Rick Westhead: We Breed Lions

Join us a talk with award-winning journalist and alumnus Rick Westhead on his new book We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada's Troubled Hockey Culture. This powerful event will shine a light on the persistent and devastating issues within Canadian hockey and sport culture, issues that demand urgent attention and collective action.

Rick will begin the evening with a presentation on his book, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

All proceeds from book sales will be donated to gender-based violence organizations, reinforcing the event’s commitment to justice and healing.

This is more than a book launch, it’s a moment of reckoning, reflection, and hope. We invite you to be part of this important presentation and dialogue.

Please note: The content of this event may be triggering.

About the Author

RICK WESTHEAD is TSN’s Senior Correspondent and a two-time winner of Canadian sports writer of the year, presented by Sport Media Canada. Canadian Journalists for Freedom of Expression recognized him in 2023 with the Arnold Amber Award for Investigative Journalism. Westhead breaks news of consequence and has won six Canadian Screen Awards for his original features for various TSN properties. In 2025, he was recognized for his “fearless reporting” by The Hockey News in its list of 100 People of Power and Influence in hockey. Prior to joining TSN, Westhead served as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star, where he reported on the ground in countries including Afghanistan, China, and Saudi Arabia.

He is an alumnus of TMU's Journalism program.

Event made possible through the work of the TMU Organizing Committee: Laurel Walzak, Stephen Sheps, Prima Andriuolo, Nick Asquini, Andrew Pettit, Nuala Byles, Global Experiential Sport Lab (GXSLab) The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University,  Julia Lawrence, Aidan Marsan, Krystal Fernandes, Jaclyn Mika, Rhiannon Howell-Matwichuk, Emily Keogh and Melissa Croteau.