Empowering BIPOC Athletes
When Saroya Tinker and Sophie Jaques launched the Women of Colour Hockey Collective Camp, they envisioned a space where cost would not keep young BIPOC players off the ice. What began as a modest gathering has evolved into a North‑American hub that now welcomes more than 200 girls from Canada and the United States each summer.
The camp’s model is simple yet powerful: it removes financial barriers by providing free equipment, on‑ice instruction and mentorship from former professionals. By covering travel and gear expenses, the organizers let participants focus on skill development and confidence building.
Beyond the drills, the camp cultivates lasting friendships. Many attendees return year after year, forming bonds that extend far beyond the rink and creating a supportive network that often turns into lifelong community ties.
Jade Iginla, a PWHL Hamilton draft pick and board member of the initiative, frequently speaks about the sport’s steep price tag and the under‑representation of women of colour. ‘Hockey can feel exclusive when the fees climb into the thousands,’ she says, ‘but this camp shows that the game belongs to everyone.’
Mikyla Grant‑Mentis, forward for Seattle Torrent and another board member, recalls growing up as one of the few players who looked like her. ‘Seeing a camp that celebrates diversity gives young girls a mirror they rarely get,’ she explains, emphasizing that the program’s impact reaches far beyond elite performance.
Sophie Jaques, a founding board member and defender for the Vancouver Goldeneyes, notes that the camp’s growth reflects a deep, unmet demand for inclusive hockey opportunities. ‘The numbers tell us there’s a hunger for these spaces,’ she says, adding that the ultimate goal is to keep the doors open for as many youth as possible.
The organizers measure success not by trophies but by the expanding community that keeps returning. As Tinker puts it, ‘Our metric is the smile on a kid’s face when they step onto the ice knowing they belong.’