WINNIPEG, MB – The Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) is pleased to announce the continuation of the MJHL Anti-Racism and Cultural Sensitivity Education Program for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Beginning in the 2021-22 season, anti-racism education seminars targeted for MJHL players, coaches, and support staff were provided by Wade to each member team covering a range of Indigenous topics & issues, sensitivity & cultural awareness training in anti-discrimination and anti-oppression education.
New this season, all MJHL Officials will also receive the education program via an online presentation. The goals of the anti-discrimination education seminars are to:
Provide players / staff with language and terminology concerning anti-discrimination and anti-oppression.
Assist players / staff in recognizing and identifying problematic behaviors in themselves and others.
Involve players / staff to actively engage and commit to promoting a respectful and supportive hockey culture
Topics that will be covered during the education seminars will lay the foundation for learning about racism and discrimination: Positionality & Intersectionality, Culture & Socialization, Prejudice & Stereotypes and Discrimination & Racism.
The in-person seminars will be led by MJHL alumni Wade Houle. Wade graduated from the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba in 2006 and grew up in the Metis community of Vogar, MB. His mother is from the Lake Manitoba First Nation and his father is from the Ebb & Flow First Nation, from which Wade is a band member. Presently, Wade is an Indigenous Education Coach for the Mountain View School Division and has been an educator for the past 16 years. In May of 2022 Wade completed his Masters Degree in the Faculty of Graduate Studies from Brandon University. In February of 2020, Wade started a small business called Bright Sky Consulting where he works with a variety of businesses and organizations with the implementation of their in-house discrimination and racial sensitivity training.
“I am excited about the opportunity to continue to work with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and contributing to players, personnel and officials on becoming anti-racist and anti-oppressive. This shows not only a commitment to the teams but a commitment to creating, contributing and caring citizens in the Manitoba community,” Houle expressed.
“Through internal discussions as a league over the course of the 2020-21 season, it became apparent that there is much more that the MJHL could and should be doing to address racism and discrimination in our sport while also providing important and necessary anti-racism education for our players, staff and officials. We know that discrimination unfortunately still exists in our society and this type of education is required for change to take place. This program will play an important role in the MJHL continuing to being part of the solution going forward,” said Kevin Saurette, MJHL Commissioner.
About the MJHL
The Manitoba Junior Hockey League is one of nine Junior ‘A’ Hockey Leagues in Canada and is a proud member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). The MJHL exists to provide the best hockey development opportunities its players.
Our goal is to develop players and ultimately have them develop into solid citizens who make a positive contribution to their community. Communities with a Junior ‘A’ hockey club generate their spirit in and around the community arena facilities. The goal of the MJHL is to provide its fans, communities, and supporters with the best possible hockey product through dedication to improvement in all areas of the game both on and off the ice.
Mission Statement
To provide each MJHL player with an elite hockey development experience with a strong emphasis on education and positive citizenship. To deliver exciting Junior ‘A’ hockey action to fans throughout the province and enhance Manitoba communities in the spirit of sports excellence and goodwill.
