Message from the Hon. Hugh L. Fraser, Chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors

On December 17, 2022, Hockey Canada’s Members elected a slate of candidates to volunteer on a transition Hockey Canada Board of Directors for a particular one-year time period, in keeping with the suggestions put ahead in an unbiased governance evaluate led by the Hon. Thomas Cromwell, C.C.

Since then, our board has labored tirelessly to steer Hockey Canada via transformational change, make essential and pressing modifications on and off the ice and take significant actions that profit contributors, followers and Canadians who love hockey simply as a lot as we do. 

Tomorrow, the Members will elect a brand new board of administrators in an election that may mirror a number of vital by-law modifications that had been really helpful by Mr. Cromwell and units the inspiration for the following step of Hockey Canada’s journey.

After cautious deliberation, regardless of completely having fun with each second of this once-in-a-lifetime expertise, I made the choice in the summertime to not search re-election to the board with a view to pursue extra tasks which can be particular to secure sport, which is a subject that I’ve been captivated with my complete skilled profession.

This resolution was not reached simply, as I’m extraordinarily happy with the accomplishments that our transition board achieved and I’m impressed by the plans for Hockey Canada’s future that may guarantee it’s a chief in sport security, governance and fairness, range and inclusion amongst sport organizations in Canada and world wide.

During our mandate, our board prioritized our efforts on 4 key areas: management renewal, sport security, good governance and monetary stability and transparency.

In the previous 11 months, Hockey Canada made various vital modifications in these areas to make sure organizational stability and sustainability, together with hiring Katherine Henderson as our new president and chief govt officer, internet hosting the inaugural Beyond the Boards Summit, investing considerably in sport security initiatives, implementing vital by-law modifications really helpful in Mr. Cromwell’s report and modernizing our monetary constructions to offer extra readability and transparency.

With our authorities funding restored and the return of our company companions, Hockey Canada is in a a lot more healthy monetary place than it was a yr in the past, and it actually has a extra constructive monetary outlook.

On the ice, Canada hosted three vital worldwide occasions, the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, 2023 IIHF Women’s World Championship and 2023 World Para Hockey Championship, which all targeted on inspiring the following era and celebrating the various communities that we have now throughout the nation.

When I laced a pair of skates for the primary time, I may have by no means imagined the affect hockey would have on myself and my household, or that at some point I might find yourself on this place. But I can promise you all that I’ll always remember what volunteering on the board meant to me, and the way fondly I’ll look again on this expertise of a lifetime.

I’d prefer to thank my fellow administrators, Andrea Poole, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, David Evans, Grant Borbridge, Jonathan Goldbloom, Julie Duranceau, Marian Jacko and Marni Fullerton for his or her work all through the previous 11 months, as our efforts had been completed as a crew. Each of you volunteered to be a part of the answer, and your super affect on Hockey Canada shall be felt for generations to come back.

To Minister St-Onge, Minister Qualtrough and your colleagues, thanks on your collaboration and for trusting us and our Members to soundly ship hockey to Canadians throughout the nation.

To the volunteers and workers at Hockey Canada and the 13 Member branches, thanks on your information, help and friendship all through this memorable chapter in my profession and life.

Last however actually not least, thanks to my household for permitting me to pursue this unbelievable alternative and relentlessly supporting me all through my time as chair of the board.

I’m so grateful to have had the chance to serve on the board, and whereas I do know there may be vital work nonetheless to be finished, I do know that hockey in Canada is in nice palms and poised for fulfillment now and sooner or later.

To borrow a line from Katherine Henderson, I do imagine the way forward for hockey is limitless.

Thank you all and Go Canada Go.