University of Waterloo Athletics

I am Jacky Beckford Henriques the Varsity Swim Coach at the University of Waterloo.  I moved to Canada 7 years ago from Jamaica, to get married to my childhood friend, we have 3 young men and 1 daughter in law.  Living the majority of my life in Jamaica, the daughter of a white English mother and a black Jamaican father my first experience of overt racism was when I attended University in England and then the USA.

The last year has really been an educational one for me, conversations within our family and with close friends has really highlighted the fact that subconsciously we often behave in a certain manner which conforms to societal norms of behaviour, which in Canada are built up on colonial and white supremacy norms and beliefs.

As a Co-founder of the Alliance my hope would be, we would be able to inform, educate and effect change to the UW culture, to ensure that all BIPOC individuals are made to feel inclusive and are treated equitably in our Athletic community and eventually moving into the wider community.

 To connect with Jacky please email alliance@uwaterloo.ca