UBC strives to build a respectful and welcoming environment for all participants to enhance wellbeing, participation and a sense of community on campus through opportunities in Athletics and Recreation. We recognize gender identity and gender expression is a spectrum, and welcome and encourage all participants.
Beginning fall 2023, UBC Recreation is introducing some changes across our programs, specifically for adult programs aged 18 and above. To encourage an inclusive environment and better identify experiences that may be impacted by gender related considerations, additional designations will be included in the names or descriptions of activities.
Most of UBC Recreation’s activities encourage participation for individuals of all backgrounds and identities, irrespective of gender. These activities can be identified by:
- An absence of gender-related designation, indicating the program is inherently “open” to all persons
- A designation of “Open”, indicating their universal accessibility and deliberate avoidance of any gender-specific focus
- As of September 2023, “Open” only identifies activities within Intramural Events & Leagues
To further accommodate diverse experiences, we offer specific experiences for equity-deserving populations. These can be identified by the use of the terms:
- Women (Trans Welcome): An activity or space specifically for all trans and cis women who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women.
- Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary (2STNB): An activity or space specifically for all who identify as Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary.
Additionally, some Intramural Events & Leagues activities may be designated as “Mixed”, indicating all persons are welcome with some activity-specific guidelines related to gender.
We encourage individuals to self-select activities and spaces, ensuring that they are comfortable and respected in their chosen program.
Should you have any questions about inclusivity at UBC Recreation or accessing our programs, please send an email to physical.activity@ubc.ca and we will be happy to help you to the best of our ability.
To learn more, visit our Inclusive Recreation webpage for more information and resources.