BC Hockey Board Info

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

I want to acknowledge that we are on the unceded and traditional territories of many Indigenous peoples throughout BC and Yukon.

On behalf of BC Hockey, I want to thank all Indigenous people in our Branch for sharing their land with us to play hockey. BC Hockey honours the traditional lands and homelands of all Indigenous peoples and communities across Canada, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

I’d like to recognize BC Hockey’s Life Members and thank them for their continued dedication and guidance. A warm welcome to our newest Life Members, their experience working directly in the game provides a strong foundation of knowledge and inspiration. We appreciate the knowledge and support of our Life Members as we continue to reshape hockey in B.C.

Volunteers are the heart of our game, making it possible for our 60,000+ participants to play this wonderful game. Thank you to all our incredible volunteers for their time, dedication, and perseverance. Please know you are positively impacting our participants each and every day with your commitment to our game.

Congratulations to our players, coaches and officials who represent their communities and all areas of B.C. and Yukon on the national and international stages. You make us proud and are strong reminders of the importance of our grassroots programs in developing our program of excellence athletes, coaches, and officials.

The 2022-23 season marked my inaugural year as Chair of the BC Hockey Board of Directors, and it was a pivotal period in the ongoing evolution of our sport. During this season, we were compelled to confront some tough realities within hockey, acknowledging that, addressing these challenges head-on was imperative for the continued growth and prosperity of the game. 

In response, the BC Hockey Board of Directors took decisive action in the 2022-23 season by establishing two new task forces: one dedicated to Safe Sport and another focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I). These initiatives were aimed at ensuring our policies aligned with the needs of our members and left no aspect unattended. By uniting these task forces with our existing Indigenous Participation Work Group, we formed a group of cultural committees dedicated to serving our members. The progress made by these groups thus far is a source of true pride, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing their positive impact as we forge ahead into the future. 

As we step into the 2023-24 season, a renewed sense of optimism is evident within our hockey community. Registration numbers are robust, signaling the potential for surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Players, coaches, parents, and volunteers are settling into the new season with enthusiasm, ready to embrace another year of the hockey life that awaits them.

Finally, we will continue our work to reshape hockey in B.C. and Yukon. We will continue to build on our goals from last year where we will look to make BC Hockey…

• A place where more families want to be involved and join us,
• A place where every child feels safe,
• A place where everyone feels welcomed and included,
• A place where we focus on skills and development over wins,
• A place where we return the smiles to all our participants.

We will continue to work together to create the best hockey experience in Canada. 

A final thanks to everyone who works tirelessly in our game, from our MHAs to our office staff, to our Board of Directors and all our participants. When we collaboratively focus on supporting and caring for each other, we create a powerful community with a strong sense of belonging. This is how we co-create the best hockey experience in Canada.

Stephanie White

Chair, BC Hockey