Athletics & Recreation shares its 2-year strategic priority refresh: Leaping Forward 2025. The six priorities demonstrate A&R's commitment to program excellence, athlete experience and community engagement serving our large and diverse student population.

In 2018 a new era for the Pride was born. The York Lions updated the original logo to a modernized and majestic lion. The new logo received a positive reception from students, staff, faculty and the local community. This month marks its 5th anniversary!

Athletics & Recreation reflects with Rosemary Sadlier as she, and a panel of guests, honour the work done in getting Emancipation Day on August 1 recognized in Canada and celebrating Black Women in Leadership.

With new leadership in Athletics & Recreation, the team has been taking time to reflect and engage in collaborative discussions. Connecting with colleagues will holistically guide future planning initiatives going forward for the development of key priorities for the next two years.

In honour of National Indigenous History Month, Larissa Crawford, a restorative circle keeper and published Indigenous and anti-racist researcher, was highlighted by the Athletics & Recreation department.
 

Staff and students shared what pride meant to them, as well as issues faced by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community during a Pride Month video.

Come along for a tour as Athletics & Recreation's new Executive Director, Steven Chuang, visits the Tait Mackenzie Centre and saw what changed after he had graduated as a York alumnus.

Student-athletes and coaches of Asian descent were promoted by Athletics & Recreation in May. Students and coaches answered questions about Asian Heritage Month and what it means to them, which were published on the York Lions social media channels.

Athletics & Recreation hosted it’s fourth annual Women & Girls Leadership and Sport Conference in April. The conference featured a number of influential Canadian women in sport presentations under the theme, Aim High, Play Safe, with an emphasis on safety in sports.

York Lions returned in person to celebrate student athletes. The Intramural Banquet honoured internal York recreational athletes, while the Varsity Athletics Banquet highlighted significant athletic achievements from Lions teams.

Athletics and Recreation proudly hosted Olympic icon and champion, Mark Tewksbury. Tewksbury shared his experiences and reflections with coaches, students and staff with a focus on the role that community, allyship and language played in his journey of self-acceptance and success.

Initiatives included a student-led Black Excellence speaker series & BHM fashion line. Black student-athletes and coaches were profiled throughout the month & Winston Larose received a YU Lions lifetime achievement award.

Athletics & Recreation has partnered with the Jane and Finch community to host a NorthStar Community Emancipation Day Celebration on on July 31. This event will feature performances, keynote speakers, local vendors and a special basketball game.

The Drew Green Lions Award recognizes student-athletes from the York Lions men's and women’s basketball teams. The award aims to ensure that talented, high-achieving student-athletes can realize their dream of a world class university education while competing as a York Lion.

The 2nd annual York2York kicks off this June, as York U travels virtually around the world starting from our Keele Campus to our Schulich School of Business campus in India.

York University Athletics & Recreation hosted the annual Start2Finish run, which aims to help to break the cycle of child poverty through educational support, and celebration at York Lions Stadium, with special guest Yeo! 

Participate in this month’s events and sport the Lion's Pride Collection gear. 

The 19th annual York University Lions Cup Golf Tournament raised $144,000 for athletic scholarships.

The Women and Girls in Leadership and Sport Conference brings together coaches, athletes, sport administrators and allies from across the country to be educated, empowered, and supported through a series of sessions by guest speakers.

The Varsity Awards Celebration recognizes the athletic achievements of top student-athletes and teams. Some of the most prestigious awards are given to graduating student-athletes who have excelled athletically, academically and within the community. 

The Intramural Banquet acknowledges the winners of tournaments and events, in addition to celebrating students who participate in intramural sport. This year’s banquet was celebrated virtually in April and can be viewed on the @yorkuintramurals Instagram account.

York Lions are proud of the exceptional Asian student-athletes and coaches who are part of the varsity community and Asian Heritage Month is a chance to highlight their accomplishments and contributions. Throughout May, profiles of Lions will be shared weekly.

The Black Excellence & Grit Black & Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance Speaker Series features outstanding Black members of the community presenting on topics highlighting Black excellence and achievement. Sessions are virtual, ongoing throughout the year and available to all. 

Canada Celebrates First-ever Emancipation Day with Virtual Celebration 

This year marked the First National Emancipation Day across Canada, as championed by Rosemary Sadlier. Over 25 years ago, Sadlier initiated the first of many commemorations of August 1st as Emancipation Day. 

Hosted by the Fitness & Lifestyles Team, Athletics & Recreation invites students, staff and faculty to sign-up for a virtual journey to York’s Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica. Work together to travel the distance by walking, running, hiking, biking, blading, swimming, exercising, and more.

In partnership with local Jane & Finch community leaders and groups (Jane-Finch Concerned Citizens Organization, JFCCO), Athletics & Recreation produced a 3.5-hour virtual celebration called “Rooted & Resilient” with candid personal stories from homegrown Black Canadian trailblazers.

Athletics & Recreation forms the Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance (BIVSAA) to gain an understanding of Black and Indigenous student-athlete experiences. Insights will help to identify issues, inform solutions, make progress, and foster meaningful growth within the Lions family.

Led by the Black and Indigenous Varsity Student-Athlete Alliance (BIVSAA), Athletics & Recreation Launches the Black Excellence & Grit Speaker Series. This series intentionally places a Black lens on conversations related to identity, social justice and professionalism.