Video: Black and Safe in Outdoor Spaces
This recorded conversation between Demiesha Dennis and Jacqueline Scott took place at the Bentway on October 9th, 2020. They discuss what it means to be Black outdoors, both within the city and out on Canada’s trails, how safety considerations impact the way Black communities navigate these spaces and the historic roots of these issues.
While best efforts have been made to ensure the clarity of their dialogue, some sections contain loud background noise due to the nature and location of the site. Closed captioning is provided to help retain the flow of their conversation where sound imbalances occur.
About Demiesha Dennis
Demiesha Dennis (pronouns She/Her) is the Founder and CEO of Brown Girl Outdoor World. As an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for building community and representation in outdoor spaces, she shares her love for the outdoors through various adventures, while encouraging and inspiring others to step out and do the same. She is actively working to change present narratives regarding people of colour and their place and engagement in outdoor spaces.
When not navigating Toronto’s corporate jungle, she can be found fishing, bungee jumping, camping or hiking from coast to coast and doesn’t see herself stopping soon. With a community behind her working to make tangible changes, she is guiding others into nature and challenging them to “Change the Narrative Through Outdoor Adventure.”
About Jacqueline L. Scott
Jacqueline L. Scott is a PhD student at the University of Toronto, researching how to make outdoor recreation and environmentalism more accessible for Black people. She is an avid outdoor fan and hike leader.