Key Takeaways
- Hockey Canada has unveiled a new blueprint for building women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada, titled "Rise As One"
- The plan features 14 national recommendations to take women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada to new levels
- The goal is to see 170,000 women and girls playing hockey in Canada by 2030
- The plan involves implementing all 14 recommendations by 2028, with annual reporting on progress
- The recommendations include standardizing regional delivery of girls’ hockey, strengthening governance and oversight, improving funding and support, and increasing access to ice time and facilities
Introduction to the Plan
Hockey Canada has recently unveiled a new blueprint for building women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada, titled "Rise As One". This document features 14 national recommendations, which were developed with feedback from stakeholders, and aims to take women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada to new levels. The plan is ambitious, with the goal of seeing 170,000 women and girls playing hockey in Canada by 2030. This is a significant increase from the current number of over 115,000 women and girls playing hockey in the country. The plan is being led by a 15-person committee, headed by Gillian Apps, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time World Champion.
The Recommendations
The 14 recommendations outlined in the plan are designed to address various aspects of women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada. These include standardizing regional delivery of girls’ hockey, strengthening governance and oversight nationally, improving funding and support, increasing access to ice time and facilities, and strengthening partnerships. The plan also aims to eliminate barriers in underserved communities, advance gender equity through mandates and monitoring, and build data foundations. Additionally, the plan seeks to increase visibility for women’s and girls’ hockey, enhance leadership and coaching pathways for women, educate on the benefits of hockey for women and girls, and establish a girls’ hockey milestone celebration program. The plan also includes securing commercial sustainability and implementing a new women’s and girls’ development model.
Implementation and Timeline
The plan involves implementing all 14 recommendations by 2028, with annual reporting on progress. This will ensure that the plan is on track to meet its goals and that any challenges or obstacles can be addressed in a timely manner. The implementation of the plan will require the collaboration and cooperation of various stakeholders, including Hockey Canada, its members, partners, and governments. The plan’s timeline is ambitious, but it is necessary to ensure that women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada continues to grow and develop at a rapid pace.
The Importance of the Plan
The plan is significant because it recognizes the importance of women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada and seeks to address the challenges and barriers that exist in the sport. The plan’s focus on increasing access to ice time and facilities, eliminating barriers in underserved communities, and advancing gender equity through mandates and monitoring are all critical to ensuring that women’s and girls’ hockey is safe, healthy, and welcoming for all participants. The plan’s emphasis on education and visibility is also important, as it will help to promote the benefits of hockey for women and girls and increase participation in the sport.
The Current State of Women’s and Girls’ Hockey in Canada
The current state of women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada is one of growth and development. There are currently over 115,000 women and girls playing hockey in Canada, and the sport is becoming increasingly popular. However, despite this growth, there are still challenges and barriers that exist in the sport. The Canadian women’s national team has fallen behind the United States in terms of skill, and Canada’s national depth has sunk below the United States. The plan seeks to address these challenges and ensure that women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada continues to grow and develop at a rapid pace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the "Rise As One" plan is a significant step forward for women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada. The plan’s 14 recommendations are designed to address the challenges and barriers that exist in the sport and ensure that women’s and girls’ hockey is safe, healthy, and welcoming for all participants. The plan’s emphasis on education, visibility, and access to ice time and facilities is critical to promoting the benefits of hockey for women and girls and increasing participation in the sport. With the implementation of the plan, Hockey Canada is confident that women’s and girls’ hockey in Canada will continue to grow and develop at a rapid pace, and that the goal of seeing 170,000 women and girls playing hockey in Canada by 2030 will be achieved.