Onside program a first in Canada
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
The latest initiative from the Ontario Hockey League is set to become the first in Canada to teach junior hockey players and staff about the importance and responsibility of demonstrating respect for women.
Launched on Nov. 22, the OHL Onside program is a partnership with the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC) and collaborations with the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region.
According to Ted Baker, the OHL’s vice president, the program is set to become a “pillar” of the league.
“We believe that it will be tremendously received by our players,” he said during the announcement.
The project will see all 20 teams across the OHL undertake a two-hour workshop educating them on the treatment of women in society and finding ways to break the stigmas and stereotypes about what it means to be a man.
“It’s an amazing partnership and an amazing opportunity for a variety of reasons,” says Donna Graham, the executive director with the Durham Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) who will be hosting the session for the Oshawa Generals. “I think a lot of these young men potentially will be leaders in the community, will be carrying on either through playing themselves, or through coaching and they have the opportunity to pass down what they learn now to other generations.”
According to Graham, she has never seen a program such as this before, and she’s excited for the workshop with the Gens, which will take place early in the new year.
“It’s just really great to see the OHL just being a leader in the field in regard to this,” she says.
The sentiment was echoed by Oshawa Generals general manager Roger Hunt.
“I think it’s great that our league recognizes social issues that are current in the world,” he says, noting that while it’s unfortunate that these issues arise, it’s good for the league to be spreading the message about respect for women. “I think it’s great to have the awareness for our players and beyond.”
The program has been almost two years in the works and was piloted successfully with the Erie Otters and Kitchener Rangers earlier this season and based off a similar program completed by the Peterborough Petes in 2014.