Pride Month is coming to an end and League1 Women’s Program’s Jessie de Boer and Chelsea Currie have reflected on a successful June both on and off the field.
Currie is the assistant coach in North Toronto Soccer’s League1 Ontario Women’s Premier Division team, and de Boer captains the side on the field in addition to coaching in the Competitive Program.
They are currently second in the table and have scored more than any other L1O Premier Division team, men’s included. They are on track for their target of making the playoffs, and booking a spot in next year’s Premier Division when L1O introduces promotion and relegation.
It’s not just been about league results and standings, however – players have been engaged in the club’s Special Olympic Athlete Day, and have worn Pride warmup tops before games to celebrate Pride Month.
While Pride awareness activities often take place in June, the themes of inclusion and acceptance run strong through the League1 Women’s Program all year round.
“The team is a welcoming environment that is open to all players,” said Jessie. “We value giving everyone the opportunity to play no matter their age, sexual identity, race, or socioeconomic background, which has brought in people from many different walks of life.
“Billy Wilson [Technical Director and L1O Women’s Premier Division team head coach] takes time to reinforce these values throughout the season and frequently asks for input from players, emphasizing that this is our team and our culture we get to create.
“It is important that we take the time to reflect on the ongoing challenges this community faces and look at our own actions on how we are aiming to fight against barriers, stigmas, and discrimination.
“Pride to me is being an ally that is willing to step in when something isn’t right.”
Last year saw North Toronto’s L1O players wear rainbow armbands. While it’s great to raise awareness on the field, these activities also encourage conversations among team members across the club’s programs.
“It is a small gesture that shows where we stand as a team and organization. Everyone is welcomed at our table no matter their sexual identity and that there is zero tolerance for intolerance,” continued Jessie.
“Hopefully there is someone who passed by to see this and reflected on this, maybe even a young player who now feels more comfortable being part of our club.
“It also allows us to reflect on how we are all being allies. Opening up the greater discussion on discrimination further reminds us that there are still ongoing challenges for this community, and it’s then about engaging with our community to challenge misplaced and harmful beliefs.”
North Toronto’s awareness activities are part of Pride’s worldwide movement, which Jessie and the Women’s Premier Division squad will hope inspire more people to be an ally to those around them.
“You may never know when someone is struggling unless you ask,” Jessie added.
For, as Chelsea explains, being an open-minded human being will not only benefit society and those around them, but can also lead to developments on and off the field for the individual.
“Some of our program values are rooted in using sport as a common space that needs to be shared with others to achieve a common goal,” said Chelsea.
“Sport is a training ground for life; we know that everything going on around the context of your life will affect your performance on the field, so we want players to feel like they can always be their true, authentic self whatever that means while they’re at soccer.
“This means having open dialogue about inclusivity, and as coaches we really emphasize respect among the team, encouraging the girls to build strong lines of communication with us coaches and each other so we can use our voices to solve problems.
“We are all learning about ourselves, about the sport, and about the world through the game that we love, and the more we take time to educate ourselves on other people’s experiences the better people we become.
“And again, the more realized, educated, and whole people that we are, the better athletes we can become.”
Since Chelsea joined North Toronto Soccer in 2022 she has seen Pride, and all that is celebrated during Pride Month, being embodied by players as a shared team value.
“It’s important for the club to see the Women’s Premier Division team supporting Pride Month because we are leaders of the club. Actions speak louder than words,” she continued.
“The culture of the club is that we have a high standard for excellence, across the board, and that means being committed athletes and respectful people 12 months of the year. We are holding the mindset that who we love doesn’t define who we are as people, but rather our actions and the respect we have for those around us.
“Pride to me is about love and loving the people around you for whomever they love. When you’re an athlete on a team at a high level, you are constantly surrounded by the same 20 to 24 people all with different backgrounds, different points of view, different sexualities, different identities, so you learn to love people from each end of any spectrum.
“We encourage people to make sure that they’re showing love in soccer by pushing each other in training, showing respect for each other, and being themselves.
“Players need to feel comfortable in their skin so that they can feel comfortable pushing their own boundaries, and to make mistakes, because that’s where growth happens.”
