Positionality Statement

I am a white female who grew up in a middle-class household in a small city in southwestern Ontario. I am the youngest of three children (with 2 brothers). I am married with 2 young adult children. My parents are university educated and the first in their families. Both my parents were teachers and education was important in our home. I was privileged to attend university out of town, in Toronto, Ontario. My parents paid for my university and I maintained a part-time job to assist with expenses.

Participation in activities was encouraged throughout my childhood and teen years including art, music and sports, which my parents were able to afford. I have continued to participate in sports as an adult both as an athlete and as a coach. My desire to coach was influenced by my positive life experiences in team sport and to ensure athletes have an opportunity to pursue sports along with the life lessons that come from participation.

Community participation and/or volunteering was also important in my family. These experiences increased my awareness of the needs and diversity in our community. Their support of volunteerism directly influenced my career choice. I had the opportunity in high school to volunteer in a fitness program for children with spina bifida. This experience aligned my interest in physical fitness and community service and introduced me to the profession of Occupational Therapy.

My career has been focused on community care for 25 years until more recently when I joined a large academic health sciences centre due to health system restructuring. Working in community care provided great insights into the diversity within my local community and the communities across southwestern Ontario including into issues of equity and how the current system reinforces those inequities.

Social justice is one my interests or maybe “triggers”. I am trying to learn how to be an effective ally.