Hockey Canada publishes report on maltreatment in sanctioned hockey

JS: Growing up in Halifax, we had a rink in our yard. I began skating and taking part in hockey once I was 5 years outdated. It was a household affair. My mother and pop each took turns flooding the rink, so we at all times had a recent sheet of ice. It was a mantra in our household – get up, skate on the pond; go to highschool, come house and skate on the pond.

From a extremely younger age, I had a relentless ardour to have a hockey stick in my hand. When I watched the ladies win the 2002 Olympics, I made up my thoughts that I might try this sometime. I stored skating and taking part in. There wasn’t a full women’ group in Halifax, so by the point I used to be 14, I knew I needed to go away Halifax if I wished to get severe about my coaching. When I used to be 15, I went to coach within the U.S. and that call was an actual turning level in my profession. I then received invited to play for the nationwide group, which introduced me again to Canada. I joined the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and each step of the best way, I adopted the alternatives to change into the perfect athlete and finest self I may very well be. 

Q: According to the Canadian Women and Sport Survey (June 2020), 62% of Canadian women are usually not collaborating in sport of any sort. Based in your experiences, what message do you’ve got for Canadian women and girls about getting concerned in and staying concerned in sports activities?

JS: There is an actual lack of visibility and alternative for feminine athletes. Sometimes, there aren’t groups to play on. I’ve seen it firsthand. I at all times inform younger women to discover a ardour in sports activities – there are such a lot of completely different choices obtainable. Experiment and discover what you like to do. Sports have enriched my life in so some ways – it has been an enormous supply of confidence for me and I’ve made lifelong buddies.     To achieve success in my sport, it is advisable be highly effective and explosive. So to me, there’s such magnificence in girls who’re robust, wholesome and love what they’re doing. With social media, there are such a lot of skewed messages and pictures about physique kind and physique picture. Playing sports activities adjustments that narrative and supplies another message. Strong is gorgeous.

Q: The difficulty of bullying and sports activities is an ongoing concern. According to Childhelp, 40-50% of athletes have skilled something from delicate harassment to extreme abuse of their sport of alternative. What are your private experiences with bullying and sport each offline and on-line?

JS: When I used to be youthful, I didn’t expertise bullying personally. I used to be dialed in to what I wanted to do. If individuals tried to get in my approach, I tuned them out to remain on observe. I had nice individuals round me who offered ongoing help, so no person was attempting to knock me off my path. Cyberbullying is so prevalent now. And I’ve skilled it. I’m pleased with my accomplishments, however there have been instances once I felt cyberbullied or was affected by unfavourable feedback on-line.

Sadly, it’s a development with girls and sports activities. There are individuals sitting anonymously behind screens attempting to tear down robust, passionate people who find themselves chasing their objectives. Most athletes are robust sufficient to detach from that negativity and never give it any energy. But there are occasions when somebody sees one thing on-line that’s upsetting or hurtful after which internalizes it – and athletes aren’t immune. Usually, people who bully others are actually good at concentrating on insecurities. If it occurs to you, it is very important attain out to a buddy or member of the family and speak about your expertise. Don’t let it steer you off your path. Acknowledge it, speak about it and discover the help it is advisable let it go.

Q: What is The Code and when did you become involved?

JS: The Code tackles the problems of cyberbullying by providing workshops for coaches, gamers and households. I received concerned in 2018. And I’m humbled to work with TELUS and The Code group to encourage change. The values of The Code are actually significant to me as an athlete. There is such a robust tie between sport and the digital world. It’s vital to acknowledge these points and provides voice to them. I’m very proud to be a part of a platform that’s educating individuals and making actual change.

Q: What is your recommendation round how we will #EndBullying in sport?

JS: We want to make use of the platforms obtainable to teach ourselves and be higher. Cyberbullying will be actually hurtful. In sports activities particularly, cyberbullying can have an effect on how individuals really feel and carry out. It’s vital to have a neighborhood of help and to study expertise and methods to cope with cyberbullying in a wholesome, productive approach. I additionally suppose that properly-enforced zero-tolerance insurance policies can go a great distance in driving change and lessening the situations and impacts of bullying.

Q: Has COVID-19 impacted bullying in sports activities? How?

JS: Since the pandemic hit, we’ve all had much more time remoted and inside with our telephones. As athletes, we will’t play, prepare or go to highschool and we don’t have the identical challenges and schedule we’d usually have. So like most individuals, we’re resorting to the web to move time. Comparing has been an enormous difficulty for lots of athletes. There is that this immense strain to be higher if you’re seeing what others are doing on-line. Our coaching has utterly modified as nicely. Earlier this yr, we accomplished our first Hockey Canada camp in a yr. We have been there for 14 days, with very strict protocols. Many of us needed to work out in our lodge rooms. Right now, it comes all the way down to perspective and specializing in making the perfect of each second, irrespective of the state of affairs.

Q: If you could possibly share one message with youngsters and their mother and father about Pink Shirt Day, what would it not be?

JS: Be sort. Making individuals round you’re feeling good is so vital. There are so many points on-line and in our bodily world in the case of bullying. Instead of tearing individuals down, carry individuals up. That’s solely going to make you a greater individual. We have so many challenges in our world, particularly now. It’s extra vital than ever to simply be sort. I’m extremely lucky to be surrounded by fantastic individuals and athletes. Positive, supportive individuals carry you up. Don’t let individuals behind a display carry you down.

To study extra about staying secure in our digital world, please go to telus.com/sensible for the newest assets and workshops obtainable.