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Marika Warner

@marikawarner

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Executive Director @mlselaunchpad Bakes, books, basketball, ballet, and my baby boy.

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We’re a few months into our Lead Forward Lunch & Learn series, and we’re reflecting on the insights and perspectives that our first three sessions have brought forward.⁠
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To everyone who has tuned in, asked questions, shared reflections, or made time to learn alongside us, thank you for being part of the conversation. 💛⁠
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We’re also so grateful to @wage_fegc for helping us create a space for these important conversations to take place.⁠
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Swipe through for our favourite takeaways from our first three sessions. ➡️⁠
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Our next webinar session: Creating Belonging: Culturally Responsive Coaching for Black and Brown Girls in Sport, presented by Cherokee Washington, MA, will take place on Wednesday, September 16 at 12 PM ET!⁠
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Cherokee will explore how culturally responsive coaching can help create sport environments where Black and Brown girls feel seen, understood, and like they truly belong.⁠
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Join us for the next webinar at the link in our bio. 🔗

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🏀⚽️🏒 From leading sport concussion research to bringing golf to diverse communities, teaching sport management and contributing to FIFA tournament operations, the talent in the room ran deep.

The She’s4Sports Summer Social returned for year two, celebrating Black women driving the future of sport.

A special thank you to MLSE, Toronto Tempo and Joey Restaurant for helping us make the event a success.

📸 @andyjibb

#shes4sports #diversity #womeninsports #Womensupportingwomen #blackwomen

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✨Black women are driving the future of sport — and yesterday we celebrated that power.

The Summer Social returned for year two, bringing together trailblazers across Canada for connection, networking and a moment to honour their impact.

Thanks to MLSE, The Toronto Tempo and Joey Restaurant for helping us make the event a success.

A special thanks to Andy, Keisha and Melissa.

Stay tuned for more She’s4Sports initiatives.

📸 @andyjibb

#shes4sports #diversity #womeninsports #Womensupportingwomen

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That’s a wrap on the 2025-26 season of Feminist Sports Club! Thanks to everyone who supported, coached, and played with us. See you soon!!

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How can we move from shared challenges to collective impact? That question grounded the Toronto Region Sport Equity Forum, where community sport leaders came together to explore collective solutions—and begin shaping a regional Hub rooted in equity, trust, and action.

Highlights included hearing from keynote speakers Dr. Sabrina Razack of @sportandrights and Fernando Ramirez of @playequityfund who reminded us that collaboration isn’t enough on its own—it requires structures that shift power, align goals, and are built to last.Three insights that stood out:

1/ Prioritize systems change
* Government-relations and advocacy is a collective priority.
* Sport equity organizations want a united voice on issues like space access, permitting, and long-term public funding.

2/ Fund the mission, trust the leaders
* Smaller, equity-driven organizations are stretching every dollar—and still turning kids away.
* Multi-year, unrestricted, capacity-building dollars are often the difference between a promising pilot and lasting impact.

3/ Evidence must tell our story
* Community sport drives outcomes across health, education, and safety—but we need to prove it.
* Participants urged the Hub to combine lived-experience storytelling with evaluation and shared metrics to build a compelling case for investment.

📖 Read the full Sport Equity Hub Roadmap at playfordignity.ca/roadmap

Our sincere thanks to Marika Warner for her work on the roadmap and for delivering a set of outstanding workshops last week!

In collaboration with @uoftkpe @la84foundation

#PlayforDignity #SportEquity #CommunitySport #CollectiveImpact #Toronto #RightToPlay

📸 @seb.gilz

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MISSISSAUGA, ON - Diversity in Sports Conference Event at Hilton Mississauga on May 2 & 3 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
(Kyle Gilmor / Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network)

Photos from Day 1 of the Diversity in Sports Conference and Breaking Barriers in Swimming with Alia Atkinson

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Diversity in Sports Conference DAY 1 Recap❕

The opening day of the 2nd Annual Diversity in Sports Conference was filled with excitement and anticipation.

We began the opening day with opening remarks from Victoria Clarke, Director of Tourism and CEO of Tourism Mississauga, and with Anishinaabe Traditional Grandmother Kim Wheatley, who acknowledged the land and forged good relationships aligned with reconciliation, honoring the past, connecting the present, and contributing to the future.

The first keynote speaker, the Federal Minister of Sport and Physical of Canada, Carla Qualtrough, shared her firsthand experience of being born legally blind and her journey as the first Paralympian ever elected to Canada’s Parliament.

The first session included the importance of data from MLSE’s very own Marika Warner and Bryan Heal, uncovering insights, challenges, and opportunities that arise when harnessing the power of data to advance diversity and inclusion in sports.

The second session included Jean Merrill, Chris Mosier, and Danne Diamond, further educating about transgender and non-binary inclusion through their experiences and helping the sport industry eliminate existing assumptions.

Our emerging leaders had an opportunity to learn and connect with the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada, Marci Ien, sharing their experiences entering politics during the pandemic and journey in journalism and television. They also had an opportunity to release the greatness within our emerging leaders through her experience as a 5-time Olympian and founder of Watabound, Alia Atkinson.

By the end of the opening day, all attendees, including academics, sports administrators, coaches, officials, and our emerging leaders, had an opportunity to connect, discuss their past experiences, and plan for their future.

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Day 1️⃣ has only just begun and we’ve already heard from some incredible speakers!

#StrongerTogether #DiversityinSportsConference
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Le jour 1️⃣ vient à peine de commencer et nous avons déjà entendu quelques conférenciers exceptionnels !

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Out next two speakers are just as excited as we are about the conference! Meet Marika and Bryan:

Marika Warner is the Director of Research and Evaluation in MLSE’s Community Engagement and Social Impact department. Her portfolio includes program evaluation, academic research partnerships, and technology and innovation. Marika’s team uses data to enhance practice in Sport For Development, positive youth development, sport equity, and corporate social responsibility in professional sport. Marika is also a retired professional dancer, a former physiotherapist, and proud mom of an awesome 6-year-old boy, living in downtown Toronto.

Bryan Heal (he/him) is the Social Impact Research Lead at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), leading initiatives such as the Change the Game research program for MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad to advance access, engagement, equity and positive outcomes for youth through the power of sport. At work, Bryan is passionate about demographic data, storytelling and partnerships that support youth to recognize and reach their potential. Outside of work, Bryan serves on the Board of Directors of Canada’s Sport Information Resource Centre (SIRC); and of Strides, Toronto’s Lead Agency for Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health. In life, Bryan’s favourite hobbies include travelling, going on long runs and hikes through public trails and parks, and he spends much of his waking life thinking about what to eat for his next meal.

#StrongerTogether

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Our incredible client, @SandiTreliving, along with @Snchrissimpson, @SilkenLaumann, #DrDaisySingla, @SaroyaTinker71, and @MarikaWarner, served as panellists for @MLSEFoundation x @CAMH’s #womenmind event last month highlighting the importance of women’s mental health, performance and leadership. Our Founder, Alix, was also in attendance with hosts #DeborahGilles, and @MeghannOHara. Such an insightful day! 👏

#SilverLiningMarketing #SLM #SilverLining #Marketing #PR #MentalHealthAdvocacy #EmpoweredTogether #CAMH #MentalHealthMatters #womenmind #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #CAMH #NOLB #nooneleftbehind

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Feeling incredibly honoured to have been part of the transformative @MLSEFoundation @camhfoundation #womenmind event last week. Together, we highlighted the importance of women’s mental health and the idea of #NoOneLeftBehind.

Huge thanks to @camhfoundation, #DeborahGilles, and @MeghannOHara for hosting this empowering event, and my fellow panelists @Snchrissimpson, @SilkenLaumann, #DrDaisySingla, @SaroyaTinker71, and @marikawarner, for exploring the intersections between women's mental health, performance and leadership.

#CAMHWomenMind #MentalHealthAdvocacy #EmpoweredTogether
#CAMH #BreakTheStigma #MentalHealthMatters #womenmind #Fundraiser #Event #mentalhealthishealth #NOLB #womenempowerment

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What an inspirational way to start the day! I was so honoured to moderate this panel of incredible women from the world of sports, business and medicine discussing women’s mental health and what more needs to be done to close the gender gap.

Big thanks to @meghannohara of MLSE for the invitation and to @sanditreliving and Deborah Gillis for leading the way with #womenmind and @camhfoundation
To Dr Daisy Singla, @silkenlaumann @saroyatinker71 and @marikawarner thank you for your honesty in sharing some of your most challenging moments. You know it will help others who are struggling too.
#mentalhealthishealth

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