THE FUTURE OF HOCKEY LAB
In the fall of 2019, Don Cherry had been fired triggering conversations about the culture of hockey and a new wave of awareness. Stories of racism and discrimination in the sport of hockey were surfacing in the media everywhere. The silver lining of these horrible stories - and ultimately the motivation behind the bravery from so many coming forward - was that it compelled an examination of the sport’s many blind spots, declining participation, and lack of diversity.
Hockey Nova Scotia wanted to take meaningful action. In December 2019 the organization mobilized a diverse group of well-respected leaders from inside and outside the organized hockey system and committed to a process of listening, learning, and building concrete processes. This group formed the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. Their mandate was to make recommendations to Hockey Nova Scotia's board of directors around what can be done to make the game welcoming and inclusive for all. To fulfil this mandate, in 2020 the Task Force undertook a provincial wide public engagement process. Eight hundred and forty Nova Scotians - many who have either quit the sport or do not feel welcome - took the time to share important stories and thousands of ideas on how the game can be more safe and welcoming. The effort was shaped by the recognition that it is the lived experiences of those not considered part of hockey’s dominant culture that shed the strongest light on the systemic barriers to access. The full Diversity & Inclusion Task Force report can be found here. Two other core bodies of work initiated by Hockey Nova Scotia generated additional data around current barriers and opportunities in hockey:
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Bottom line: Participation in hockey is reserved for a select few. No-one can argue that the sport of hockey does not represent the full diversity found in our broader society. (See Angus Reid Institute survey). There are many reasons for this and they are consistent across all research. Further, Canadian demographic shifts point to a steady increase in diversity, particularly in terms of countries of origin, race and ethnicity, and especially among Canada’s younger population.
According to a study by Deloitte, by the year 2031...
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Sport leaders everywhere are keen to see change but these issues are wide-ranging and complex – sensibly why they still exist - and progress can be enormously difficult in a system that is designed to resist change.
Our theory of change
WHAT IF… Folks from communities across the province could get all the supports they need to develop and TRY game-changing ideas and innovations. Running experiments to address barriers to access in hockey, and learning what works and what doesn’t—then growing, expanding and scaling everything that works for broader impact.
This is the Future of Hockey Lab.
WHAT IF… Folks from communities across the province could get all the supports they need to develop and TRY game-changing ideas and innovations. Running experiments to address barriers to access in hockey, and learning what works and what doesn’t—then growing, expanding and scaling everything that works for broader impact.
This is the Future of Hockey Lab.
MAKE STRIDES WITH US
Be a part of the FIRST social innovation lab in the world for the sport of hockey!
Be surrounded by other leaders, innovators and change makers
who want to make a meaningful impact!
Be surrounded by other leaders, innovators and change makers
who want to make a meaningful impact!
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Imagine a welcoming environment where there is a safe place for everyone – a future that is better for every participant through sport. Sport leaders have wanted this for years but often get stuck on the “how”.
So we’re going for it. We’re discovering new. |
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