Past lectures
Christine Sinclair
On March 11, the UM community celebrated International Women's Day by recognizing one of the greatest athletes of all time and drew inspiration from her experiences.
Christine Sinclair is a four-time Olympian and the most prolific goal scorer in international soccer—for both men and women. Off the soccer pitch, she is a vocal advocate for gender equality. In her lecture, Sinclair shared the inspiring story of her rise to soccer success. She described the teamwork, passion, and competitive nature that she needed to rise to the top, as well as the obstacles she has had to overcome in her sport.
About Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair
Christine Sinclair scored her first international goal competing in the 2000 Algarve Cup. Going on to score more than 190 since then, Sinclair became the all-time leading scorer in the history of international soccer in January 2020 and was recognized for the feat with The Best FIFA Special Award. She was her team’s leading scorer at the 2012 London Olympics, a feat that earned her the honor of Canada’s closing ceremony flag bearer.
Christine’s been named Canadian Female Soccer Player of the Year 14 times, nominated seven times for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, and won a Gold Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, adding to a pair of Olympic Bronze Medals captured in 2012 and 2016.
Christine has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and a full list of her honors, including those earned during her collegiate career with the University of Portland Pilots, would fill pages.
Sinclair, “Sinc” or “Sincy” to her teammates, is known for her grit and humble character as much as her exceptional talent. In 2011 she broke her nose in Canada’s opening match of the Women’s World Cup, refused treatment, and played the rest of the tournament wearing a face mask.
Off the soccer pitch, Christine is an ambassador for the MS Society of Canada and a vocal advocate for gender equality. Her memoir, Playing the Long Game, urges us make space for female athletes to serve as childhood role-models, while reminding us that every athlete comes with human frailty and short-comings.
Past lecturers
BASS, Dr. Hyman
Professor of Mathematics
Columbia University
BOYLE, Dr. Phelim
Professor of Finance
Wilfrid Laurier University
BRENNAN, Dr. Geoffrey
Professor of Economics at Australian National University (ANU)
Research Professor of Political Science at Duke University and
Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
BRZUSTOWSKI, Dr. Thomas A
RBC Professor
Telfer School of Management
CALAMAI, Peter
National Science Reporter
Toronto Star
CUMINGS, Bruce
Gustavus F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor in History
University of Chicago
DEGRASSE TYSON, Dr. Neil
Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium.
DIANGELO, Dr. Robin
Affiliate Associate Professor of Education
University of Washington
FISHBEIN, Dr. Martin
Harry C. Coles Jr. Distinguished Professor in Communication
and Director of Health Communication Program
Public Policy Center of the Annenberg School for Communication
University of Pennsylvania
ELSON, Dr. Diane
Professor
Centre for Research in Economic Sociology and Innovation
Department of Sociology
University of Essex
and Member of the Human Rights Centre
University of Essex
FONTAINE, Phil
National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations
FOX KELLER, Dr. Evelyn
Professor of History and Philosophy of Science
Department of Science, Technology, and Society
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
GARNEAU, Dr. Mark
Canada's First Astronaut in Space
HÖhle, Dr. Barbara
Professor for Psycholinguistics
Language Acquisition Department of Linguistics
University of Potsdam
KAMBA, Dr. Walter
Vice-Chancellor
University of Zimbabwe South Africa
LEGGETT, Sir Anthony
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Chair
University of Illinois
Nobel Laureate in Physics
MARTIS, Eternity
Assistant Professor of Journalism
Toronto Metropolitan University
Journalist and author
MINDESS, Dr. Sidney
Professor of Civil Engineering
University of British Columbia
MUSTARD, Dr. Fraser
Founding President and Fellow
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
PETROSKI, Dr. Henry
Professor of Civil Engineering
and Professor of History
Duke University
RICE, Dr. Eugene
Director of the Forum on Faculty Roles and Rewards
American Association for Higher Education
SINCLAIR, The Honourable Justice Murray
Chair
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
SORENSEN, Professor Vibeke
Professor of Film and Media Studies
and Fellow in the Center for Film and Media Research
Arizona State University
VON KLITZING, Dr. Klaus
Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Physics Stuttgart
Germany
Nobel Laureate in Physics
WILLIAMS, Professor Jody
Founder, International Campaign to Ban Landmines
Founding Chair, Nobel Women’s Initiative and
Sam and Cele Keeper Endowed Professor of Peace and Social Justice
University of Houston
Nobel Peace Laureate
WILSON-RAYBOULD, The Honourable Jody
Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General Canada
Former Regional Chief of BC Assembly of First Nations
Author and lawyer
WOLFE, Dr. Alan
Professor of Political Science
and Director, Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life
Boston College
ZEMON DAVIS, Dr. Natalie
Professor of History
Princeton University
About the Knight Distinguished Lecturer Program
The Knight Distinguished Lecturer Program is supported by the R.G. and E.M. Knight Fund (The Knight Fund) to commemorate the lives and achievements of UM alumni Robert Greenwell Knight and Elizabeth Moore Knight, both of whom graduated from our university in the early 1920s. The Knight Fund places emphasis on enhancing the quality of higher education at the University of Manitoba and enriching its academic life by supporting visits from a wide array of outstanding thinkers and innovative leaders. The Knight Fund supports visits to the university by:
- Scholars in a variety of fields, including commerce, finance, economics, political studies, history, and literature;
- Leaders in the areas of commerce, industry, and government; and
- Outstanding achievers from other disciplines who have made distinguished contributions to the advancement of knowledge or to cultural, social, and economic development.
The program is intended to be flexible with respect to the range of activities in which a Knight Distinguished Lecturer may engage in while at the university.
If you have questions about the Knight Lecture, please contact Kelsey Evans at kelsey.evans@umanitoba.ca or 204-430-1846.