After persistent inquiries with the city, Ms. Laski discovered that Toronto does collect information on the participation of boys and girls in hockey, as well as distinguishing between residents and non-residents. However, gender data does not play a role in the allocation of ice time. When combined, these data reveal that only 7 percent of available ice time is utilized by girls, according to Ms. Laski, a Toronto-based entrepreneur.
Ms. Laski advocates for developing a system that ensures established leagues receive sufficient ice time while also providing opportunities for others. This led to the initiation of a groundbreaking project called “Open Ice,” currently underway and managed by the Future of Hockey Lab, an organization based in Nova Scotia established in 2021 to promote accessibility and inclusivity in hockey.
While days of below freezing temperatures across Canada have caused disruptions, one family in Winnipeg made the most of it by playing hockey on an ice rink they created on their street pic.twitter.com/a0mpw5DMug
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 18, 2022
Scheduled to commence data collection from Nova Scotia’s rinks in January, the Open Ice project aims to expand nationwide over the next three years. The data, which will be publicly accessible, is expected to enhance the efficiency and fairness of ice time utilization, as stated by Amy Walsh, co-founder of the lab.
Consultations with hockey officials in Nova Scotia, including Leijsa Wilton and Christina Lamey, inspired the project. They shared difficulties in securing ice time for female players, prompting the realization that a lack of data was hindering the development of solutions. The lab is currently in the process of creating a platform to gather and monitor the data, while also establishing partnerships with rinks.
Beginning in January, the lab plans to collect data from both municipal and privately operated rinks in Nova Scotia, including gender breakdowns and various demographic factors. The project aims to centralize this information, make it publicly available, and provide a comprehensive view of ice usage across multiple arenas. With this data, the lab intends to expand the project nationally, focusing on improved scheduling, reduced vacancies, and increased access.
Dean Smith, chair of Hockey Nova Scotia’s diversity and inclusion task force, highlights that ice time is typically allocated based on the previous season’s registration numbers, creating a barrier for new groups. Clear data on ice allocation will contribute to fairer distribution in Nova Scotia, according to Smith.
In Toronto, despite policies emphasizing equitable distribution to various groups, incumbency often favors existing leagues when booking ice time. The hope is that having transparent data on ice allocation will lead to fairer distribution in Nova Scotia and prompt corrective measures at the provincial level.
The scarcity of rinks and the uneven distribution of available infrastructure pose challenges, limiting efforts to break down barriers for girls and other underrepresented groups in sports like hockey. Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women and Sport, emphasizes the need to address the systemic issues causing exclusion from sports and advocates for reforming the current system.
My kind of ice rink #banff #wildice #canada #speedskating 📷:@jrmantia pic.twitter.com/NsU2UBsuHT
— Brian Hansen (@BrianTHansen) January 23, 2023
While Ms. Laski secured ice time for her league in January after extensive discussions with the city, she recognizes that this doesn’t address the structural barriers faced by historically underrepresented groups. Hence, she hopes that the Open Ice project will instigate positive changes not only in Nova Scotia but throughout Canada.
