Eleven female Red Deer Minor Hockey players excitedly checked out the new female-focused dressing room at the Kinsmen Community Arenas on Aug. 3, 2021. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Davidson)

By Jordan Davidson

A Win For Inclusivity

New female-focused changeroom unveiled at Red Deer’s Kinsmen Arenas

Aug 4, 2021 | 2:02 PM

Sport Chek put big smiles on the faces of some local female hockey players in Red Deer this week as they unveiled a new dressing room recognizing and celebrating the importance of females in sports.

Eleven minor hockey players, ages 9-14, were on hand to see the newly-renovated dressing room located at the Kinsmen Community Arenas.

Some new features include a custom red and white paint job, decals, female bathroom products like hair ties, face wipes, and feminine hygiene products, as well as inspirational quotes from Canadian hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser who kicked off the event with a pre-recorded video message.

Sport Chek District Manager Theresa Morales-Noade said they understand the power of sport and the positive effects it can have, particularly on youth.

“We at Sport Chek understand the importance of community. This is our way of contributing and giving back to the Red Deer community and making sure there is an exclusive environment, and girls aren’t just in a fitting room where they don’t feel like it’s their own space or they’re having to change in the washroom,” said Morales-Noade. “We want this to be an opportunity where girls are taking back team sports.”

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She said when a girl wants to play hockey, they often have no choice but to join a boys team, which means changing by themselves in a shower, bathroom, or referees change room because the majority of arenas don’t have anywhere female-specific for them to get ready.

Morales-Noade said the push to make all sports more inclusive is more urgent now than ever.

“Our girls that came from Sport Chek are athletes and they understand the power of sport, she said. “Unfortunately, there is a decline with girls signing up and registering for sports so they want to make sure they can do anything to make it enticing and make sure that it continues to live.”

Tracy Burghardt, Red Deer Minor Hockey board member and female coordinator, said the girls were overjoyed when this dressing room renovation was first announced.

“It’s absolutely great for them. It’s so important for them to have a space that’s dedicated solely to them, and for a community-based initiative like this, that’s one-of-a-kind so far, just means the world to them,” noted Burghardt. “They’re excited, and I think you can really feel the sense of a team mentality.”

Taylor Sorenson, 12, plays for the Pee Wee ‘A’ female Chiefs in Red Deer, but spent her first few seasons on a boys team.

She said her new dressing room was an unexpected surprise, and hopes to see it become a trend, believing more girls might take up hockey if there are more dedicated spaces.

“It’s awesome if there are tons of dressing rooms that are made specifically for girls hockey,” she remarked.

Sport Chek plans to continue its movement across Canada to help other local organizations overcome any challenges they have when it comes to inclusivity and encouraging everyone to participate in team sports.