Today@Dal

Ryant was recently recognized as an Academic All-Canadian by Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) for a third straight year. To qualify, honorees must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better and compete in a varsity sport.

Ryant, a member of the Dalhousie Tigers varsity swim team, is a fourth-year student at the Halifax-based school and is pursuing his BA with a major in political science (honours) and a minor in international development studies.

Ryant, who grew up in Riverbend, told The Times he started swimming competitively at age 10 with the Winnipeg Wave Swim Club out of Seven Oaks Swimming Pool.

Ryant’s studies also started in north Winnipeg with his participation in West Kildonan Collegiate social justice club.

"Growing up in Winnipeg you see inequities and you see things that challenge your perspective of what privilege is, what power is," said Ryant, 21. "That was something I was grappling with a lot in high school and it was something that was important for me to study in university as well."

Ryant said one social justice club initiative that stands out is advocating successfully for a Habitat for Humanity home to be built in Riverbend.

"The social justice club went down to City Hall and actually argued to council our case to have this project built in the community, saying the dissent for the project was not representative of what everybody thinks in the community.

"I had a chance to get up in front of council and speak my mind. That was really empowering, to be able to speak to power and be able to give another perspective. That’s something that’s really stuck with me."

At Dalhousie, Ryant is president of the Dalhousie Varsity Council and advocates for the Get REAL movement, helping to combat homophobia in university sport.

Also, Ryant recently served as food security policy intern with Food Rights Alliance, a group working for sustainable agriculture and food security in Uganda.

While working in Uganda, Ryant set a record in the pool.

"When I was there I tried to find a swim team and I ended up finding one through a friend," Ryant said.

"Next thing I knew I was competing in these international competitions and winning a couple medals. The relay (200 metre) team I was on ended up setting a Uganda national record."

Ryant, who is currently working on a research project examining prime ministerial power in Canadian cabinet, said his athletics help his academics, and vice versa.

"I think it’s kind of tripartite with the community as well," Ryant said.

"Success in academics requires that you’re out in your community and you’re understanding who you are interacting with, especially in the field of political science. As far as athletics, it teaches you things like time management, teamwork, all those obvious values, but it also gives you that community and a sense of belonging."

Read more (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/West-K-grad-named-All-Canadian-368973581.html)