Today, she is one of the most decorated athletes, with over 300 international matches for Team Canada and a successful stint with the Portland Thorns. She will share stories and insights from her life on and off the field as this year’s Distinguished Knight Lecturer at the University of Manitoba.

Though experienced with media interviews, her humility makes public appearances rare, making this event all the more special. Part of UM’s International Women’s Day celebrations, this lecture is supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund, which brings visionary leaders to our campus to inspire and challenge us. Sinclair will recount her rise to soccer stardom, sharing the teamwork, passion, and resilience it took to succeed, along with the barriers she’s faced and her vision for a more inclusive future.

Soccer was not her first love. It was baseball. She was convinced she’d play for her beloved Toronto Blue Jays and replace Robbie Alomar at second base—the reason she has always worn jersey number 12, Alomar’s number.

Today, looking back, she is upset by how few female athletes she had to look up to. Eventually, she became aware of some, but “when I was little, there was no obvious role models and no obvious career paths in women’s sports,” she writes. That’s why she thought she’d play for the Jays. There seemed no other options.

Today, Sinclair is an inspiration to countless people. She is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of Canada’s Walk of Fame. She was named Team Canada’s Player of the Decade, and Soccer Canada’s Female Player of the Year—an honor she won 14 times. She has appeared in five World Cups and is a five-time Olympian who led her team to gold and two bronze medals. Off the field, “Sinc,” as teammates call her, is an ambassador for the MS Society of Canada and an advocate for gender equality.

About the event

The Knight Lecture is one of UM’s most prestigious lecture programs intended to enrich academic life and discourse by inviting great thinkers and leaders to our campus to challenge our perceptions.

The event will be emceed and moderated by Dayna Spiring [BA/98; LLB/01]. Spiring has a strong connection to Winnipeg sports and the champion mindset Sinclair will speak to. She is the first woman to have her name engraved on the CFL’s Grey Cup, and was the first woman to chair the CFL’s Board of Governors.

What: The 2024 Distinguished Knight Lecture with Christine Sinclair, followed by a Q&A
When: March 11, 2025, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30.
Where: The Desautels Concert Hall, Fort Garry campus, 150 Dafoe Rd
UPDATE: There has been very strong interest in this event and it is now sold out. You can join the wait list here.

The Knight Lecture is one of UM’s most prestigious lecture programs intended to enrich academic life and discourse by inviting great thinkers and leaders to our campus to challenge our perceptions.  

In her lecture, Sinclair will tell the inspiring story of her rise to soccer success. She will describe the teamwork, passion, and competitive nature that she needed to rise to the top, as well as the obstacles she has had to overcome in her sport. 

What: The 2025 Distinguished Knight Lecture with Christine Sinclair, followed by a Q&A 
When: March 11, 2025, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Doors open at 1:30.  
Where: The Desautels Concert Hall, Fort Garry campus, 150 Dafoe Rd 
Cost: Free to attend. Registration required. 
UPDATE: There has been very strong interest in this event and it is now sold out. You can join the wait list here.

Sinclair is the former captain of Canada’s women’s national soccer team. She is among Canada’s and the world’s most decorated athletes and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Her memoir, Playing the Long Game, urges us make space for female athletes to serve as childhood role-models, while reminding us that every athlete comes with human frailty and short-comings. 

Sinclair’s Knight Lecture, supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund, is part of International Women’s Day celebration on the UM campus and this event is free and open to the public.  

The event will be emceed by Dayna Spiring [BA/98; LLB/01], the former president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc., and recipient of the Young Associates of the Asper School of Business 2023 IGNITE Award in celebration of her legacy as a business leader. Spiring has a strong connection to Winnipeg sports and the champion mindset Sinclair will speak to. She is the first woman to have her name engraved on the CFL’s Grey Cup, and was the first woman to chair the CFL’s Board of Governors. She also spearheaded Jets whiteout street parties and was instrumental in leading a successful bid to host the 2023 World Police & Fire Games, and the 2025 Grey Cup.

Wilson-Raybould, a champion for those who want to make a difference, spoke to a sold-out crowd at UMSU University Centre last month about the principles that have guided her journey as a lawyer, advocate and leader among Canada’s Indigenous peoples: the courage to think, act and be different.  

Her talk explored Indigenous rights and reconciliation, democracy and governance, leadership and justice. It will resonate for a long time. 

Now, UM wants your ideas on who the 2025 Knight Distinguished Visitor should be. We encourage you to think big!

Nominations open for 2024-25

Any member of the university, with the support from the head of their unit, can nominate an individual as a Knight Distinguished Visitor. 

This includes nominations made by students, who can seek the support of the unit(s) that best align with the potential visitor’s area of expertise.   

Joint endorsement by two or more units is encouraged, particularly in cases where the proposed visitor’s expertise and interests cross disciplinary boundaries. 

If a nominee is selected as the Knight Distinguished Visitor, the nominating unit is responsible for planning, organizing and hosting the event.  

Nominations for the 2024-25 academic year are due May 22, 2024. 

Program enriches the academic life at UM 

The Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitors Program is supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund, established to commemorate the lives and achievements of alumni Robert Greenwell Knight and Elizabeth Moore Knight, and fully funds all approved visits. 

The program is intended to enhance the quality of higher education at the university while enriching its academic life by supporting visits to the university by scholars and innovative thinkers in various fields. 

In addition to public lectures, distinguished visitors are encouraged to engage in other activities that allow them to interact with UM faculty, staff and students, as well as members of the outside community. 

Scholars can have expertise in the fields of commerce, finance, economics, political studies, history and literature; be leaders in commerce, industry and government; or have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge or to cultural, social and economic development. 

Submit a proposal for the Knight Distinguished Visitor online.  

The books include the political memoir “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, which was a finalist for The Writers’ Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing; From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada; and, her most recent, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force For Change. 

Borrow Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould’s bestselling books:

• “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power 
• From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada
• True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force For Change

Wilson-Raybould is an author, lawyer, advocate and leader among Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. She is also the first woman to be elected as an Independent Member of Parliament. Learn more about the 2024 Knight Lecture, which takes place March 7.

“It wholly remains within our power to speak up.”  

“Controlling power is critical.” 

You may recognize these as the words of The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

Wilson-Raybould is not just a leader. She’s a revolutionary and a champion for those who want to make a difference. 

The UM community will be celebrating International Women’s Day by joining together for the 2024 Knight Lecture on March 7 to recognize the achievements of this remarkable woman and draw inspiration from her stories.  

Throughout her work, Wilson-Raybould, has navigated complex challenges with strength, determination and an unwavering commitment to justice. In this powerful presentation, she will delve into the principles that have guided her journey: the courage to think, act and be different. 

The 2024 Knight Lecture with The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould 
March 7, 2024  
3-5 p.m., doors open at 2:30 p.m. Free to attend.  
Multi-Purpose Room (MPR), 2nd floor, UMSU University Centre

UPDATE: This event is now sold out and a waitlist is being created. 

The event will be emceed by Angie Bruce, UM’s new Vice-President (Indigenous). 

 
Q&A and book signing opportunity   

Wilson-Raybould is an author, lawyer, advocate and leader among Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. She is also the first woman to be elected as an Independent Member of Parliament.

Wilson-Raybould has written three bestselling books, the political memoir “Indian” in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, which was a finalist for The Writers’ Trust Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing; From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada; and, her most recent, True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force For Change. 

Her lecture will be followed by a Q&A session and a book signing. Wilson-Raybould’s books are for sale at the UM BookStore, and will also be available at the event.  

This public event is supported by the Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitor Program. Free to attend, the annual Knight Lecture Series places emphasis on enhancing the quality of education at UM by supporting visits from a wide array of outstanding thinkers and innovative leaders on a variety of topical issues. 

An assistant professor in the School of Journalism at the Toronto Metropolitan University and author of They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up, Eternity Martis delivered a powerful lecture on racism and gender-based violence on Canadian university campuses, and during which she articulated necessary steps for anti-racism within universities ad to create a media landscape that is anti-oppressive.

“I am so appreciative to Eternity Martis for sharing her experiences with us, and for insisting that the UM community listen, learn, reflect and take action for anti-racism and against gender-based violence. The Knight Lecture is a wonderful opportunity for public dialogue, and I look forward to finding out who our next Distinguished Visitor will be,” says Tina Chen, one of the chairs of this year’s Knight Lecture.

Eternity Martis is the latest in a distinguished series of diverse and acclaimed speakers honoured with the title of Knight Distinguished Visitor at the University of Manitoba, each of whom having had an indelible effect on UM students, faculty, staff and members of the broader community as a result of their thought-provoking lectures. Knight Distinguished Visitors are all outstanding achievers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge and to cultural, social, or economic development.

Nominations are now being sought for the next Knight Distinguished Visitor for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Any member of the university, with the support from the head of their unit, can nominate an individual as a Knight Distinguished Visitor. This includes nominations made by students, who can seek the support of the unit(s) that best align with the potential visitor’s area of expertise.  Joint endorsement by two or more units is encouraged, particularly in cases where the proposed visitor’s expertise and interests cross-disciplinary boundaries.

The Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitors Program is supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund, established to commemorate the lives and achievements of alumni Robert Greenwell Knight and Elizabeth Moore Knight, and fully funds all approved visits.

Submit nominations before the May 15, 2023 deadline.

For details on how to submit a proposal, visit umanitoba.ca/knightlecture.

Eternity’s experiences in university will be beneficial for all students to hear and reflect on. In her book, she shares the story of moving from Toronto to Western university for her undergraduate degree. During her time there, “Eternity learned more about what someone like her brought out in other people than she did about herself. She was confronted by white students in blackface at parties, dealt with being the only person of colour in class and was tokenized by her romantic partners. She heard racial slurs in bars, on the street, and during lectures.”

Eternity will be giving a free public lecture at UM entitled: ‘What does it mean to be an equity-seeking student on a Canadian campus today?’ She will also answer questions from the UM community, and then do a book signing after the event. All students, staff and faculty are encouraged to attend this important lecture.

Knight Lecture with Eternity Martis

March 9 – 3-5pm

Investors Group Athletic Centre

Eternity is also doing a smaller public talk at Bannatyne campus on March 8 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Frederic Gaspard Theatre.

Visit the website to register for the March 9 event and to learn more about all Knight Lecture events.

Public Lecture with Eternity Martis
March 9 – 3-5 p.m.
Investors Group Athletic Centre

Register to attend

There will also be a free public event on Bannatyne campus on March 8 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

This public event is supported by the Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitor Program. Through the Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitors Program, UM faculty, staff and students have the opportunity to attend thought-provoking lectures on a variety of topical issues of interest to the UM community. Learn more about the Knight Lecture with Eternity Martis. 

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair [LLB/79, LLD/02] spoke to a standing-room-only crowd about the change in attitudes and recognition of the past that are necessary to begin healing the generations affected by the Residential School System.

Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams explored the important role of women’s activism in the pursuit of peace with justice and equality.

These mark only a few of the diverse speakers honoured with the title of Knight Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at the University of Manitoba, each of whom having left a lasting impact on UM students, faculty, staff and members of the broader community as a result of their thought-provoking lectures.  

UM is now accepting proposals from across the university community for the next visiting lecturer as part of the Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitor Program. In recognition of the circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the original deadline has been extended to June 15.

The program is intended to enhance the quality of higher education at UM while enriching its academic life and discourse on a variety of topics of interest to the community. In addition to public lectures, distinguished visitors are encouraged to engage in other activities that allow them to interact with UM faculty, staff and students, as well as members of the outside community.

Scholars can focus in the fields of commerce, finance, economics, political studies, history and literature; be leaders in commerce, industry and government; or have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge or to cultural, social and economic development.

The Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visitors Program is supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund, established to commemorate the lives and achievements of alumni Robert Greenwell Knight and Elizabeth Moore Knight, and fully funds all approved visits. 

Submit nominations before the June 15 deadline. Because future visits cannot be scheduled at this time, the intent is to approve potential visits, but not the timeframe for when they will take place. For details on how to submit a proposal, visit the program webpage.

The UM has a deep and abiding commitment to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. These are core values of our institution and they inform our behavioural policies and underpin all of our activities.

This past fall, the President’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion was established to help ensure everyone can find a welcome place to be productive here at the University of Manitoba.

It is in this spirit, that I am so pleased that our 2020 Knight Distinguished Visiting Lecturer is Dr. Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility: Why it’s So Hard For White People To Talk About Racism. Dr. Di Angelo’s work focuses on multicultural education and she is an accomplished author, educator, speaker and consultant on the topics of racial and social training and addressing racism.

Racism, whether it is exhibited overtly or as one of the many barriers experienced by those not privileged by existing structures and processes, is a significant concern in society at large, as it is on our campuses. We anticipate that Dr. DiAngelo’s talk will add positively to the conversation about how to recognize privilege, and address racism.  

I invite you to attend this free event and be part of the community that collectively advances this important commitment.

“White Fragility” by Dr. Robin DiAngelo, Robert and Elizabeth Knight Distinguished Visiting Lecturer

February 6, 2020

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. (doors open 2:00 p.m.)

Investors Group Athletic Centre, Fort Garry Campus

RSVP is required: rsvp@umanitoba.ca, including the location you will attend.

Rush seating. Please advise of any accessibility requirements in your registration.

For more information visit umanitoba.ca/knightlecture

A livestream feed will also be available at:

• Frederic Gaspard Theatre in the Basic Medical Sciences Building, Bannatyne Campus
• William Norrie Centre, 485 Selkirk Avenue
• Northern Social Work Program, Thompson

The Book White Fragility will be for sale at the event for a cost of $22. Cash, Visa and Mastercard are accepted for payment.

Dr. DiAngelo will be doing a book signing immediately following the lecture.