Congratulations Funké Aladejebi, Kristi A. Allain, Rhonda C. George & Ornella Nzindukiyimana! 

Best Article Published in the Journal of Canadian Studies, Volume 56, Issues1-3.

Funké Aladejebi, Kristi A. Allain, Rhonda C. George, Ornella Nzindukiyimana, “We The North”? Race, Nation, and the Multicultural Politics of Toronto’s First NBA Championship, Volume 56 Issue 1, Winter 2022 | hiver 2022, pp. 1-34.

The authors have provided a theoretically nuanced and fascinating assessment of the subtle forms of racism embedded in the slogan “We The North”.  By critically examining the racialized discourse surrounding the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship victory, Funké Aladejebi, Kristi A. Allain, Rhonda C. George, and Ornella Nzindukiyimana reveal the hegemonic power of Whiteness not only in Toronto, but in Canada generally.  Moreover, the article offers an incisive account of the racialized policing of basketball courts in the Greater Toronto Area, noting that courts in racialized communities were over-policed and poorly maintained by the city, in comparison to basketball courts in predominately white neighbourhoods.  This article makes a significant contribution to our understanding of sport history, multiculturalism, and racialized identities in Canada.

The CSN warmly thanks the committee members for this prize.