Future of Hockey Lab initiative aims to improve diversity

October 8, 2021 

A new initiative rolling out in Nova Scotia, Canada is working to attract more kids from diverse backgrounds to play hockey. The Future of Hockey Lab facilitates the creation, experimentation and testing of new ideas and innovations that might make the game more accessible for all, in order to advance equity, inclusion and community. 

The lab is Co-founded by Carolyn Townsend, formerly of Sport Nova Scotia, and Hockey Nova Scotia Executive Director, Amy Walsh. Committed to values-based social innovation and culture change, it will begin with three bodies of research: Diversity and Inclusion Task Force report and recommendations; 2021 IIHF Women’s Worlds Legacy Development Plan; and Players Journey. 

Hockey in Nova Scotia will be the testing ground for the Future of Hockey Lab over the next three to five years. Using Volta, an innovation hub based in Halifax that supports start-ups and entrepreneurs, the lab will focus on identifying new approaches and test ideas. 

The aim of the lab is to increase participation growth, particularly among 'racialized persons', Indigenous communities, LGBTQ+ communities, new Canadians and those with a disability. In addition, using hockey as a force for social good, it intends to broaden diversity through representation at all levels and foster greater understanding and awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion.

"These social innovation labs are now happening all around the world, and to my knowledge, this is the first that is really focused on hockey and dealing with the impediments to the game," said Dean Smith, chair of Hockey Nova Scotia's diversity and inclusion committee. 

"The No. 1 impediment to the game is cost, No. 2 was scheduling and time commitment for families, and the third was a sense of belonging."

Smith recently led a task force on hockey diversity that spoke to 800 Nova Scotians to get their input. New policies are expected to come from this data that will try and draw out more players from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. 

“We know the sport of hockey is truly loved by many, but it's really only accessible to a select few and that select few is getting smaller and smaller,” said Walsh. “So this is really about testing ideas and new innovations that might make the game more accessible to all people.” 

The Future of Hockey Lab has a board of mentors composed of diverse leaders from different sports organizations. Among these groups, the lab will be partnering with sports funding charity Jumpstart, Scotiabank, hockey equipment maker Bauer and Hockey Canada. 

Source: CBC