Ornella Nzindukiyimana on hockey player P.K. Subban [video]

Tertulias Fredericton is back this winter with a Big Players Series, co-hosted by the Canada Resarch Chair in Physical Culture and Social Life. On March 8, Ornella Nzindukiyimana spoke about P.K. Subban, which is now available viewing here:

In 2007, when P.K. Subban was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, it was a dream come true for the self-described lifelong Habs fan. There is arguably no hockey town like Montreal and his debut into the league via the Canadiens seemingly turned over a new leaf for hockey and sport in North America. However, Subban’s post-retirement accounts, amongst other Black hockey players’ accounts, challenge the notion that the deeply conservative sport has significantly shifted its stance in the last half-century. This calls for an in-depth analysis of the figure of the Black hockey player and an investigation of the hockey institution’s limitations.

Ornella Nzindukiyimana is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University (located in Nova Scotia, on the unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People and home to the oldest Black communities in Canada). As a social historian, she studies 20th century Black Canadian sport participation, asking how nationalism, colonialism, Multiculturalism, immigration, and the intersection of race and gender have shaped Black peoples’ practices and experiences. Nzindukiyimana has documented histories of individuals and groups in boxing, track and field, swimming, and baseball; she is currently working on expanding those histories, and on new ones in surfing, basketball, and hockey.

Upcoming Tertulias

March 15 – Courtney Szto on Mahriaa shot, Keeta goal! Harnarayan Singh and the Future of Hockey

April 5 – Stephanie Dotto on “We Want Livvy!” NIL Rules, Social Media, and Male Fandom in NCAA Women’s Gymnastics

What is a tertulia? A tertulia can be described as a kind of philosophy café where participants talk about big thinkers, artists and ideas. This winter and spring, Tertulias Fredericton has put together a series on activists and social movements that have shaped our lives and allowed us to imagine a better future.

Tertulias Fredericton is supported by the NB Media Co-op, publisher of videos of the Tertulia talks.

Tertulias Fredericton is also supported by Milda’s Pizza that is offering a $3 discount on 10 inch pizzas on Tertulia night and free delivery five minutes from the cafe. Discount code: Tertulias. Contact the cafe here.

For more information, visit Tertulias on Facebook or contact: fredericton.tertulia@gmail.com.