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Indicative of the progress made by The Carnegie Initiative since we were established two years ago is a recent comment shared with us that we are “one of the powerhouses” in this space. While flattering, we know there is much more work needed to drive scalable and impactful change to the culture of hockey.
As one of few Black participants in the sport, from my youth through college as a player and later as an executive, my road in hockey has been far from smooth. The motivation behind forming The CI in 2021 was that it is not acceptable to stay silent. I am fueled by a sense of responsibility for making the game available to all, especially those from marginalized or underrepresented communities.
I love this game and have from the first time I skated on the local rinks and ponds in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Why shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to enjoy this sport?
I am guided by the motto, “counsel not cancel.” This term evolved from the wonderful and peaceful work of Dr. Loretta J. Ross, an activist and scholar who teaches about “call-in culture.” It is far too easy in the world we live to call others out. But it takes a deliberate and brave approach to “call-in” a “hater” and have tough conversations needed that will promote understanding and lead to change.
That approach has been critical to our growth. We not only invite our “allies” to engage with us but relish every chance to teach, heal and humanize in a way that results in hockey becoming more inclusive and welcoming to all.
One of the many ways we achieve this objective is through our continuation of sharing important narratives, stories, information and resources. This newsletter is one of the newest channels for us to amplify the progress being made in the work to positively change hockey while also focusing on the challenges that remain.
This edition of the “Carnegie Corner” includes the great work of Bob Dawson, the winner of our Lifetime Achievement Award, who has spent countless decades trying to make this game more inclusive. I encourage you to read his recent story, “Hockey DEI Toolkit.” I also invite you to watch the video of Donnovan Bennett from The CI Summit earlier this year. He shared an important story about how far we’ve come yet how much more work is needed to make change sustainable.
Thank you for reading “Carnegie Corner'' and for supporting the work the team at The CI is leading. I remain optimistic that our progress in changing the culture of hockey will continue. The result will have a profound impact on individuals and communities across North America.
Yours Truly,
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Bernice Carnegie Provides Inspiration and Encouragement to Durham Youth
The CI Co-Founder Bernice Carnegie spoke to around 80 youth on July 25, 2023, at the Ontario Tech University campus. Her presentation was part of The Youth in Policing (YIP) Initiative with the Durham Regional Police (DRP) in Ontario.
She has participated in the program for the past decade. Her address centered around many of the Future Aces core principles outlined by her legendary father, hockey and social icon, Herb Carnegie. She encouraged those on hand to use those virtues to overcome challenges and to take control of their lives in a positive manner.
"Bernice always comes to YIP with positive and insightful words/lessons to teach to the youth about her family's impacts on our community," Supervising Team Leader Kale Juteau stated. "She is able to engage and motivate the youth to make a positive change by believing in themselves."
Students, age 15-18, in the YIP Initiative receive training from DRP officers and community representatives that empower and reinforce life and leadership skills.
"Future Aces really inspired me through Bernice's father's story of changing society's biases and making history through his actions. She came to YIP with a very positive mindset that was able to interest myself and my peers," YIP Student Zaid Ahmad shared. "It is very nice to see how she is able to carry on her father's and family's stories to educate other youth."
The eight-week session is capped with a graduation ceremony at which Berncie will present a "Herbert H. Carnegie Character Award." Recipients are chosen by a vote from their peers as individuals who best exemplify and apply the values of the Future Aces Creed created by Herb Carnegie.
YIPI was established in 2006 and is made possible through a partnership with Ontario's Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS).
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Bob Dawson Publishes Hockey DEI Toolkit
Hockey historian and sportswriter Bob Dawson shared an in-depth Hockey DEI toolkit last week. The piece on Boxscore World Sportswire features a collection of his articles over the past few years.
“As a former Black hockey player and contributing sports writer, I’m pleased to share this toolkit I’ve prepared that is intended to assist all stakeholders - hockey executives and administrators, coaches, players, game officials, players, parents, volunteers, spectators - with making hockey a safer, positive, more inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone,” he wrote.
The feature includes the following topics and includes brief summaries of each article with links to the full pieces. Included in his Hockey DEI toolkit are:
- Inside Hockey | The Issue of Habits & Inclusion
- Racism in Hockey, It Stops With Us!
- Change The Hockey Culture, Change The Game
- In Hockey Our Words Matter: How to Be
- Diversity and Inclusion Matter in Hockey, But It's Belonging
- Reality Check: Hockey Through the Lens of Racism - BOXSCORE
- Reality Check: How Inclusive is Your Hockey Organization?
- Racism In Hockey: What You Say and Do Matters
Dawson was a trailblazer on the ice in 1970 at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as a member of the first all-Black line in Canadian university history.
He was bestowed The CI’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award this past January for his impact on the game over the past half century.
Read, Bookmark & Share “Change The Game: A Hockey DEI Toolkit”
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Bob Dawson received The CI's Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony held at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto on January 20, 2023. | |
New Weekly Website Feature to Debut | |
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Starting tomorrow (Aug. 4), The CI Aggegrator will be a weekly feature published on The CI’s website. The piece will be posted every Friday to provide a convenient resource for those working or interested in the hockey and social justice space.
The CI Aggregator is a compilation of recent stories regarding the hockey world, The Carnegie Initiative, our Board members, other industry influencers, similar organizations doing work to change the culture of the game, related issues, and anything aligned with our important mission to make hockey more inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
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Q&A: Shelley Nicholls
Shelley Nicholls, an entrepreneurial leader known for optimizing and inspiring teams to achieve critical objectives, was named The CI’s Executive Director in late June. She started her career in the automotive industry as an engineer and went on to lead $100M+ projects. Shelley spent the past six years in the social profit sector and currently also serves as a consultant for EPIC Leadership in Toronto. She and her husband reside in the Greater Toronto Area and are the proud parents of four children (ages 10-17) that include three active hockey players. She also serves on the Board for Black Girl Hockey Club Canada.
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CI: Was there a particular instance in your life you recall as the moment you fell in love with hockey?
SN: Falling in love with hockey was not on my Bingo card even though I grew up in Montreal's west island surrounded by an intense hockey fan base. We had a hockey rink at the end of our street growing up that my sisters and friends would skate on every winter, but hockey never felt like something for us. My husband also grew up in the Montreal area and played hockey for seven seasons in his youth. His love for the game brought our kids out to skate and play hockey first in our backyard and then at the rink. Our oldest, Vivian, tried a learn to skate program at a local rink and fell in love with the game around 8. She was supposed to be part of a one-hour/week skate program but by the end of the first day of practice, she was hooked. She demanded to stay and try out for the hockey team that was going to practice after. She made the team and so my hockey mom era began in 2013.
CI: Describe your life as a hockey mom to three players at the same time. What are some of the most important lessons the game is teaching your sons?
SN: After Vivian shifted from hockey to track, Ellis had just turned 4 and was ready to get on the ice like his big brothers, Vaughn and Avery. During hockey season, we are often in 3-4+ different arenas every weekend cheering on the kids, timekeeping or my husband is behind the bench coaching them.
The game of hockey is exciting, fun and a team experience for them that they really enjoy. The sport can also be a difficult, frustrating, and toxic space for players who come from underrepresented groups. An amazing shot, cool pass or flashy footwork has triggered some nasty words from opponents trying to knock the boys off their game. It has been difficult, and they have learned some tough lessons at a young age but the love of hockey persists. They are developing relationships with their home teams as well as other young Black hockey players through Hockey Equality that let them know they belong.
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Dante Djan, Saroya Tinker, Renee Hess and Shelley at the Black Girl Hockey Club Board Meeting in 2022. | |
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CI: What drew you to this opportunity to lead The Carnegie Initiative?
SN: The charitable sector is a new area for me after studying mechanical engineering and working in automotive for many years. After my last son arrived, I didn't have the flexibility I needed to continue working in manufacturing, so I didn't go back to work right away. The charitable sector was an unexpected career segue, and I have really enjoyed the opportunity to build relationships, problem solve and develop projects that positively impact communities.
Leadership positions in charities have been very challenging spaces for me as a Black woman, in some ways more difficult than in the corporate space. So, the opportunity to directly work with Bryant McBride and Bernice Carnegie, two people who are passionate, thoughtful and supportive was an easy decision. Also my sons' love of the game and a need for them to know more about the history of Black people transforming the game was important to me.
CI: What specific traits do you possess that are critical to your role in leading an organization focused on making sustainable change to the culture of hockey?
SN: I am resilient, resourceful and committed to taking actions that support sustainable changes in hockey and our communities. The last few years have exposed and highlighted a myriad of systemic inequalities that challenged Canadian and American people to talk about their values and the actions they take to address the realities facing Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented groups. It can be exhausting being in leadership, but it is also inspiring to know that we are building on a legacy that the next generation can be proud of and will help move the game and our communities further forward.
CI: What do you see as the most immediate challenges The CI must focus on to see more progress in making the sport more inclusive and welcoming to all.
SN: The CI is focused on a number of projects, and at the forefront is developing and launching a successful 2024 Summit in Toronto. Over the last two years, the Summits (Boston in 2022 and Toronto in 2023) were a key space for leaders from the grassroots to the NHL, academics and others to gather, share successes/challenges and identify actions for sustainable changes.
Throughout the year, I'm looking forward to engaging with the community and learning about the progress at the grassroots level so we can amplify it across our network. I'm excited about the Tennessee State University’s men’s hockey program that will launch soon and hopefully be replicated at other Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). In addition, I look forward to cheering on the next iteration of the women's professional hockey league and highlighting the progress being made.
The CI creates spaces for folks to gather and have tough discussions, amplify inclusion, and bring attention to challenges that limit the sport from truly being welcoming to all. We are looking for more partners and allies. If you are interested in connecting, drop me a line at shelley@carnegieinitiative.com.
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Donnovan Bennett Speaks on the Importance of Creating Sustainable Change
Sportsnet’s Donnovan Bennett moderated a panel at the 2023 CI Summit in Toronto earlier this year. His opening remarks set the tone for “Catalyst Conversation: Creating Sustainable Change.”
Watch video:
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See the full conversation that included Kimberly Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President; The Hon. Hugh L. Fraser, Hockey Canada Chair; Daniel Larson, Team Trans Ice Hockey Founder; and Ajay Rai, GTHL Player. | Watch | | |
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By the Numbers
Today, European players make up close to 30 percent of NHL rosters (approximately 300 players).
In 1965, Ulf Sterner of the New York Rangers became the first European to play in the NHL.
A major breakthrough for European players to compete in North American men's professional hockey came through opportunities provided by the World Hockey Association (WHA). The now-defunct league, a rival to the NHL, added numerous European players to their rosters during its seven seasons (1972-79).
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Calendar
January 2024 - The CI Summit in Toronto, Ontario.
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Help Blaze the Trail
The CI gratefully appreciates donations, large and small, that help us with our mission: “Work to ensure that hockey is inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.”
Please consider a donation today.
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Quotable
ECHL player Yuki Miura, a native of Tokyo, described the legacy of Hitoshi “Mel” Wakabayashi who passed away in July at the age of 80.
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