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Importance of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in Cycling
Diversity in sport is important because it promotes community, unique perspectives, new opportunities and great sportsmanship. Inclusion in sports ensures that everyone has equal opportunities to participate, compete and succeed and environments which embrace diversity, and foster a sense of belonging among all participants.
Sport must represent the society in which it is played – it should reflect the members of that community. Sport is a unifier across cultures, language and political viewpoints – it should be a place where everyone feels they have a place to play – no matter who they are – and be accepted for their skill, passion and enthusiasm. If we do not work to create communities of inclusion and diverse viewpoints, we risk alienating individuals and our community, threatening the very existence and longevity of our chosen sport.
Cycling is an activity and sport that can allow anyone to participate – no matter their level of skill or interest – there is something for everyone. We need to work to create communities which include different groups of people, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and socio-economic status. Cycling (and all sports!) have the incredibly unique ability to promote social cohesion and build stronger communities, bringing people together, learning to appreciate and respect each other’s differences and celebrate their shared passion.
We must work together to create connections and community alignment, creating safe spaces and welcoming places, where the only thing that matters is that we all love riding our bikes.
Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) Steering Committee
Bringing together athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and club leaders, this committee plays a key role in embedding equity and inclusion into every level of our sport. Guided by OC’s core values, the committee works to amplify underrepresented voices, promote a sense of belonging, and ensure diverse perspectives shape the future of cycling.
The DIB Committee advises on inclusive policies and practices, supports educational and professional development initiatives, and collaborates on outreach campaigns to increase participation across all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. From strategic planning to grassroots engagement, the committee’s efforts help foster a more welcoming, supportive, and vibrant cycling community.
By working together with OC staff and clubs across the province, the DIB Steering Committee is creating meaningful, lasting change—so that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued in Ontario’s cycling ecosystem.
Colin Mac
I’m a cyclist, father, teacher, disruptor, content creator, and sometimes cycling blogger. Half a dozen surgeries in the last year-and-a-half have taken me away from racing MTB and gravel…but in between hospital visits and trying to recover, I’m still on my bike as often as possible. As a proud lifelong resident of Scarborough, I spent my childhood on a BMX in the ravines and neighbourhoods of my hometown, but I didn't get serious about the sport until my late 30s, when I fell in love with Joyride 150, and then listened when someone said “You should race”. The journey from a middle aged father trying to get fit, to a more middle aged rider trying to finish a race, to a seasoned cyclist finding my legs again, has taken as many twists and turns as a good ride…but I’m always looking forward to what comes next, and I truly believe all of life’s problems can be solved on a great rip! In my non-cycling life, I'm an award-winning high school drama teacher, and my connection to students forged my commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. I’m interested in truth, reconciliation and understanding our place on the land, interrupting racism, bias, and hate, and bicycles.
Julie Hutsebaut
Julie Hutsebaut is a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional and ex-professional road cyclist who has dedicated her career to advancing equity in sport. After competing internationally and leading women’s continental teams as Directeur sportif, she transitioned into coaching athletes from Junior to Masters levels while developing a strong commitment to inclusive practices. Her lived experience with disability and her decade-long involvement in para-cycling and the Paralympic sport movement fueled her passion for accessibility in athletic environments. As founder and President of JHIntegration, Julie supports sport organizations, clubs, and communities by providing practical tools, training, and workshops to foster inclusive participation for all—athletes, coaches, staff, volunteers, and spectators alike. She also offers inclusive and safe private and group cycling clinics for women of all ages and abilities, focusing on fundamental road cycling skills to build confidence, independence, and belonging within an inclusive cycling community. Julie continues to champion diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity—one action, one word, one pedal stroke at a time.
Katty Abran
The road is where everything clicks. The noise quiets, my focus locks in, and I move with power that’s fully mine. I’m a competitive handcyclist living with a physical disability. Sport hasn’t just shaped me. It’s unlocked me! But getting here hasn’t been simple. Access takes more than drive. Access takes money, energy, and a level of determination most people never have to think about. I’ve been on this planet for over five decades. I’ve lived and battled through the barriers and the shifts. I’m a former wheelchair racer and now train and compete in performance-level handcycling events. Among other personal milestones, years of persistence, and personal wins, I’ve raced Boston, where I placed third in the women’s handcycle category. I’ve raced Detroit, where I came first and broke a 21-year-old course record. I do it because this is where I come alive. Off the road, I’m a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I’m also a full-time teacher and a member of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee. I carry that same drive into my work. As para-athletic convener for my school board, I make sure students with disabilities show up not as exceptions, but as athletes. I show up to the table to raise the bar. I bring lived experience, challenge assumptions, deepen acceptance, and offer perspective that doesn't fit the box because it was never built for me. I care about building environments that actually welcome people, where access isn’t an afterthought. I believe in working toward providing information, services, and digital access that create a welcoming and well-rounded experience for everyone. Accessibility and truly belonging aren’t extras. They’re essential. That’s why I contribute to clearing a path so more people with disabilities can feel what I feel out there: untamed energy, purpose, and the right to take up space without asking.
Sarah Giacomantonio
Sarah Giacomantonio is a transportation planner with a background in environmental science and urban planning. Her work focuses on advancing mobility justice and supporting resilient communities through inclusive transportation systems. She currently works in active transportation and complete streets planning, with experience in both municipal and consulting roles, including at the City of Mississauga and WSP Canada. Sarah holds a Master of Planning from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master of Environmental Science from the University of Guelph, where she focused on environmental communication and landscape resources. Her academic research explores cycling behavior and equity in mobility systems, including a recent publication in Transport Policy examining how mobility justice frameworks can inform cycling infrastructure and policy. She recently started the SafeR Spaces Mobility project, a personal initiative and project series aimed at fostering inclusive and safe mobility experiences through the creation of resources, events and storytelling. As part of this work, she developed Ontario Cycling’s SafeR Spaces resource, which supports recreational cycling clubs in creating welcoming environments for all riders. Sarah is also the co-founder of Queer Bike Club (QBC) Toronto, a grassroots collective that looks to create affirming and joyful spaces for queer riders of all experience levels. She has shared her work and experiences through public talks, including at Bike Minds Toronto, a storytelling series focused on the human side of cycling, and Urbane Cycling, where she spoke about her long-distance bikepacking adventures in Japan and beyond.
Samantha Jayasinghe
Samantha Jayasinghe is an avid cyclist and proud member of the Saddle Sisters of High Park. She volunteers weekly with the Bike Brigade and loves long solo rides on her gravel bike. On a professional level, she has a background in risk management and data analytics. Having personally experienced and observed barriers that can limit access to cycling, whether cultural, financial or structural, she is passionate about creating welcoming spaces and amplifying diverse voices to help build a more inclusive and accessible cycling community across Ontario.
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Choose Inclusive Words |
Avoid These Words and Sayings |
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Pronouns |
Preferred Pronouns |
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Racialized Canadians, racialized groups, communities or populations |
Visible minorities and non-Caucasians |
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Racialized individuals, groups, communities or populations |
Visible minorities who may not be Canadian |
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Indigenous peoples (never Canada’s Indigenous peoples) OR specify First Nations peoples or communities; Métis peoples or Inuit (never the Inuit, nor Inuit people because Inuit translates as “the people”) |
Aboriginals as a collective noun |
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Indigenous (for example, Indigenous traditions) |
Aboriginal as an adjective |
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They or their (for singular or plural) |
Hers/his, he/she, male/female |
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Parents and guardians |
Parents, moms and dads |
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Newcomers |
Immigrants |
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Person living with or People living with |
Suffering from, afflicted by, stricken by, victim of |
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People living with disabilities |
Disabled people, handicapped people, the disabled, the handicapped |
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Often or commonly |
Normal or normally (implies anyone else is abnormal) |
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All humanity or people everywhere |
Mankind |
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Women (or girls for children) |
Ladies or females (“female” should rarely be used, and then only as an adjective, not a noun) |
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Older adults or specify age ranges (for example, people under 50, people over age 65, people between the ages of 51 and 64 years) |
Seniors, senior citizens, the elderly |
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Coast to coast to coast |
Coast to coast (excludes the Arctic Ocean in the North) |
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Sportspersonship, or better yet, specify the values you mean, for example, integrity, positivity, fairness. |
Sportsmanship |
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Athletes and sport participants (to include those in community sport not just competitive) |
Athletes |
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Hey, everyone! Hey! |
Hey guys! Dude! Bro! |
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They’re my teammates, crew, or friends |
They’re my tribe, my posse |
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That’s unbelievable, wild, or surreal |
That’s crazy or insane |
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That’s boring or unimpressive |
That’s lame |
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That’s funny or LOL |
That’s hysterical |
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I’m klutzy or clumsy |
I’m spazzy |
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That’s obvious or clearly |
What a no-brainer |
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Banned, denied access or not allowed |
Blacklisted |
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Respect yourself or own up to what you want |
Stand up for yourself |
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Steward leadership |
Servant leadership |
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People living in poverty |
The poor, the less fortunate, the impoverished |
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First language, natal language or earliest language |
Mother tongue, mother language, native tongue, native language |
