Community members filled the Rotary Multi-Purpose Room at Stride Place on Wednesday night for a screening of Sidelined: The Colour of the Game. The Anti-Racism in Sport Canada documentary shed light on the challenges athletes face when dealing with discrimination on and off the field.
For Grace Fan Bulleh, a former athlete, the hope is that young players will come away from the film with the confidence to raise their concerns. She recalled her own basketball experience as a child, when coaches often failed to recognize or address racism. Fan Bulleh says she wants kids today to feel supported by their teams and given space to process the mental toll of such experiences.
“I really hope kids will be given the space to talk about what they’re going through mentally and how things are affecting them, and they don’t carry that throughout their careers,” notes Fan Bulleh.
Education, she explained, is a key step. Fan Bulleh stressed that coaches, parents, and athletes all share responsibility in creating a culture of inclusion, from checking in on a player’s well-being to learning more about diverse backgrounds within their teams.
Sharing thoughts and experiences that resonated with people from the film. PortageOnline/ Tristen Sokolosky
Parents share lived experiences
For parents, the film hit home in a different way. Miriam Ghitale, who is raising four boys in a mixed-race family, said it’s important for people to understand that racism is not just theoretical, but a reality faced by many children in sport.
She added that while awareness has grown in the community, true change requires ongoing commitment from leaders, parents, and athletes alike. The most striking part of the documentary for her was how young athletes often recognize racism immediately, while their peers may not notice it at all.
“I can relate to the parents who have seen their kids be victimized in sport, and you just feel really powerless. And it really shows also the resilience of the kids,” says Ghitale.
Sports as a unifying force
Educators also see sport as a natural environment for conversations about race. Darren Arnold, vice-principal at Portage Collegiate, said reducing barriers to participation is one of the most effective ways to bring youth together and foster inclusivity. Lower costs and better access to facilities, he noted, give more kids the chance to join a team.
Arnold pointed out that sports also carry a unique strength: the ability to unite players regardless of background. He said that when teammates go through challenges together, they build camaraderie that reinforces acceptance.
“You stand up for each other no matter who it is. That’s the power that sport has,” adds Arnold.
Community commitment moving forward
The screening of Sidelined left many with the reminder that sports are more than just games—they are spaces where young people learn values, face challenges, and build resilience. For Portage, the message was clear: continuing to confront racism in athletics requires open conversations, shared responsibility, and a commitment to ensuring that every athlete feels valued both on and off the field.
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