The Black Canadian Coaches Association (BCCA) is pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural Black Female Coach Mentorship Program (BFCMP).
In partnership with the Canadian Coaching Association (CAC), the BFCMP focuses on three main pillars:
• Providing Black female mentorship
• Advancing coach professionalization amongst both program mentors and mentees,
• Providing a sustainable model of formalized mentorship that increases accessibility, support, and leadership development for Black female coaches in sport.
Proposed by the BCCA, the pilot program seeks to create equitable opportunities for Black female coaches in Canadian sport.
“The creation of the BFCMP is a historical undertaking supported by the Coaching Association of Canada and represents a method of eliminating systemic barriers for Black women in sport such as: accessing
coach advancement opportunities for career growth, navigating systemic discrimination as it relates to both race and gender, developing self-advocacy and coping mechanisms when dealing with stereotypes
and micro-aggressions, and developing leadership skills as a role model and coach,” stated Lee Anna Osei, Founder of the BCCA.
Ranging from recent graduates entering the organized coaching ranks to some of Canada’s most decorated and established coaches, the BFCMP is comprised of a diverse group of present and future trailblazers within the Canadian sports landscape.
Program Mentors also represent a wide array of sport backgrounds, including: basketball, swimming, ice hockey, soccer, flag football, track and field, rugby and field hockey. In some cases – such as swimming, ice hockey and flag football – the Black female coach mentors represent the only current active Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) head coaches within their respective levels. This sheds light on the stark reality that there are not enough Black females in professional coaching or sport leadership positions in Canada.
The 2020-2021 BFCMP Coaches are as follows:
BFCMP Mentors
BFCMP MENTEES
About BCCA
The Black Canadian Coaches Association (BCCA) is a non-profit organization that is committed to working alongside allied individuals, organizations, and our governing sports bodies in Canada to eradicate anti-black racism and racial inequities in the Canadian sport sector. Our three objectives are:
celebration, advocacy through allyship and networking.
About CAC
The Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) unites stakeholders and partners in its commitment to raising the skills and stature of coaches, and ultimately expanding their reach and influence. Through its
programs, the CAC empowers coaches with the knowledge and skills, promotes ethics, fosters positive attitudes, builds competence, and increases the credibility and recognition of coaches.
Leadership Through Sport – We Are StrongerTogether!