International champion distance runner Ted Jaleta, dual university sport athlete in soccer and athletics Amou Madol and multi-level softball coach and Sask Sport community consultant Randi Keshane-Chaboyer will be featured at the Multiculturalism in Sport Breakfast hosted by award-winning emcee Devin Heroux.
The Multiculturalism in Sport Breakfast is set for Friday, Jan. 31 at Prairieland Park, Hall B, in Saskatoon. A breakfast buffet will begin at 8 a.m., with the panel to follow at 9 a.m.
Heroux will lead the group of panelists in a discussion on how sport can be a bridge between different cultures and how sport can create welcoming and inclusive environments for all peoples.
The breakfast follows the Saskatchewan Sport Awards, which will be held the night prior on Jan. 30. The annual awards program celebrates the achievements and dedication of individuals in Saskatchewan’s amateur sports community in 2024. Six Excellence Awards will be handed out, including Male and Female Athlete of the Year, as well as multiple Recognition Awards for deserving recipients who show dedication to volunteering, coaching and having a voice that inspires through sport.
Tickets to attend both the Multiculturalism in Sport Breakfast and the 40th Annual Saskatchewan Sport Awards are $45.
Emcee: Devin Heroux
Originally from Saskatoon, award-winning journalist Devin Heroux was first captivated by the Olympic Winter Games while watching the Saskatchewan curling team led by Sandra Schmirler win gold at Nagano 1998.
Now based in Toronto, Devin is a cross-platform senior reporter for CBC Sports and News covering the Olympics, Paralympics and beyond. He’s also host of That Curling Show and has covered everything from the Toronto Raptors NBA championship to U.S. Open tennis, Grey Cups and a myriad of different sporting world championships across the globe.
A veteran reporter, Devin just finished coverage of his fourth consecutive time Olympic and Paralympic Games for CBC. He was on the ground in Paris, bringing audiences live updates with the athletes from the biggest competition stage in the world.
Panelist: Ted Jaleta
Born in Ethiopia, Ted reached national success as a distance runner, but in 1974 political turmoil threatened his life and freedom and forced him to flee. He eventually immigrated to Canada in 1982 and began running again four years later.
Since then, he’s set multiple records in distances ranging from five kilometres to marathons, amassing more than 50 victories between local, provincial, national and international competitions. For his accomplishments, Ted was recognized as Master Athlete of the Year at the Saskatchewan Sport Awards in 1997, received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, as well as the Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022, and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Additionally, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Regina in 2014 and, in recognition for his community work, the City of Regina added the name “Jaleta” to the list of future street names in 2017.
Panelist: Amou Madol
A dual-sport athlete and pharmacy student, Amou is the second eldest of five children in a powerhouse sporting family in Saskatchewan and beyond. While Amou was born in Regina, her parents immigrated in 2000 from current-day South Sudan. The family encountered barriers along the way, but Amou’s parents continuously encouraged her and her siblings to get involved in sport.
Now, Amou is wrapping up her post-secondary career that saw her compete in women’s soccer at the University of Saskatchewan and athletics at the University of Regina, where she captured a Canada West bronze in high jump.
Through her time in university, Amou was named a U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian three times and has received bursaries from U SPORTS Athletes on Track and the BlackNorth Initiative.
Panelist: Randi Keshane-Chaboyer
Randi, who hails from Keeseekoose First Nation, works for Sask Sport as a community consultant and Indigenous Coaches and Officials Program (ICOP) coordinator. Through her work with ICOP, Randi leads the instruction of the Aboriginal Coaches Module, a three-part course that educates coaches of all levels on the uniqueness of Indigenous cultures, values and lifestyles.
Outside of work, Randi herself is a coach, most recently guiding her daughter’s U13 softball team to a gold medal at the Tony Cote Summer Games, as well as coaching the Team Sask NAIG U19 female softball team and the Saskatoon Phantoms.