BURLINGTON, ONT –
Ada Collins from McGill University, has become the inaugural recipient of the Ontario University Athletics conference's Champion of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award as the conference announced it's field hockey all-stars and award winners, Friday.
A 20-year-old junior majoring in economics and earth environment, the native of Evanston, Illinois serves on the McGill Varsity Council as VP (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion). As part of her role, Collins helped organize activities related to Truth & Reconciliation Day on Sept. 30, 2023.
On that weekend, McGill hosted Indigenous celebrations at four varsity events, including the annual men's lacrosse Legacy Game. This involved multiple levels of logistics around halftime performances with Indigenous athletes and elders. Collins was part of a logistics planning committee throughout the summer and was also the direct link between the event and the athletes at McGill. She attended numerous activities to promote the event and set up a table leading up to that weekend, where she sold indigenous-themed orange T-shirts as a fundraiser. Outside of the Legacy Game, she continues to partake in other EDI events on campus, including Pride games and Black History Month, to name a few.
A product of Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, Collins is the first McGill field hockey player to win one of the OUA's major awards since 2017, when
Erin Janna of Ottawa merited the Gail Wilson Award for leadership and contribution to the sport.
The complete list of 2023 OUA field hockey award winners and all-stars is as follows:
OUA AWARD PROFILES
Most Valuable Player – Nina Watson, Queen's
Rookie of the Year – Juliet Redelaar, York
Goalkeeper of the Year – Marielle Fernback, Waterloo
Coach of the Year – Maria Leahy, Waterloo
Gail Wilson Outstanding Contributor – Elly Peters, Guelph
Champion of EDI Award – Ada Collins, McGill
Umpire of the Year – Josh Miranda
All-Stars
Nina Watson, Queen's
Rebecca Carvalho, Toronto
Abby Warriner, Guelph
Natalie Winter, York
Meagan Hobson, Waterloo
Serena Uppal, McMaster
Lexi Hannah, York
Madison Fisher, Western
Anna Costanzo, Western
Elly Peters, Guelph
Marielle Fernback, Waterloo
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL:
514-983-7012
E-MAIL:
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
