OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT athletic department is excited to announce the creation of the Ridgeback Leadership Council (RLC).
 
The RLC's mission is to enhance the varsity experience of all student-athletes, as well as being a "force of good" in the school and in the community by adhering to three key goals: Challenge, Innovate and Connect. Their goals are to increase athlete engagement, get more involved in the community and develop leadership.
 
"We're just trying to get something set up that brings all the teams together to really help everyone celebrate all of the great achievements that our athletic teams have," said President Nik Vantfoort who is a member of the men's rowing team. "I'm honoured, nervous and excited [to be the first president]. I know that a lot is going to happen and I'm really excited and ready to do it."
 
The Executive Council of Athletes is made up of several positions including a President, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Community Outreach and two Vice Presidents of Athlete Engagement.
 
"I'm really excited that we have this council going. I hope for it to continue on and thrive because the Ridgebacks are awesome, this community is awesome and I'm glad to be a part of it," said VP of Community Outreach Abigail Kawalec of the women's badminton and rowing teams. "We're not just athletes, we're also people who care about each other and it will be nice to get out there to show our support for this area and show who we are as a Ridgeback family."
 
Community outreach will ideally see more varsity athletes volunteer in schools within the community, fundraise for worthwhile causes and promote team event games such as Pink the Rink and Bell Let's Talk.
 
"Being on the hockey team I know we enjoy going out to see the other teams, so one of our goals will be to encourage the other teams to go out and watch each other and build up that Ridgeback spirit," said VP of Athlete Engagement and men's hockey forward Mike Robinson. "You don't come to this school unless you're willing to buy into the Ridgeback pride and I'm honestly honoured to do it with these guys."
 
Athletes will have many opportunities to get involved with their school through the RB4RB program that facilitates intra-team bonding, the Student-Athlete Mental Health Initiative and attending Ridgeback Nights.
 
"Being a fifth-year player I've gotten to know a lot of the athletes here so I think that's going to help my role as VP of Engagement," said Cassandra Sribny from the women's soccer team. "I want to make sure everybody has Ridgeback pride going into this school year."
 
The council all share a similar view of what Ridgeback pride means to them, but Hafsah Hoda of the women's rowing and curling teams put it perfectly when she said that Ridgeback pride means everybody has each other's backs on and off of the field of play.
 
"We are hoping to bring all of the athletes together," said VP of Communications Hafsah Hoda. "I don't want to be individual teams anymore, I want us to all be Ridgebacks and support each other at our games, fundraisers and other events."
 
The RLC will work closely with the athletic department to represent interests of the student-athletes when it comes to promoting varsity games, planning social events and getting involved in charitable opportunities within the community.