North Bay Nugget e-edition

Trying to make sure hockey is a game for everyone

GREG ESTABROOKS

Kelsie Etches wants to make sure all parts of society see that equality, diversity and inclusion must become the norm in the way we all live.

Etches is the board chair of OUTLOUD North Bay and responded to the decision to have an event like this at a hockey game.

The City of North Bay sponsored an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Night on Thursday during the North Bay Battalion’s home game against the Windsor Spitfires“hockey is a deep-rooted passion of our city, having it (the event) here is great exposure for OUTLOUD and having the youth coming here,” states Etches.

“I think that OUTLOUD is a hidden gem, and we have lots of kids coming to our place. Coming to a hockey game to show that everyone is accepted and every aspect of OUTLOUD is accepted, and diversity, inclusion, and equity, are welcomed everywhere, not just at OUTLOUD,” stated Etches.etches had this to say about the sport of hockey (in the men’s game) being thought to be a “macho” pursuit.

“When we talk about toxic masculinity and things like that, we want to show that a place like this can be inclusive as well it goes a long way to making a big change. We have a lot of work to do, but this is the first step in that (direction). The more partners we have the better, the more allies we have the better.” says the OUTLOUD Board Chair.

Seth Compton founded OUTLoud and was part of the ceremonial faceoff to start the game. Compton posted a remark about how happy he was to see Battalion defenceman Paul Christopoulos sporting rainbow tape on his hockey stick during that pre-game faceoff.compton echoed Etches statements about the fact that a night like this at a major junior hockey game is a step in the right direction.

“Nights like this just show our community that it is okay (to be different), and we should not be focusing on labels,” says Compton.

“We are people, and that is what it is about: we must support each other. You have young kids that want to be hockey players, but there is fear there. We can remove that fear, and they can succeed,” says the OUTLOUD founder.

Compton added in a Facebook post that 120 people were given tickets to see their first ever Battalion game.a different take from North Bay Pride Communications Director Jason Maclennan. Maclennan says there is mostly good, but a little not so good on Thursday night.

“It was a great evening, especially those that were spreading love and acceptance,” says Maclennan.

When we talk about toxic masculinity and things like that, we want to show that a place like this can be inclusive as well it goes a long way to making a big change.

“However, not to take away from all the positive things that happened, we are reminded by a few who attend the game, that not everyone is full of love for others.

There were a few people with homophobic comments towards me personally and those around me,” stated Maclennan.

“It is a reminder to everyone that yes, we see some changes and steps forward, which this game was,” said Maclennan.

He adds that there is no room for hate anywhere.

Maclennan says he was also troubled by the issue of these types of comments coming from the younger generation at the game.

“We are also reminded why games partnered with Pride and OUTLOUD are so important. No one should ever be subjected to hateful comments, especially for who you are,” says Maclennan.

LOCAL

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2023-01-31T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-31T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://eeditionnugget.pressreader.com/article/281560884934900

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