Written by: Becky Kolberg, Canadian SportWORKS Officer, S4N Ottawa
Dozens of pairs of skates packed in bins, helmets overflowing from a hockey bag, and a group of newcomer youth eager to lace up and get on the ice, many for the very first time. That was the scene as we headed into our first Sport for Newcomers (S4N) session. It was time to get started and we went big with skating!
From the very beginning, skating stood out as one of the activities the youth involved in the YMCA of the National Capital Region’s Newcomer Youth Leadership Development (NYLD) program were most excited to try, and it made sense why. Skating is such a huge part of Canadian culture, but getting onto the ice for the first time can come with a lot of barriers. Ice time. Equipment. Transportation. Skate fittings. Finding the right sizes. Even one session can take a lot of coordination behind the scenes. Still, the enthusiasm from the youth was the motivation to want to find a way to make it happen.
Planning actually started before all 10 S4N sessions were even finalized. Between some arenas removing their ice after the winter season and the challenge of finding any ice times that worked well for youth, it quickly became clear that if skating was going to happen, we needed to move fast. Then a late-April PA Day opened a window of opportunity. We secured a late morning ice slot at Tom Brown Arena and suddenly skating was on the calendar as our very first S4N session.
Of course, ice time was only one piece. Equipment, transportation, coaching support, and creating an environment where complete beginners felt comfortable stepping onto the ice all needed to come together quickly.
Through the incredible support of the Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library, we were able to borrow skates and helmets completely free of charge for every participant. While preparing to store away their winter inventory for the season, they graciously worked with us to hold equipment aside for our group. Their willingness to support the program during such a busy transition period made an enormous difference. Organizing, sourcing, transporting, fitting, and tracking dozens of pairs of skates and helmets, plus extras for inevitable size swaps, was a huge undertaking, but absolutely worth it! Beyond the session itself, it was meaningful to learn that resources like the Ottawa Outdoor Gear Library exist within the community and can help make recreation and sport more accessible in the future.
Support from Skate Canada and their Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility program also became such an important part of bringing this session to life. Being connected with people already doing this work within the community made such a difference while planning a session for so many first-time skaters. It was incredibly valuable to learn from their experience. When a call for coaches was shared, the response from the skating community was incredible. Five came out to support the youth on the ice, and their presence completely elevated the experience!
When session day finally arrived, our meeting spot in the YMCA lobby quickly turned into a skate fitting station as youth tried on skates and helmets before we loaded the bus and headed over to Tom Brown Arena to meet the coaches.
Once everyone stepped onto the ice, the nerves and excitement kicked in. For the next 50 minutes, the rink was all theirs. What started as a plan for small instructional groups naturally turned into something much more personal, with coaches moving throughout the ice helping participants one-on-one, encouraging nervous first steps, teaching basic skills, and adapting to each participant’s comfort level.
Some youth carefully held onto the boards as they took their first steps on the ice, while others quickly gained confidence and began skating around the rink with friends. For many, this was their first time skating, but by the end of the session, several were already talking about wanting to get back on the ice again.
One participant summed it up perfectly, sharing, “As we live in Canada, we have to learn to skate.”
Another participant echoed what many said their favourite part of the session was: “the whole skating event but the coaches were great and helped us a lot.”
The coaches created such a welcoming and encouraging environment that what could have felt intimidating quickly turned into something fun, supportive, and confidence-building for everyone involved.
This session was a reminder of how important community support and partnerships are in creating accessible opportunities for youth. From equipment lending and logistics to coaching support and program coordination, so many people came together to help create a positive experience on the ice. Watching the youth take those first steps onto the ice, encourage one another, and leave smiling felt like the perfect way to launch the Sport for Newcomers sessions in Ottawa!
– Becky
