The University of Waterloo has brought back racial segregation in swimming – with dedicated swim times for “Black folx.”
The Ontario university is also offering swim, workout, and rock climbing times exclusively for transgender, “non-binary,” and “2SLGBTQ+” people.
“Come and enjoy the pool with other Black folx!” reads Waterloo’s website.
“This dedicated time can be used for lengths or recreation in the six available lanes for fast, medium and recreational swimming.”
“This time is dedicated to building a better relationship with water for the Black community,” the university adds.
The initiative comes as the University of Waterloo’s athletics department embraces DEI ideology.
As for the LGBTQ-only swim, the university says it aims to “provide a safer, comfortable, inclusive, and fun atmosphere for trans and non-binary and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”
The university notes that heterosexual people may only come to the LGBTQ swim if they are participating with trans or “non-binary” persons.
“If you are not trans or non-binary, or participating with someone who is, please respect this space and come at another time when space is open to all users.”
Trans people can also attend the university’s women’s only swim.
Swimming pools in Canada and the United States have a dark history of racial segregation. For years, black people were banned from several pools and beaches in both countries.
“While the presence of ‘whites only’ signage in Canada was rare and inconsistent, black people were prevented from swimming on beaches through police presence and discriminatory practices,” reads an article on the matter published by the University of Toronto.
Segregationists invoked safety in their case for segregated pools – claiming that people of colour were unsanitary and that racialized men made white women feel uncomfortable.
Some facilities would drain and clean their pools after hosting segregated swims for people of colour.
While racial segregation targeting racialized minorities has been outlawed, a new woke form of racial segregation has now appeared – in the name of DEI. It has affected everything from theatres, university campuses and now swimming pools.
The University of Waterloo is also not the only Canadian university segregating recreation.
As previously by True North, racially segregated yoga session and “LGBT2QIA only” swims have taken place at the University of Guelph. The University of Windsor offers a weekly “LGBTQ+ Inclusive Swim” and bi-weekly “2SLGBTQIA+ only” workout times and Ottawa’s Carleton University offers a “Trans and Allies Fitness Space” three times per week.
The University of Waterloo did not respond to True North’s request for comment.
Green Box:
Campus Watch keeps an eye on what’s happening at schools across Canada. Do you have a story to share about a college or university near you? Let us know at [email protected].
Campus Watch keeps an eye on what’s happening at schools across Canada. Do you have a story to share about a college or university near you? Let us know at [email protected].
