Latest news with #Johnston
Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Basketball players told to put long hair in jerseys, ref facing consequences
AN amateur basketball referee has been ordered to forfeit jobs, apologize and take a course on Indigenous culture after asking First Nation boys to tuck in their braids. A minor league game at St. John's High School in Winnipeg's North End ended with tears and frustration for some of the young athletes and family members who were in the stands last Saturday. Sheena Johnston said her 11-year-old was one of three players on a Central Storm basketball team who was told they had to put their long hair inside their jerseys. When her son protested, saying his braid — a nod to his Cree and Ojibwa ancestry — could come loose while he was running, the referee told him to 'figure it out,' she said. 'His self-esteem went low. His hair is his pride and joy,' the mother said, adding she was shocked and angered by the referee's disregard for the cultural symbol. Johnston, who has four children, had never heard of such a request in all of the years she has spent watching her children play recreational sports — including hockey, soccer and volleyball — with braids. Concerns raised by her and other parents prompted a coach to flag the events, including the referee's decision to grab a player who challenged a call on the court, to the league. 'Sports need to be safe places for our young people, where they are not teased about their hair or their choices to share their cultural pride. It's not OK,' said Cheryl James, a mother of a 12-year-old on the boys basketball team. James had to miss the game due to another commitment. She said she was disappointed to learn later on that there had been so many adult bystanders in the gymnasium. The Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council, which runs inner-city recreation programs, has condemned the referee's actions. Co-ordinator Quinton Denechezhe told families immediate steps are being taken to promote inclusivity, protect athletes and address 'the obvious miseducation and inappropriate conduct.' 'There are no rules requiring players to tuck in their braids or long hair, and such a decision is always the discretion of the player,' Denechezhe wrote in a memo Thursday. The email states the referee assignor for the Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association has confirmed the individual in question will forfeit upcoming assignments and issue a written apology. 'The referee will take an education course on Indigenous culture to better understand and respect the cultural practices and traditions of our players,' Denechezhe said, noting he is requesting the individual register in MASRC's 'aboriginal coaching module.' Johnston said she prides herself on braiding her children's hair every morning — a routine during which she gives each child positive affirmations and prays with them. Her boys wanted to grow their hair out after finding out about what happened at residential schools and learning that the braid connects a person to Mother Earth, because it points towards the ground. Indigenous children's braids were chopped off when they arrived at residential schools, an element of the government and church-run institutions' mission to strip their cultural identities. Johnston said her family wants last weekend's events to serve as a learning opportunity for all referees, coaches and athletes. 'We can all learn from this.… Our men and our leaders and our chiefs have always had long hair, and it is just part of who we are as First Nations,' she said. Referee assignor Reid Kenyon echoed those comments in an email. 'Our focus is on ensuring this becomes a learning opportunity for all, as we remain committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment within the game of basketball,' said Kenyon, president of the Manitoba Association of Basketball Officials. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Dare to Dream' – Seanie Johnston says Cavan's Mayo shock has Breffni dreaming big again
FORMER Cavan attacker Seánie Johnston believes his county can dare to dream again after shocking Mayo. The Advertisement 2 Cavan icon Seanie Johnston reckons the Breffni can dare to dream after their shock win over Mayo 2 Cavan face Donegal tomorrow as they look to add another major scalp The last time Cavan beat Mayo in Championship football had been 1948 — in the All-Ireland final. Breffni icon John Joe O'Reilly lifted Sam Maguire for the second year in a row, having first done so in the Polo Grounds in New York. Memories of those glory days were stirred a fortnight ago at MacHale Park as Ray Galligan's men sank All of the focus had been on Mayo in the build-up to the sensational victory. Advertisement read more on gaa Former free-scoring forward Johnston told SunSport: 'To go to Mayo and win was huge. If that was one of the big guns who went to Castlebar and won, people would be raving about it. 'I think the talk around the country has been more about the demise of Mayo rather than Cavan having a very good win.' Johnston was a selector under boss Mickey Graham when Cavan reached the 2022 Tailteann Cup final. Now, Galligan's men top Group 1 and have a free shot when Donegal come to town tomorrow. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football Fellow group toppers Tyrone beat Jim McGuinness' men last weekend in Ballybofey, blowing open the race for the last eight. And Cavan's destiny is in their own hands. Johnston said: 'Ultimately for us, it was a huge win in terms of maybe progressing to an All-Ireland quarter-final or preliminary quarter-final. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - 'Then you just don't know what's going to happen or what a win like that will give in terms of the boost of confidence to the players. 'We have a big one coming this weekend, but there's very little pressure on Cavan. There's probably huge pressure coming from the Donegal side of things after their result last week. Advertisement 'The first game is ultimately so important because you know generally that one win will get you into that preliminary quarter-final. 'So I think their goal has got to be, if they get through the group, 'Can we make an All-Ireland semi-final?' That means you have to go and win two knockout games but that, to me, would be an incredible season.' Five years have passed since Cavan toppled tomorrow's opponents in an Ulster final that was played behind closed doors due to Covid lockdown restrictions. Advertisement Their journey to the Anglo-Celt Cup lit up a dark summer as Galligan lifted the trophy. Cavan proceeded directly to an All-Ireland semi-final, losing to a Dublin side that became six-in-a-row champions. Five years on, they went to Castlebar quietly confident. And Cormac O'Reilly, Oisín Kiernan, Dara McVeety, Gerard Smith, Cian Reilly, Brian O'Connell and Cian Madden stood up to the mark as star forward Paddy Lynch made a scoring comeback off the bench after the cruciate ligament injury victim spent more than a year on the sidelines. Advertisement Johnston admits the buzz is back in the Breffni County and he believes the return of Crosserlough forward Lynch is a huge boost, though clubmate James Smith has not yet come back from injury. Gearóid McKiernan — who returned to the panel this season — also missed the Mayo game, having lined out in the Ulster quarter-final defeat by Tyrone on April 13. The Cavan Gaels man said: 'One thing I wouldn't like to see is Cavan putting limits on themselves. 'They're after taking out Mayo in Mayo and ultimately, people will criticise where Mayo are at. Advertisement 'Paddy Lynch's return is huge. You know, even for that point he comes on and scored, we have to put it into perspective that this lad hasn't played in nearly 14 months. 'He gets that pop-hand pass and he spins on to his supposedly weaker side, and he pings it over from 35 metres. 'He has that quality in abundance, but you'd be conscious of the fact that we can't be expecting miracles off him too. 'The Cavan forward line now looks a lot better. Oisín Brady, who's probably Cavan's second best forward when Paddy was away, is back too. Advertisement 'Cormac O'Reilly is playing really well and you're hoping to see James and Gearóid McKiernan added into the fold and that makes your forward line look a lot more formidable than it has looked. 'You expect Donegal to come to town and win, but Cavan are going in with a free shot at another big gun who, if they lose, are in serious bother because you just don't know what you're going to get from Mayo in that last game for Donegal.' Johnston will be a keen spectator tomorrow, but has stepped back from football for now. Having made his debut in 2003, Johnston hung up his inter-county boots in 2019, after a long career that included a well-publicised switch to Kildare. Advertisement Coaching led him to join the Cavan backroom team in 2022. He took the reins of his beloved Cavan Gaels last summer, but stood down after the county semi-final loss to Crosserlough. FAMILY FIRST Johnston won ten county titles between 2001 and 2017 but times have been leaner since and for now, family comes first. He said: 'We have four young kids and it was just causing havoc in the house here. Advertisement 'I'm all-consuming. If I'm in, it takes over your whole life and you're away probably five, six nights a week. 'Even when you're here, you're not here, so I just said I was going to take a full break and I'm enjoying it. 'I went back and took our own club last year because the players asked me to do it. 'I didn't want to because it's very hard to do your own club. Advertisement 'They'd been at such a kind of low ebb over the last number of years. We lost the semi-final to Crosserlough by a point and we should have beaten them. "It was probably more annoying that I had to step back from that, because I know they were pretty disappointed that I did. But then, it's just so taxing on time. 'It's also very hard not to be in something that's competitive because you kind of live for that competitive element when you're not playing anymore. 'But it's a lot harder than playing, because you've very little control when that ball is thrown in. You're reliant on all the work that has been done on the training field. Advertisement 'And then sometimes you're tearing your hair out at some of the things players are doing. You're like, 'Have I taught these boys absolutely nothing?' 'It's very enjoyable too but just probably not that conducive to having four young kids.'
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
CFL, nine member clubs donate over $4.5 million to grassroots football programs
TORONTO - The CFL and its nine member clubs invested over $4.5 million into amateur football last year. The league announced Friday that it and the nine franchises combined to donate $4,518,900 to grassroots football initiatives, projects and programs throughout Canada in 2024. 'The community involvement of the CFL, its clubs and players is something that sets us apart from other leagues,' said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston. 'To be able, among all of the clubs in the league, to donate over $4.5 million is encouraging participation and exposure to the game and ultimately having kids fall in love with the sport. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'That's wonderful for a number of reasons, one of which is the game of football teaches such great skills that can be applied to life.' The CFL said it made 2,019 appearances last year, including 1,023 school visits, with players and staff spending 11,457 hours in communities and reaching more than 84,000 youth. 'Ultimately, football players become football fans,' Johnston said. 'We think we're going to be seeing them at the stadium cheering on their teams as well as watching at home on TV. 'It's a great strategy for us to be involved in the community, be great corporate citizens and develop new fans.' Two of the CFL's initiatives included the Women in Football Program — which provides a platform for participants to develop skills at the professional level — and its partnership with Blackhawk Tires that raised $40,000 through the Touchdowns for Communities, a strategy that provides funding for provincial football organizations to grow female programs across Canada. Among the team initiatives - The Montreal Alouettes supported 50 charitable initiatives and organizations, including amateur football and flag teams. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW - The Ottawa Redblacks expanded to eight events with six to eight players attending each one to serve as guest coaches at the local minor football level. - The Toronto Argonauts partnered with Football Toronto to create the Argos' equipment bank, a program that recertifies and safeties helmets for their entire 10-year lifespan, and loans them free of charge to high schools across the city. The club also awarded a $50,000 grant to the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association. - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Play It Forward program provides Indigenous youth with opportunities centred around the game of football. The First On the Field Flag Football initiative allows youth from local schools to participate in flag football games at Hamilton Stadium. - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' football academy welcomed over 800 participants at no cost to develop skills and grow their football IQ. The team's Girls High School Flag Football League returned for a second season, expanding from 18 to 28 schools and over 300 participants with the franchise providing all the necessary equipment. - The Saskatchewan Roughriders' North Sask Football Jamboree incorporates youth teams from across the province for a weekend of competition and skills development. The club's Grow the Game program involves grassroots football across Saskatchewan and introduces the game to non-traditional football communities. - The Calgary Stampeders' rookie class hosts the Jr Stamps Camp for 500 youth at McMahon Stadium. And its Football 101 program features players travelling to school across the city during the off-season. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW - The Edmonton Elks' Junior High Flag Football League included 29 girls teams and 43 boys teams in association with Metro Athletics. The league ran for five weeks, and eight teams were ultimately showcased at halftime of a preseason game. - The B.C. Lions introduced a new women's flag program, which included two clinics for women and girls aged 12 years and older. And in association with B.C. High School Football, community coaches worked with members of the Lions coaching staff. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
CFL, nine member clubs donate over $4.5 million to grassroots football programs
TORONTO - The CFL and its nine member clubs invested over $4.5 million into amateur football last year. The league announced Friday that it and the nine franchises combined to donate $4,518,900 to grassroots football initiatives, projects and programs throughout Canada in 2024. 'The community involvement of the CFL, its clubs and players is something that sets us apart from other leagues,' said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston. 'To be able, among all of the clubs in the league, to donate over $4.5 million is encouraging participation and exposure to the game and ultimately having kids fall in love with the sport. 'That's wonderful for a number of reasons, one of which is the game of football teaches such great skills that can be applied to life.' The CFL said it made 2,019 appearances last year, including 1,023 school visits, with players and staff spending 11,457 hours in communities and reaching more than 84,000 youth. 'Ultimately, football players become football fans,' Johnston said. 'We think we're going to be seeing them at the stadium cheering on their teams as well as watching at home on TV. 'It's a great strategy for us to be involved in the community, be great corporate citizens and develop new fans.' Two of the CFL's initiatives included the Women in Football Program — which provides a platform for participants to develop skills at the professional level — and its partnership with Blackhawk Tires that raised $40,000 through the Touchdowns for Communities, a strategy that provides funding for provincial football organizations to grow female programs across Canada. Among the team initiatives - The Montreal Alouettes supported 50 charitable initiatives and organizations, including amateur football and flag teams. - The Ottawa Redblacks expanded to eight events with six to eight players attending each one to serve as guest coaches at the local minor football level. - The Toronto Argonauts partnered with Football Toronto to create the Argos' equipment bank, a program that recertifies and safeties helmets for their entire 10-year lifespan, and loans them free of charge to high schools across the city. The club also awarded a $50,000 grant to the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association. - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Play It Forward program provides Indigenous youth with opportunities centred around the game of football. The First On the Field Flag Football initiative allows youth from local schools to participate in flag football games at Hamilton Stadium. - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' football academy welcomed over 800 participants at no cost to develop skills and grow their football IQ. The team's Girls High School Flag Football League returned for a second season, expanding from 18 to 28 schools and over 300 participants with the franchise providing all the necessary equipment. - The Saskatchewan Roughriders' North Sask Football Jamboree incorporates youth teams from across the province for a weekend of competition and skills development. The club's Grow the Game program involves grassroots football across Saskatchewan and introduces the game to non-traditional football communities. - The Calgary Stampeders' rookie class hosts the Jr Stamps Camp for 500 youth at McMahon Stadium. And its Football 101 program features players travelling to school across the city during the off-season. - The Edmonton Elks' Junior High Flag Football League included 29 girls teams and 43 boys teams in association with Metro Athletics. The league ran for five weeks, and eight teams were ultimately showcased at halftime of a preseason game. - The B.C. Lions introduced a new women's flag program, which included two clinics for women and girls aged 12 years and older. And in association with B.C. High School Football, community coaches worked with members of the Lions coaching staff. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
CFL, nine member clubs donate over $4.5 million to grassroots football programs
TORONTO – The CFL and its nine member clubs invested over $4.5 million into amateur football last year. The league announced Friday that it and the nine franchises combined to donate $4,518,900 to grassroots football initiatives, projects and programs throughout Canada in 2024. 'The community involvement of the CFL, its clubs and players is something that sets us apart from other leagues,' said CFL commissioner Stewart Johnston. 'To be able, among all of the clubs in the league, to donate over $4.5 million is encouraging participation and exposure to the game and ultimately having kids fall in love with the sport. 'That's wonderful for a number of reasons, one of which is the game of football teaches such great skills that can be applied to life.' The CFL said it made 2,019 appearances last year, including 1,023 school visits, with players and staff spending 11,457 hours in communities and reaching more than 84,000 youth. 'Ultimately, football players become football fans,' Johnston said. 'We think we're going to be seeing them at the stadium cheering on their teams as well as watching at home on TV. 'It's a great strategy for us to be involved in the community, be great corporate citizens and develop new fans.' Two of the CFL's initiatives included the Women in Football Program — which provides a platform for participants to develop skills at the professional level — and its partnership with Blackhawk Tires that raised $40,000 through the Touchdowns for Communities, a strategy that provides funding for provincial football organizations to grow female programs across Canada. Among the team initiatives – The Montreal Alouettes supported 50 charitable initiatives and organizations, including amateur football and flag teams. – The Ottawa Redblacks expanded to eight events with six to eight players attending each one to serve as guest coaches at the local minor football level. – The Toronto Argonauts partnered with Football Toronto to create the Argos' equipment bank, a program that recertifies and safeties helmets for their entire 10-year lifespan, and loans them free of charge to high schools across the city. The club also awarded a $50,000 grant to the Ontario Women's Intercollegiate Football Association. – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats' Play It Forward program provides Indigenous youth with opportunities centred around the game of football. The First On the Field Flag Football initiative allows youth from local schools to participate in flag football games at Hamilton Stadium. – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' football academy welcomed over 800 participants at no cost to develop skills and grow their football IQ. The team's Girls High School Flag Football League returned for a second season, expanding from 18 to 28 schools and over 300 participants with the franchise providing all the necessary equipment. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. – The Saskatchewan Roughriders' North Sask Football Jamboree incorporates youth teams from across the province for a weekend of competition and skills development. The club's Grow the Game program involves grassroots football across Saskatchewan and introduces the game to non-traditional football communities. – The Calgary Stampeders' rookie class hosts the Jr Stamps Camp for 500 youth at McMahon Stadium. And its Football 101 program features players travelling to school across the city during the off-season. – The Edmonton Elks' Junior High Flag Football League included 29 girls teams and 43 boys teams in association with Metro Athletics. The league ran for five weeks, and eight teams were ultimately showcased at halftime of a preseason game. – The B.C. Lions introduced a new women's flag program, which included two clinics for women and girls aged 12 years and older. And in association with B.C. High School Football, community coaches worked with members of the Lions coaching staff. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
