PROTECTING ATHLETES AND ENVIRONMENT

Margaret MacNeill battles on for justice

the rights of athletes, their relationship with the media, and the shift we saw as athletes turned into advocates,” she says. “We’ve seen many examples of athletes raising their voices on their rights, particularly around the right to their own health instead of ‘pushing through’ an injury or mental illness to not ruin their chances.”

While there are many things that MacNeill looks back on with a sense of accomplishment, she is most proud of the graduate students she has mentored and guided over the years. “I am in awe of their work. We mentor them, but really they mentor us—in their research, original theories, methods and new understandings,” she says. “Students today go into research thinking about how they can use it to spark transformation during research rather than waiting to translate findings after.”

Many of her students come to mind, including Olympic gold medalist Rose MacLennan (trampoline) for her master’s work focusing on athlete citizenry and advocacy. Another is journalist Sally Armstrong who received the Order of Canada during her time investigating international charters affecting girls’ rights to play. Associate Professor Simon Darnell expanded sports for development studies with his doctoral study: he is now director of KPE’s Centre for Sport Policy Studies. Recently, alumna Sabrina Razack completed her PhD about the Black Girl Hockey Club’s ongoing quest for racial social justice using joy as a form of resistance. Razack is now monitoring children’s rights in cities preparing to host World Cup ’26.

“These are just four examples of students who’ve become political voices,” says MacNeill. Eleven have gone on to become tenured university professors or instructors. “Grad researchers in my Media and Motion Collaboratory at the Goldring Centre all continue to look at health and wellness with a social justice lens, which is important to pursuing the mission of our Faculty.”

MacNeill’s passion for making a positive impact in society is not changing, “it’s just rerouting,” she says. “I did a lot of local hiking during the pandemic and research on trailology. This past year, I saw the devastation of hurricanes in PEI and drove up the east coast of Australia between floods. It’s inspired me to start a new adventure that refocuses health research on environmental issues, movement and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. And it might re-route me back to Australia.”

— Janet Gunn