The CFL announced Tuesday that they would be launching a new Diversity in Football Program, aimed at creating “greater inclusivity, diversity, and equity across the league and in its business”.
The Program is a joint partnership between the CFL and the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. It will see each of the CFL’s 9 franchises bring in an additional individual from a diverse cultural background to spend four weeks with the club.
Participants will gain valuable experience over the course of training camp and at least one pre-season game with the CFL team for which they’re selected. Training camp is currently slated to open on May 15th and run through June 4th.
In a statement posted to the league website, CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie remarked “We often say that, on and off the field, diversity is strength…We are taking real, practical steps to practicing inclusion and embracing diversity in our league and workplace.”
Applications for the program are being accepted between April 12th and 20th. The announcement comes at a time when the CFL’s neighbours to the south, the NFL, are facing increased scrutiny over their antiquated hiring practices.
Not only are stakeholders advocating for sweeping changes to the league’s “Rooney Rule”, but the league is also facing a discrimination suit filed by former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, which has already seen several other former coaches levy similar allegations as well.
Speaking on the matter, Susan Jones Bouk, Chief People Officer & Head of Office Operations for the CFL stated “Organizations that reflect their communities by promoting diversity and fostering inclusivity have been shown to be more successful and innovative…This program is not only an opportunity for participants to gain practical work experience and to make new contacts, but it also allows them to better understand and proudly use the strengths and insights they have gained through their individual backgrounds.
“Our clubs will in turn, be able to engage and learn from these individuals and their unique and personal experiences. As a league, we have more to learn and more to do, but this is a step in the right direction.”
The diversity program is the second program to be opened this spring by the CFL, following the launch of the Women in Football Program presented by KPMG. Similar to the diversity initiative, the WIF program aims to increase the number of women working in the league by having them shadow franchises throughout their training camps. Its application process is currently open and runs through April 15th.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: TorontoGuy79. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.