OUA student-athletes leave their mark at Jumpstart Play to Lead Summit

Burlington, Ont. — In mid‑March, eight Black women student-athletes from universities across Ontario came together in Toronto for the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities Play to Lead Summit. Representing a range of sports and institutions, the group shifted from seasonal competitors to collaborators and mentors as part of the inaugural Ontario University Athletics (OUA) cohort of coaches participating in the program.

Their involvement marked the beginning of a new partnership between OUA and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, designed to equip women student-athletes with the leadership skills and career pathways to thrive in various fields that include sport business and beyond. 

“This partnership was about creating meaningful opportunities through networking, collaboration, and mentorship,” said Chris Cobbina, OUA Manager of Student Experience & EDI. “We wanted to give women student-athletes the chance to build connections, learn from others in the sport system, and gain a better understanding of the opportunities that exist beyond their playing careers.”

Those opportunities extend well beyond competition. Whether through coaching, administration, or leadership roles across the sport landscape, initiatives like Play to Lead help open doors while fostering meaningful connections between women student-athletes and younger girls who share similar experiences and aspirations.

“At the same time, it gives our student-athletes the chance to step into mentorship roles themselves,” Cobbina added. “They’re supporting the next generation while beginning to see what their own future in sport could look like.”

Over the course of the five-day summit, the OUA student-athletes worked closely with young Black girls aged 14 to 18 in a supportive environment centred on leadership development, mentorship, and empowerment — helping participants build confidence, strengthen meaningful peer connections, and carry what they learned back to their schools and communities.

The Play to Lead Summit provided opportunities for shared learning, connection, and personal growth, while reinforcing the importance of representation and advocacy in sport. For Toronto Varsity Blues women’s basketball player Kiara Graham, the experience underscored the power of using one’s voice.

"I think that young girls should take away that your voice will be heard, you just have to make it be heard,” said Graham. “Don't let anyone silence you, if you want something ask for it and if someone doesn't give it to you ask someone else. Don't wait for someone to do it, you take action. As young women in sport, there's not a lot of platforms for us; yes they're growing, but they are not there yet and we can be that change." 

Supported by OUA and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the summit proved to be a meaningful and impactful experience for everyone involved. Play to Lead represents the beginning of a partnership dedicated to empowering and developing the next generation of leaders in Canadian sport.

To support Jumpstart’s mission and learn about the charity’s initiatives, please visit www.jumpstart.canadiantire.ca and follow them on Instagram @ctjumpstart.