CALGARY, AB – Hockey Canada has announced the agenda and list of speakers for the first Beyond the Boards Summit, which will take place Sept. 8-9 in Calgary.

Announced in June, Beyond the Boards is a series of sessions that bring together leaders in hockey, external subject-matter experts, individuals with lived experiences and other stakeholders to identify ways to guide future discussions and actions that will make positive changes to the culture of the game.

“It is clear the issue of toxic masculinity in hockey is pervasive and threatens the future of the sport we all love,” said the Hon. Hugh L. Fraser, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors and honorary chair of the summit. “Although we recognize it cannot be solved during a two-day conference, we need to start somewhere and hope to look back on the inaugural Beyond the Boards Summit as a turning point for the culture of hockey in Canada.

“We are eager to listen and learn from the accomplished presenters and panellists on this important step in the journey to making positive changes to the game.”

The two-day event will include interactive sessions on Leading at the Intersection of Masculinity and Hockey led by acclaimed facilitator Bill Proudman, keynote speeches from the Hon. Carla Qualtrough, Jamie Clarke and Sheldon Kennedy and a literature review on the history of hockey culture in Canada presented by Dr. Teresa Fowler.

As well, TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde will moderate a reflective panel on lived experiences in hockey with Kennedy, Émilie Castonguay, Melody Davidson and Bayne Pettinger.

“Canadians deserve a sport system that is fair, inclusive and safe,” said the Hon. Carla Qualtrough, minister of sport and physical activity. “As we do the hard work necessary to build a sport system that better reflects our values, protects our children and is a true source of Canadian pride, we need to acknowledge past wrongs. The Beyond the Boards Summit is an important step in that journey.

“It is up to all of us to ensure that sport leaders and organizations are accountable and responsible. We need to learn from our mistakes and take the bold action that the moment requires. We need to do right by survivors. We all must do our part.”

The summit’s full agenda can be found here.

Dr. Fowler undertook a thorough literature review on hockey culture in Canada to identify themes to inform the format of Beyond the Boards, including for the initial summit, with future sessions covering additional facets of hockey culture that exist.

“The literature review provides research-informed insights to advance meaningful change for elite masculine hockey culture in Canada by providing a comprehensive understanding of hockey’s historical and social progression to the game we know today,” said Dr. Fowler. “Presenting its findings at the summit is an opportunity to share the depth of research that many scholars and others have done in the field and to generate engaging dialogues on how research can inform change moving forward to assist Hockey Canada and others to lead culture change in sport.”

In advance of her presentation at Beyond the Boards, an executive summary of Dr. Fowler’s literature review is available here.

Information about future sessions of Beyond the Boards will be shared at a later date.

To learn more about the Beyond the Boards Summit, please visit BeyondTheBoardsSummit.ca.