Image of Christine Sinclair holding a soccer ball on blue background featuring graphic elements from the UM logo representing the sky and northern lights. 

Dear UM community, 
 
As part of UM’s International Women’s Day celebrations, I am thrilled to invite you to join me in listening to Christine Sinclair deliver this year’s Distinguished Knight Lecture on March 11.  

The event and Q&A session following the lecture will be emceed by Dayna Spiring [BA/98; LLB/01]. She is the recipient of UM’s 2023 IGNITE award, the first woman to have her name engraved on the CFL’s Grey Cup, and the driving force behind many sporting events, including Winnipeg’s successful bid to host the 2025 Grey Cup.  
 
Sinclair is the former captain of Canada’s women’s soccer team and an iconic athlete who has led teams through five Olympics (winning gold and two bronze medals) and five World Cups. With an astonishing 190 goals in 300 international matches, she holds the record as the all-time leading scorer in international soccer history. The five-time Olympian is also an Officer of the Order of Canada, an ambassador for the MS Society of Canada, and an advocate for gender equality. 
 
In her lecture she will share her inspiring journey—detailing the teamwork, passion, and resilience that propelled her to the top of her sport. She’ll also talk about the barriers female athletes face and how we can collectively work to dismantle them to build a more inclusive future. 
 
Join me for a thought-provoking lecture in celebration of International Women's Day. Register now and find more details on the event webpage. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Michael Benarroch, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor 

University of Manitoba logo, featuring design of a bison walking on a path under the northern lights with a prairie landscape and the flame representing Reconciliation below.