UNMATCHED host
Anastasia Bucsis
ARCHITECTS OF THE NEXT ERA OF CANADIAN SPORT EQUITY
Canada is halfway to its 2035 gender equity commitment. Progress is visible. The question is whether we're moving fast enough.
The next phase will not be defined by awareness. It will be defined by what gets built next and who builds it.
The fifth edition of the UNMATCHED: Gender Equity in Sports Conference presented by National Bank on August 11 at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto will bring leaders across sport, business, government and community for an interactive experience focused on where progress stands and what it will take to move forward.
The Program
A participant-driven experience designed to spark connection, inspire collaboration and accelerate action toward a more equitable future in sport.
CBC Sports Broadcaster Anastasia Bucsis will host the conference. The former long-track speed skater represented the Maple Leaf at two Olympic Games (Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014) and is a leading advocate for gender equity in sport in Canada.
UNMATCHED host
Anastasia Bucsis
What’s changed and what hasn’t
Reality check
Canada is halfway to its 2035 commitment to gender equity in sport. So where do we actually stand?
This opening conversation examines what’s changed since that commitment was made: policy, visibility, leadership, investment and where the progress has stalled.
Because the next phase of equity in sport isn't about new promises. It's about delivering on the commitments already made.
Objective: Create a clear, collective understanding of progress and gaps in the implementation of equity in sport in Canada, and surface the key levers that must evolve to accelerate impact toward 2035.
What We’re Not Seeing
Spotlight on women's health in sports
Across every stage of her career, a female athlete's relationship to her body changes in ways that sport systems aren’t designed to support. From training loads and injury patterns to hormonal variations and the postpartum return to sport, the gaps are specific, documented and largely unaddressed.
This panel doesn't just name the problem: it brings together the science, lived experiences and inconvenient questions the sport system still isn't asking loudly enough.
Objective: Examine how current sport science and training environments are evolving to better support female athletes, and identify what opportunities remain to strengthen performance, health and longevity.
What's Working
Solutions Sessions
Three perspectives, three examples of change already underway.
Allyship and investment: What happens when leaders with influence and resources choose to put both behind women's sport?
Designing for women: what changes when athletic spaces are designed around women athletes from the very first sketch?
The athlete voice as a force for change: How are athletes using their platforms, communities, and social media presence to build momentum and shift culture from the outside in?
This is the session where the room stops asking, "What should we do?" and starts asking, "How do we scale what’s already working?"
Objective: Showcase practical models driving progress in sport equity, and help participants understand what makes them effective, sustainable and transferable. Move participants from awareness to possibility.
Leadership Conversation
Equal prize money 2027: The journey, the milestone and what comes next
A landmark conversation on one of the most significant milestones in Tennis Canada's history. How did we get here? What did it take? And what does equal prize money mean for the future of sport equity?
Closing Piece
Confidence isn't something you discover.. It's something you build. Coach Carey brings UNMATCHED 2026 to a close by making sure no one leaves the room without taking the first step.
Equity Lab Spotlights
Short, high-impact moments featuring next-generation leaders already advancing equity in sport.
These spotlights bring forward real initiatives and new perspectives directly into the program — creating space for emerging leaders to contribute to the conversation in real time.
Tickets
Choose Your Experience
The event is designed for movement, connection, and shared conversation. Guests will engage across the space through networking and facilitated table discussions.
Lounge Single Ticket - $325
A flexible, social experience designed for connection and movement throughout the day.
- Seating at high-top bar/lounge tables
- Participation in curated networking and breakout conversations
- Seating provided during structured discussion segments
- Access a preferred-rate code for the evening quarter-final match at the NBO to witness world-class tennis.
Reserved Table (8 Guests) - SOLD OUT
A dedicated home base for your group to gather, and connect throughout the day.
- Ideal for teams, partners, or invited guests
- The table will feature the name of your organization
- Table located in the front section of the room
- Full participation in all networking and facilitated discussion experiences
- Exclusive discount on Game Point: Full NBO Experience add-on
Add-On Game Point: Full NBO Experience
Extend the day into an unforgettable evening at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers with a premium team experience.
- Level 100 Centre Court seating with exceptional views of world-class tennis
- Access to the exclusive VIP Lounge driven by Mercedes-Benz
- A meal included at the Marché Restaurant
- Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages
Accessibility & Participation:
We are committed to making UNMATCHED as accessible as possible. For questions about participation options, please contact us at unmatched@tenniscanada.com.
The Equity Lab
Introducing the Equity Lab
The Equity Lab is a new addition to UNMATCHED. It creates space for the next generation of leaders who are already doing the work to advance equity in sport.
They are integrated into the program — not attending as observers, but contributing ideas, sharing initiatives, and connecting with leaders across the ecosystem.
Event Details
WHEN
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
WHERE
Sobeys Stadium
1 Shoreham Drive, suite 100
Toronto, Ontario
M3N 3A6
SCHEDULE
Doors open: 10:30 am
Program: 11 am - 4 pm
Networking Reception: 4 PM – 5 PM
*Timing subject to change

















