The Toronto Pride Parade celebrates the history, diversity, and strength of the LGBTQ+ community. The Canadian Olympic Committee and You Can Play march together every year to work towards greater respect, inclusion, and safety for the LGBTQ+ community in sport. You Can Play was founded in honour of Brendan Burke, the son of Brian Burke - a long time NHL executive as well as a member of the Rugby Canada Board of Directors. Brendan passed away in a car accident shortly after coming out in the hockey world as a gay man, and You Can Play was founded to continue Brendan's mission to end homophobia in sport.

Nadia Popov, who has represented Canada in both the 7's and 15's programs, became involved with You Can Play and the COC's #OneTeam ambassador program in 2016. She is passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport, and believes that no one should have to choose between playing the sport they love, and who they love.



"Marching in the pride parade is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ athletes and allies to show the world that it's okay to be different, and to mobilize the power of sport to promote social change. The rugby community is incredibly tight knit, and it was my teammates who helped me come to terms with my sexuality when I was struggling to accept who I was. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be supported by the rugby community, as many LGBTQ+ athletes still struggle to gain acceptance in their respective sports. We are heading in the right direction when it comes to respecting LGBTQ+ diversity in sport, but there is still more work to be done to ensure that every athlete can bring their authentic selves to training every day." (Nadia)



This year, Nadia was joined by former men's 7's and 15's national team player Phil Mackenzie, who learned of You Can Play's mission during his time as an athlete and was eager to get involved as an ally.

"It was an amazing day getting the chance to march in the pride parade alongside so many incredible athletes. I've always believed that no matter what your sexual orientation is, you should be able to live freely and openly. Unfortunately, many athletes still face prejudice, judgement, and countless other obstacles that discourage them from expressing their true selves. The You Can Play organization is helping eradicate this prejudice and stigma by raising awareness and helping to promote inclusivity, no matter what! If I can play, you can play, and this is exactly how it should be!" - Phil Mackenzie