Evan Wardley (Photo supplied by the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

Former Pronghorn partners with United Way to address racism and discrimination through new fund

Dec 15, 2020 | 8:41 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A new fund has been created to help address discrimination in Lethbridge and the surrounding area.

The Unification Project Fund officially launches today, December 15, in support of local programs, education and action on the subject of systemic racism and discrimination.

The project is spearheaded by former U of L Pronghorn Evan Wardley. Wardley was the lead organizer of the ‘Together, One Community’ rally held in Lethbridge during the summer.

He said he wanted to go even further in addressing racism and discrimination in the region.

“After the rally, I knew there was still more work to be done on this issue, and there will be for a long time. Communities need to be unified and focused on working together, and that’s where the idea for the Unification Project Fund came from,” he said.

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Wardley reached out to the United Way for assistance in bringing the fund to life.

“The purpose of the Unification Project Fund fits well with United Way’s vision of building stronger communities by working together,” said Vincent Varga, United Way’s Interim Executive Director.

“Systemic racism and poverty are connected in many ways, and we won’t solve one without also addressing the other. We’re pleased to be able to work with Evan on this.”

The fund is set to be distributed annually along with United Way’s Community Fund. It will support programs and services that contribute to educating people about anti-racism and anti-discrimination, as well as those actively working towards solutions.

The first allocation distributed by the United Way of Lethbridge & South Western Alberta is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2022.

Wardley plays professional hockey in the United States and hopes to engage the hockey community to help raise funds for the project.

“This is an issue that affects the hockey community too,” he stated.

“My family and I have experienced racism, some of my fellow players have too, and it’s never OK whether it happens. Whether it’s online or in person, to your face or behind your back, it needs to stop.”

Varga, meanwhile, said education is an important step in combatting discrimination.

“Sometimes people can end up contributing to racism or perpetuating racist stereotypes simply because of a lack of awareness that certain phrase or behaviours are actually harmful to others,” he said.

“The education programs and services we’re aiming to support through this fund will ideally help people become more aware of the underlying and systemic nature of racism and discrimination, and help people learn to become better allies in building a stronger and healthier community.”

Donations to the Unification Project Fund can be made here.