Last year, on March 2, 2020, the Policy Paper on Anti-Racism in Canadian Hockey was released. To date, the Policy Paper has been downloaded over 6,900 times. To celebrate both the one year anniversary of the Policy Paper’s release and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Dr. Sam McKegney, Bob Dawson, Michael Auksi, and Dr. Courtney Szto are hosting an “Anti-Racism Incubator for Hockey” on Saturday, March 20, 2021 via Zoom.

We are borrowing the idea for an incubator from the business world. Incubators are events designed to help early-stage businesses access mentors, investors, and other kinds of support that will help accelerate their growth and success. Similarly, this Anti-Racism Incubator is meant to help accelerate, support, and re-invigorate anti-racism work in hockey. This incubator is for you if:

• You want to share a program/initiative that you have started
• You want to connect with like-minded people in hockey
• You want to hire BIPOC coaches, staff, administrators etc.
• You are looking for help with resources (e.g., fundraising, volunteers, physical space etc.)
• You have run into challenges over the past year that you want to share/unpack
• You just want to hear about what is going on in hockey

During the registration process, you will be asked if you have an idea/call for help/challenge that you would like to present at the incubator (Note: You do not need to present in order to attend the event). We will not have time for everyone to present, but we will contact a select few to share what they have been working on. ALL new initiatives/programs/calls for help will be compiled and shared on Hockey in Society in a written post.

If you are selected to present at the incubator, speakers will have 5 minutes to present during the webinar, and are allowed to share ONE PowerPoint slide.

There are 4 ticket options for registration: Free, $5, $10, $25. Please select your ticket price based on what you can afford. All proceeds will be donated to Waniska Athletics (pronounced waan-ska). Waniska translates to “wake up and rise” in Cree. The organization is run by Devin Buffalo, a member of Samson Cree Nation in Alberta, and offers motivational speaking and goalie skill clinics for Indigenous youth. Waniska Athletics made the following statement to announce its Wake Up and Dream Virtual Speaking Tour:

Along with our right to culture and language, I believe our right to dream was also taken from us in the past. As Indigenous people we remain silent in voicing our goals and protective of the sharing of dreams. Terrified of being ridiculed, or the fear of rejection. But why can’t we dream of anything good that we want to see come into our lives?

Registration will close at the end of day on March 18th but potential presenters should register by the end of day on March 16th.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE ANTI-RACISM INCUBATOR