A Summer of Inclusion on the Ice
More than 200 young hockey players have gathered at the Toronto Maple Leafs training facility for a three‑day summer camp organized by the Women of Colour Hockey Collective, or WCHC. The event, which is free and open to participants of any age or skill level, celebrates BIPOC women in a sport where they are still under‑represented.
Saroya Tinker, executive director of the WCHC, says the camp’s core mission is to give girls a space where they can thrive without having to explain or justify their presence. “We want them to learn to be unapologetically themselves,” Tinker explained, noting that the experience is as much about confidence‑building as it is about on‑ice development.
The schedule blends on‑ice training with off‑ice workshops, including a professional photo shoot that captures each participant’s moment in the spotlight. Former PWHL star Sophie Jaques, who now skates for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, joined the camp to share the lessons she learned growing up as the only player of colour on her teams.
Mikyla Grant‑Mentis, a forward with the Seattle Torrent, echoed Jaques’ sentiment, emphasizing that the camp is an opportunity to grow the game and show young women the pathways that exist at the highest levels. “Seeing a diverse group of girls on the ice together is powerful,” she said.
Eight‑year‑old Eliyah King, who traveled from Ontario to attend, said the presence of role models like Jaques and Grant‑Mentis has already sparked a new sense of possibility. “I want to be just like them,” she told camp organizers, eyes bright with ambition.
Cynthia Lam, a mother of three hockey‑playing daughters, praised the initiative for creating a genuinely inclusive environment. “It’s rare to find a program that welcomes every girl, no matter where she comes from,” she said, adding that the camp has already begun to shift the culture of her local community.
Beyond the on‑ice drills, the camp’s organizers stress that the connections forged will extend far beyond the three days. By pairing participants with mentors from the Professional Women’s Hockey League and providing resources for continued development, the WCHC hopes to seed a lasting network of support for BIPOC women across North America.