KINect with UNESCO Story Circles
In a time where it's easy to focus on what makes us different, it's more important than ever to come together to foster understanding. Intercultural dialogue helps us connect, learn and grow as a global community!
Join Kinections' UNESCO Story Circles and take part in a unique opportunity to connect, learn and grow with people from all walks of life. Through sharing your own story and hearing others', you'll gain fresh perspectives on different cultures and experiences.
This is more than just a conversation -- it's a chance to build skills like empathy, active listening and cultural awareness, all while developing a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you.
Whether you're looking to make new connections or expand your worldview, UNESCO Story Circles offer a welcoming space for meaningful exchange and personal growth.
Light refreshments will be served. Please include any food restrictions on the registration form.
How to participate:
KINship Hub
Introducing the KINship Hub! A new initiative organized by KPE’s Office of Registrar & Student Services, the KINship Hub is a great way to connect with fellow kinesiology students and enrich your understanding of equity, diversity & inclusion.
The KINship Hub will be open every Tuesday from 3 – 4:30pm and is located in the Warren Stevens Building (a.k.a the Athletic Centre), in Room WS2007. Come by and discover new ideas, try new activities and connect with new people!
Here’s what you can expect at the KINship Hub for November:
November 5: KINship Hub Office Hour
Have questions about where to find queer community on campus? Looking for resources on equity, diversity & inclusion? These are just some of the things you can ask the Equity Engagement & Student Advisor during their office hour. Drop by to ask any questions you have or if you need someone to talk to!
Session Details
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EDT (1 hour)
Location: Warren Stevens Building, Room 2007, 320 Huron St, Toronto, ON M5S 3J7
No registration required!
November 12: Drop-In Board Games
Looking for something to do between classes? Stop by the KINship hub with a friend or solo to play some board games.
Session Details
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm. EDT (1.5 hours)
Location: Warren Stevens Building, Room 2007, 320 Huron St, Toronto, ON M5S 3J7
No registration required!
November 26: Pilates & Mindfulness
Take a movement break and join us in a Pilates & mindfulness session led by KPE student Nasrin Sabet-Poor. This session will focus on strengthening your core and is modifiable based on ability. We will also share our experiences navigating student life and mindfulness techniques that help with stress management. All equipment will be provided and participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing.
Session Details
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT (1 hours)
Location: Clara Benson Building, Dance Studio, 320 Huron St, Toronto, ON M5S 3J7
Drop-In Pow Wow Dance
Join John (Waaseyaabin) Hupfield and Deanne Hupfield in a welcoming space to learn and practise pow wow dance. This weekly class is open to all levels and has the goal of nurturing dancers, whether this is your first or hundredth time dancing. This is a great and supportive space to bring regalia, or just something to move in! All ages, skill and experience levels, and genders are welcome.
This drop-in class is open to Indigenous community members only, at U of T and beyond (free-of-charge).
Presented in partnership with First Nations House.
How to participate
Join us every Monday from October 21 to December 2 from 5–6:30 p.m. No registration is required. Visit uoft.me/PowWowDance for more information.
2SLGBTQ+ Roommate Meet and Greet
2SLGBTQ+ students are invited to join this networking event to meet peers who are also looking for roommates.
There will be ice-breaker activities, information about renting, and arts and crafts activities. Come to enjoy some free snacks and fun activities while finding potential roommates!
How to participate:
Register for the 2SLGBTQ+ Roommate Meet and Greet
Saturday, July 13, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Online
African Black Caribbean, Latin American & Southeast Asian Students: Applying to On & Off-Campus Jobs
This workshop will help African Black Caribbean, Latin American and Southeast Asian students find and apply for on- and off-campus jobs, including several Student Engagement student leader positions for fall / winter. We will also discuss anti-Black, anti-LatinX and anti-Asian racism and the potential for hiring discrimination associated with Racialized identities, non-anglicized names, neighborhood based experience, etc.
Guests
Dr. Janelle Joseph is an award-winning Assistant Professor in Critical Studies of Race & Indigeneity in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. She is Founder and Director of the Indigeneity, Diaspora, Equity, and Anti-racism in Sport (IDEAS) Research Lab (for which she hires staff), and author / co-editor of three (3) books related to race, sport, education, and Black communities in Canada. Dr. Joseph is a 2024 Connaught Scholar, Co-President of the Black Canadian Studies Association, and a Faculty Advisor to this program for nine (9) years.
Saddiya Rose is a Career Educator at CxED and brings 8+ years of experience advising students and recent graduates on job searching, further education, and career exploration. As a Career Educator, Saddiya has stewarded several extensive programming, supporting through a tri-campus lens (65,000 students!) through curriculum and partnership building. Her portfolio programs, such as Career Chats, a series of informal dialogues focused on the intersection of identity (she is Black) and career development; and Job Seekers Club, a cohort-based program that supports new graduates entering the world of work through a hope-centered lens; has always grounded agency at the forefront. In addition, Saddiya has worked as an Academic Faculty member at both Humber College and the University of New Brunswick, where she supported adult learners within the Faculty of Education.
David Fernández serves as the Head of Rare Books and Special Collections at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and hires students, librarians, and others. His work and research interests focus on the history of the book and printing in Latin America from the colonial period to the present. As Librarian and Instructor, David promotes decolonial and queer approaches to advance and teach about the role of archives, museums, and libraries to inspire social change, transform lives, and vitalize communities. David is LatinX and a former first generation student.
Reginald (Reggie) Oey is theAccessible and Inclusive Learning Team Lead at Accessibility Services where he supports students with disabilities develop learning skills and find community through peer programs. Reggie is also part of the team who helps to interview, hire, and train Work Study students at Accessibility Services. He is of Indonesian descent and first generation.
How to participate:
Register for the African Black Caribbean, Latin American & Southeast Asian Students: Applying to On & Off-Campus Jobs workshop here.
Wednesday, June 19, 2 – 4 p.m.
Online (MS Teams)
Destress with Colouring & Cocoa
March is a busy time of year at KPE with the exam period approaching.
Take a break on March 25 by attending Destress Event: Colouring and Cocoa! Reduce your stress levels by expressing your creativity through colouring, and share a warm cup of cocoa with fellow classmates and friends. Materials and refreshments will be provided by KPE's Office of the Registrar and Student Services.
How to participate:
Re-examining Sex and Gender Binaries in Sport
Sports, whether at the professional or recreational level, have historically been strictly gendered. Immense strides have been taken to improve inclusivity in sport, however, in recent times, there has been an increase in policies that aim to police and restrict the sex and gender of sport participants.
Join KPE's Equity Engagement Advisor and special guests for a conversation that explores the impact of the gender binary on how we play, consume and engage with sports.
Panelists:
Dr. Sabrina Razack is the Project Lead for Canada at the Centre for Sport and Human Rights and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto. She has worked with Canadian Women & Sport, the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games and various community organizations. Her PhD thesis involved a case study of the Black Girl Hockey Club and examined the intersections of physical activity, sport, social movements, media, race, gender, class and culture. Sabrina is an award winning curriculum writer, and developed “Beyond a Boundary”, a web-platform aimed to engage educators, parents and organisations seeking curriculum designed to provide diverse perspectives and understandings of the world.
Danielle Waters, representing Pink Turf Soccer League (PTSL), is a queer woman who cares about inclusion in sport. Within the PTSL she works on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Grant coordination and is one of the Conflict Resolution Coordinators. PTSL is an adult non-profit recreational soccer league based in Toronto and open to all members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. They’ve been a cornerstone of Toronto’s queer community since 1985, making them the longest continuously-running 2SLGBTQ+ soccer league in Canada. They play throughout the summer at Withrow Park in the city’s East End. Women (cis and trans), trans and nonbinary people, intersex people and Indigenous two-spirit people and allies are all welcome in the league.
Lucy Tempest (moderator) is a third-year kinesiology student at the University of Toronto. She has a long history in equity work within academic communities, and currently sits as the KPE undergraduate association (KPEUA) equity commissioner. This is Lucy's second year in the role and she finds the opportunity to work with her peers to promote equity within KPE incredibly rewarding. Lucy has a passion for the inclusion and respect of all people in active spaces and has done work studying the experiences of trans youth in sport, as well as the intersection of transphobia and misogyny in athletics.
How to Participate
Sign Up for Re-examining Sex & Gender Binaries in Sport Panel
Recommended Reading for the Panel
A Brief History of Women in Sport
Athletes, Advocates Push Back Against Alberta's New Transgender Policies
Pilates & Mindfulness
Take a movement break and reset in this pilates & mindfulness session! The session will focus on strengthening your core and movements can be modified based on ability. There will also be a discussion component, where participants can share their experiences navigating student life and mindfulness techniques that help with stress management.
All equipment will be provided. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing.
International students at the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education are especially encouraged to attend this event.
Session Details
Date: Friday, February 9, 2024
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT (1.5 hours)
Location: Clara Benson Building, BN302, 320 Huron St, Toronto, ON M5S 3J7
Register for Pilates & Mindfulness
International Student Panel and Networking Event
Join the U of T Student Life’s Academic Success team and the Centre for International Experience (CIE) on Wednesday, February 14th, from 6-8 p.m., for a networking event where international graduate and undergraduate student panelists will share their insights and tips about studying at U of T!
Network with the panelists over snacks and a boxed dinner, and meet other students from across the university! Attendees will also have the chance to win one of five Second Cup $10 gift cards in a randomized prize draw.
How to Participate
Register for the International Student Panel & Networking Event
Lucky Envelopes: Sharing Lunar New Year Traditions
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with KINections on February 12, from noon to 2 p.m. It’s the year of the dragon and we’ll be sharing information about the annual celebration along with some tasty treats. How do you celebrate the Lunar New Year? Come see us to find out more!
How to Participate
No registration required. Drop by the second floor lobby in the Clara Benson Building, just outside the Benson Student Lounge to get your treat!
Black History Month: Trivia Contest
Do you know the name of the first Black player in the National Hockey League? Or how many Grammys The Weeknd has? Come flex your knowledge in Black Canadian history at the Black History Month Trivia Contest, organized by KPE’s Office of the Registrar and Student Services!
The winner of the contest will receive a fun prize!
Session Details
Date: Friday, February 2, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT (1 hour)
Location: Clara Benson Building, BN302, 320 Huron St, Toronto, ON M5S 3J7
Grad Equity Talk: EDI in Research
This Grad Equity Talk, focused on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in Research, is an opportunity for graduate students at KPE to discuss the various ways they might incorporate EDI principles in their research.
Students will discuss the importance and challenges related to incorporating EDI in their research. Faculty members will also join the talk to share their insight and experience.
How to participate
Craft & Chat: Zine Workshop
Do you enjoy being creative? Do you have a topic you're passionate about that you want to share with the world? Come and learn how to make a zine with your peers at KPE!
Zines (short for magazine or fanzine) are self published works with original or appropriated texts and images. Historically, zines have been a way for under-represented groups to get their opinions out and amplify their own voices.
This workshop will share the basics on how zines are made and will provide you an opportunity to make one of your own.
The suggested theme for this workshop is HOME.
All materials will be provided.
How to participate
Black Student Winter Welcome
Black students at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education are invited to a student mixer! Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.
Come connect with your Black student peers and build community with activities, great conversations and more as we celebrate the beginning of a new academic term.
This event was created specifically for KPE students that identify as Black (this includes Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, and multi-racial people who have and identify with their Black ancestry, etc.) We ask that non-Black students please not register for this event. If you have any questions, please contact KPE’s Equity Engagement and Student Advisor, Feyisami Adara.
How to participate
Destress with Colouring & Cocoa
The end of November is a busy time of the year at KPE, as the exam period approaches.
Take a break on November 27 by attending Destress with Colouring and Cocoa! Reduce your stress levels by expressing your creativity through colouring, and share a warm cup of cocoa with fellow classmates and friends. Materials and refreshments will be provided by KPE's Office of the Registrar and Student Services.
How to participate
Field Trip: Art Gallery of Ontario
Explore the work of South Asian Canadian artist Sarinder Dhaliwal on November 17 with a field trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario, organized exclusively for students at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.
There is no cost to attend, courtesy of KPE's Office of the Registrar and Student Services, but registration is required! Undergraduate and graduate kinesiology students are welcome.
Sarindar Dhaliwal: When I grow up I want to be a namer of paint colours exhibits more than 40 years of artmaking by the South Asian Canadian artist. Characterized by intense colour and compelling imagery, Dhaliwal's art investigates memory, identity and migration. In this, her first AGO solo exhibition, the artist's significant contribution to Canadian art will be illustrated by a selection of key works, including meticulously rendered drawings and mixed media works from the 1980s to the 2000s, alongside large-scale installations and recent photography.
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists and European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world.
How to participate
Field Trip: Welcome to Blackhurst
Did you know that right next to the University of Toronto is one of Toronto's Black history hubs? The Bloor - Bathurst neighbourhood (a.k.a. the Annex) has a rich history that dates back over 160 years.
All undergraduate and graduate KPE students are invited to learn more about the Black history of the Annex through the Welcome to Blackhurst program at A Different Booklist Cultural Center.
The Welcome to Blackhurst program engages and educates on the rich legacy of the history-makers of Toronto's Bathurst-Bloor and Annex neighbourhoods. It incorporates hands-on activities that readily connect participants to the local history of the surrounding community.
Session Details
Date: Friday, October 27, 2023
Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m. EDT (1.5 hours)
How to participate
Equity Talks: Sport and Gender
How can we create a more equitable environment in sport, particularly in relation to gender?
Sports and sporting environments have historically been strictly gendered. Graduate students at KPE are invited to a conversation discussing the various ways gender roles and ideals show up in sport.
Topics of discussion will include:
How do practices in sport serve to reinforce gender roles? When do they challenge them?
What purpose do gendered physical activity serve?
How can more inclusive sporting practices be created?
Session Details
Date: Thursday, October 26, 2023
Time: 1:30 - 3 p.m. EDT (1.5 hours)
How to participate
Equity Workshop: Self Advocacy, Allyship & Solidarity
Join us for an introductory workshop on anti-oppression concepts tailored to Bachelor of Kinesiology students! This interactive workshop will explore various concepts related to self-advocacy, allyship and solidarity, particularly within a health and physical activity context. Students of all backgrounds are welcome.
Participants will:
Identify the layers in which oppression manifests and provide examples in the context of health education
Draw from a strength-based model to identify examples of resistance to each layer of oppression
Communicate strategies for engaging in self-advocacy and allyship when discrimination occurs
Session Details
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023
Time: 1 - 2:30 p.m. EDT (1.5 hours)
How to participate
Sign Up for Equity Workshop: Self Advocacy, Allyship & Solidarity
Hart House Farm Fall Retreat with KPEUA
Cradled in the Caledon Hills on the ridge of the Niagara Escarpment, the 150 acres of the Hart House Farm is the perfect place for any form of retreat and it’s only one hour from Toronto. Hart House Farm welcomes visitors to Ignatieff House, a rustic house fully equipped with kitchen, a piano and a cozy fireplace.
Join KINections and KPEUA, the Faculty’s recognized undergraduate society, for a day of fun-filled fall activities including hikes, games and cider-pressing. Participants will visit for the day, and are required to pay a refundable deposit of $25. As long as you attend the event, the fee will be refunded the following week.
KPEUA is also holding an overnight retreat at the farm for its members. These members will also need to apply by submitting the KPEUA survey during the registration process and pay an additional (non-refundable) $30 fee to the KPEUA.
Session Details
Date: Friday October 20, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 hours)
How to participate
Sign up for the Hart House Farm Retreat via recreation.utoronto.ca
Spaces are limited. Log in with your UTORid, complete the registration and pay your $25 deposit. As long as you attend the event, the fee will be refunded the following week.
Craft and Chat: Vision Boarding
Plan out your year creatively and aesthetically!
Come practice intentional goal-setting through vision boarding and plan ahead to achieve your goals. Undergraduate and graduate kinesiology students are welcome. All materials will be provided.
How to participate
KPE City Sightseeing Toronto Bus Tour & Lunch
Discover Toronto aboard a double-decker bus on a City Sightseeing tour! After the tour, join us for a pizza lunch and mingle with other kinesiology students.
Undergraduate and graduate kinesiology students are welcome. International students are especially encouraged to attend.
How to participate
Button Making Social
Pin buttons are a historic part of queer culture, worn to show pride, protest, create movements and identify allies.
Socialize with your peers and create your own cool pin to express yourself creatively at our Button Making Social on September 19 from 10:30 - 12 p.m. All materials will be provided.
LGBTQ+ students and allies are invited!
How to participate
KINections Volunteer Opportunities
KINections Volunteer Opportunities
The KINections team curates, plans and hosts events and activities for undergraduate and graduate KPE students to connect with each other beyond the classroom.
If you want to develop and deliver events that enrich the #UofTKPE student experience, join the KINections team in a volunteer role!
How it Works
KINections activities are organized around themes (called pillars), mentorship, health and wellness, community engagement, global citizenship, career development, research exploration and equity, diversity & inclusion.
For each theme, there is a dedicated group of staff and students developing events and activities called a pillar group. The pillar group typically meets as a group 5 - 6 times per year, and sub-groups may meet additionally to develop and present the activities they’d like to host.
The broader KINections group will also meet at least once each term. You can expect to spend a minimum of 10 hours volunteering in this role over the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 terms.
KINections also offers work study opportunities, but all work study positions have been filled for 2023-24. Recruitment for work study roles for the 2024-25 academic year will begin in spring of 2024.
How to Apply
If you’re interested in volunteering with KINections, please complete the online application form.
The deadline to apply as a volunteer has been extended to September 18, 2023.
A full job description is provided below for reference:
KINections Volunteer - Position Description
Questions? Need more information about these opportunities? Please email kinections@utoronto.ca.
KPE Black Student Orientation
Connect and build community at the Faculty's Black Student Orientation! Undergraduate and graduate kinesiology students are welcome.
Come mix and mingle with fellow incoming students, chat with upper year students and meet Black faculty members! Connect with your peers through conversation and fun activities. Refreshments will be provided.
This event is intended for all KPE students who self-identify as Black.
How to participate
Financial Aid Workshop for Racialized & First Gen Students
Racialized and First Generation students are more likely to experience financial hardship. This workshop will help you to understand what government and U of T funding is available. The presentation in the first hour will primarily focus on the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
International and any other students are welcome to join the event in the second hour for the information and discussion about undergraduate and graduate awards and financial counselling.
(Please invite your family / supporters to join you, but note that for safety reasons only mail.utoronto.ca emails will be permitted to join this online session).
Presenters
Sid Naraine worked in financial aid for 20+ years, mainly as a full-time OSAP Counsellor. His focus is reviewing documents and providing information regarding full-time OSAP supporting documents, appeals, and some restrictions. His best advice is to “plan ahead, apply early for funding (3 months before classes start), check your status regularly for updates and communication messages, and to update your contact information on the OSAP website (www.ontario.ca/osap), the National Student Loans Service centre website (www.nslsc.ca), and (once you're admitted and enrolled) the U of T ACORN website (www.acorn.utoronto.ca).
Yvonne Hilder is the Awards Officer at Woodsworth College. She works with undergraduate students at the College to assist with financial aid matters including grants based on financial need, scholarships to recognize academic achievement, as well as providing general financial and budgeting advice.
This workshop will also introduce the new 2023 – 2024 African Black Caribbean, Latin American, Southeast Asian and First Generation Mentor Navigators!
How to participate
BIPOC Wellness Dialogues: Building Community Through Conversation
Tune in online to join this virtual space for Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Colour (BIPOC) and Queer Trans Black, Indigenous and/or Persons of Colour (QTBIPOC) identifying students, presented by U of T Student Life’s Health & Wellness team.
Join Shari and Change (pronounced as Chong- gay), two BIPOC Counsellors from Health and Wellness, for a bi-monthly virtual drop-in group where undergraduate and graduate students can meet, share, connect and talk about topics that influence our lives.
Connect with peers to share lived experiences, discuss current events that impact health and wellness, and celebrate diverse and intersecting identities. Dialogues will be tailored to students' input and needs. Topics may include coping with multiple cultural identities; family pressures; microaggressions and academic stress.
How to participate
Field Trip: Captive Rooms Toronto
Calling all international students at the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education! You're invited on an escape room adventure. Come put your skills to the test in a fun and exciting cooperative game at Captive Rooms Toronto.
Participants will play the Dracula's Library Game: New Orleans 1862…. You and your team of investigative journalists have been following the trail of the world’s oldest vampire for quite some time. Your interest, however, has not gone unnoticed. You have been lured to a mansion on the banks of this mystical city by a promising lead in your quest to expose Dracula to the world. Once inside you and your team realize that the tables have been turned and, you now find yourselves unwitting participants in a most deadly game. Racing not just against time, but against the darkness itself.
There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
Date: March 31, 2023
Time: 1 - 3 p.m
Location:
How to Participate
Black Student Mixer
Black students at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education are invited to a student mixer! Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome.
Come connect with your Black student peers and build community with board games, ice breakers and more.
This event was created specifically for KPE students that identify as Black (this includes Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, and multi-racial people who have and identify with their Black ancestry, etc.) We ask that non-Black students please not register for this event. If you have any questions, please contact KPE’s Equity Engagement and Student Advisor, Feyisami Adara.
Date: March 21, 2023
Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Clara Benson Building
How to Participate
KINections Hart House Farm Maple Sugar Retreat
Escape the city and embrace a change of pace at the Hart House Farm Retreat on March 17!
Join us for a day trip filled with games and hands-on activities, including a maple sugaring experience (where sap is collected from maple trees to make maple syrup).
Hart House Farm is located in Caledon Hills, approximately 1.5 hours drive from Toronto. Transportation, meals and snacks will be provided. The retreat will run from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Participants will meet in the Athletic Centre lobby at 10 a.m. sharp.
Registration is required to attend this event and a $25 deposit will be collected as part of the registration process. If you are a KPE student, you register and attend the event, you will be eligible for a full refund after March 20, 2023. To initiate your refund request, please call the Athletic Centre’s Customer and Membership Services team at 416-978-3436 (extension 0) or visit the Main Office in the Athletic Centre.
Register at uoft.me/kpefarmtrip (type KINections into the search bar if it doesn’t go directly to the KINections page).