In my professional life, I leaned into Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s personas as jokesters and when I needed to impress the parents of a girl that I wanted to date, I would channel some version of Neil DeGrasse-Tyson or Ahmad Rashad. Personality-wise, I was heavily influenced by Will Smith’s “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and felt comfortable making others feel comfortable. You know?
How important is diversity and representation in public media in your opinion?
It’s important to have diverse points of view. In Canada, I love how these broadcasters and talented creators are expanding the traditional view of sports content: Donovan Bennett (Sportsnet), Kayla Grey (TSN), Brandon Gonez (Brandon Gonez Show - less sports, but a great talent), Julian McKenzie (The Athletic), Kat Jayme (Vancouver based filmmaker - diehard hoops fan), Black Girl Hockey Club, Charlie Lindsay (Tier Zero) and Sheldon Alexander (podcaster). We often have blindspots in our lives and having more people sharing their POVs helps to paint a more nuanced picture.
What advice would you give to young people from marginalized communities hoping to work in the media industry?
Advice…how can you differentiate yourself in a crowded marketplace? It’s never been more competitive in the attention economy than now. It will be more competitive tomorrow. Differentiate. Figure out your lane. Be clever. Get a ton of reps in, whether it’s writing your opinion, analyzing the game, evaluating the business marketplace, giving hot takes on live microphones, hosting events, editing videos, etc.
How PATHWAYS Builds Indigenous-Led Health Solutions Across Canada
Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience significant health disparities, including lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, and greater hospitalization rates for mental illness. These disparities lead to an increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions, which often lead to serious health consequences. Among the most widespread are diabetes and its related complications, heart disease, respiratory diseases like COPD, and tuberculosis.
“The challenges that Indigenous communities face are rooted in persistent health disparities, which are often driven by social determinants like poverty, food insecurity, and inadequate access to housing and education,” says Keith Leclaire, Advisory Circle Chair for PATHWAYS. “These barriers have a compounding effect on health, leading to higher rates of chronic illness and overall lower health outcomes in Indigenous communities across Canada. Isolation and limited health services further restrict access to care, while racism within the health care system only amplifies the need for a new approach.”
Bridging the gap
PATHWAYS is an innovative health project fund that bridges these gaps by creating sustainable relationships between private entities and Indigenous communities that are led by the community and guided by trust. Created in 2018, PATHWAYS is a partnership between leading biopharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. and Bimaadzwin (an Indigenous-led consulting and policy group) together with Indigenous health policy leaders.
address the disparities Indigenous communities face.
“We’re not looking at it like the federal government or the provincial government to serve everybody,” says Leclaire. “What we’re doing is developing trust so that the community itself can take more control and have the ability to interact using a strong partnership with non-Indigenous entities.”
PATHWAYS has eight pilot programs currently underway, each tailored to specific community needs — from preventing and reducing diabetic foot ulcers for the Siksika Nation in Alberta to integrating multi-disciplinary health care practitioners to support people living with type 2 diabetes at the Wagmatcook First Nation in Nova Scotia.
PATHWAYS represents a commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledge and practices while addressing the critical health care challenges these communities face.
“Our goal is to empower Indigenous communities to lead the way in identifying and addressing their health needs,” says Leclaire. “PATHWAYS builds on the strength of Indigenous communities and creates relationships that respect and support their priorities.”
Co-creating community-driven solutions
This emphasis on building trust and allowing communities to lead initiatives is enabling PATHWAYS to effectively respond to Indigenous health needs and
A holistic approach
PATHWAYS’ pilot projects have demonstrated impressive reach so far.
“Seventy-four per cent of patients reported the initiative has enhanced their understanding of their condition, and 70 per cent felt their ability to manage their condition has improved,” says Leclaire. “Plus, 100 per cent of project leads reported observing positive behavioural changes and an improvement in the quality of life for participants.”
Leclaire attributes PATHWAYS’ success to its unique, holistic approach. “The initiative bridges Western medical perspectives, where specialists focus on diagnosing and treating the disease, with Indigenous approaches that emphasize viewing the person as a whole,” he says.
“The feedback we’ve received from participants is that they’ve gained a new outlook on how to take care of their health.”
“PATHWAYS represents a commitment to honouring Indigenous knowledge and practices while addressing the critical health care challenges these communities face,” says Annie Beauchemin, Head of Market Access at Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. “We’re pleased of the strides made so far, but we recognize that much work remains to be done. We remain dedicated to supporting sustainable, long-term health improvements in Indigenous communities.”
PATHWAYS BY THE NUMBERS: EXPLORING THE INITIATIVE’S REACH AND SUCCESS
PATHWAYS’ current pilot projects have achieved excellent reach and overwhelmingly positive feedback.
74 per cent of patients reported that the initiative has enhanced their understanding of their condition, and 70 per cent felt that their ability to manage their condition has improved.
77 per cent of patients felt culturally respected and safe while discussing their health concerns, which is a critical aspect of the initiative’s success.
100 per cent of project leads reported observing positive behavioural changes and an improvement in the quality of life for participants.
100 per cent of project leads expressed deep satisfaction with the PATHWAYS program and its resources.
The PATHWAYS initiative brings Indigenous communities and partners together to address the unmet health care needs of Indigenous Peoples.
Tania Amardeil
Keith Leclaire Advisory Circle Chair, PATHWAYS
To learn more about PATHWAYS, visit indigenoushealth pathways.ca
How CAMSC Has Shown That Diversity Is Our Strength, Not Weakness
A
case by Cassandra Dorrington, President & CEO of the Canadian Aboriginal Minority and Supplier Council.
Do the benefits of diversity far outweigh the backlash? Canada’s diverse population drives innovation, resilience, and global connections, making the country stronger and more competitive. While embracing diversity presents challenges, such as adjusting to new languages and perspectives, the benefits vastly outweigh these. From coast to coast to coast, diversity enriches communities, strengthens social ties, and boosts the economy.
Did you know that Canada adopted multiculturalism as an official policy in 1971? This ensures that diversity isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated. Canada’s inclusive approach fosters belonging for individuals from various ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds, making it one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Canada’s Indigenous heritage also reminds Canadians of the importance of respecting and learning from different traditions and histories.
Over the years, what are some best practices that have worked for celebrating diversity?
What more can be done to drive economic impact across Canada? In the last twenty years, Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) has worked with corporate and government entities to intentionally add the following practices to celebrate inclusion in the Supply Chain:
1. An active outreach and support of diverse businesses owned by underrepresented groups, such as women, Indigenous entrepreneurs, refugees, 2SLGBTQI+, minority-owned, veterans, and Persons with Disabilities owned enterprises. Creating opportunities for these diverse suppliers not only fosters economic inclusivity but also diversifies the perspectives and products available in the supply chain.
By fostering economic inclusion and respect, Canada builds a future where people of all backgrounds can thrive.
1. Canada hosts multicultural festivals and holidays to highlight its rich traditions and histories. Examples include events like Toronto’s Caribana, Calgary’s GlobalFest, and Vancouver’s Diwali Fest.
2. Encouraging diversity in education and services through the promotion of cultural sensitivity and multilingualism to foster inclusion through observing diverse holidays, school curriculum, and training.
3. The development of workplace policies that support diverse employees, such as flexible hours for cultural observances, diversity training, inclusive hiring practices and active mentorship for diverse leaders. Employee resource groups (ERGs) for underrepresented communities provide support networks and amplify diverse voices.
2. The provision of training, mentorship, and resources to diverse suppliers to help them grow and compete effectively in the market. Supporting these businesses ensures they can scale sustainably, enabling more equitable participation in the economy.
3. Be intentional to include diversity goals in procurement policies and track progress on sourcing and spending from diverse-owned businesses. Transparent reporting on these metrics reinforces a commitment to celebrating diversity.
What does diversity mean for Canada’s future? By fostering economic inclusion and respect, Canada builds a future where people of all backgrounds can thrive. Collaboration drives progress, and a shared commitment to equity makes Canada a global leader. In this future, diversity will remain a source of strength, inspiration, and growth for generations to come.
Newcomers to Canada can face challenges such as language barriers, a difficult housing market, and problems fi nding a job.
Since 1952, COSTI has been working with newcomer-community members, providing programs and services to help them integrate into Canadian society.
Success means different things to everyone. Which is why COSTI provides programs in skills and language training, social services, refugee services, and employment services to individuals to help them succeed.
‘Just the beginning’ for Canadian newcomers
For Shihabeldean Abdelrahim Ali Sabil, success lay in fi nding meaningful employment helping others. After fleeing instability in Sudan, Shihabeldean volunteered at refugee camps in Jordan before earning a scholarship to study social work in the US. From there he was privately sponsored to come to Canada, where he found COSTI. By dedicating himself to ESL classes and volunteering with the Red Cross and at COSTI, Shihabeldean fulfi lled his desire
to help those in need while gaining valuable skills and insights into life in Canada. Ultimately, he landed a job as a Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Counsellor. “Helping others is always fulfi lling!” he says.
After arriving from Nigeria as a pregnant refugee claimant with a toddler, Abimbola Oluwaseun’s path to success was not an easy one. Abimbola found a safe home at a COSTI temporary shelter and accessed resources to help her flourish. With this support, she completed training as a personal support worker, earning a bursary for her educational achievements and community contributions, such as volunteering at a food bank. Abimbola and her young sons have now moved into their own apartment. She dreams of reuniting with her family, pursuing a career in nursing, and continuing to give back to the community. “This is just the beginning!” she says.
COSTI delivers a comprehensive range of services to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds, including newcomers to successfully settle into their new home-country and achieve their full potential.
