By Learning Lead, Si Calaycay
I immigrated to Canada with my family at age 14 and encountered many barriers to outdoor recreation. Coming from a tropical country, I did not know how to enjoy winter in my new home until I discovered ice skating (and only because friends at school pooled money so I could buy my first pair of skates). From there, I taught myself while balancing school and work, simply so I could join my friends at public rinks.
Fast forward to the present: I wanted to create an easier journey for immigrants in the Niagara region than the one I experienced, while continuing to support the normalization of 2S-LGBTQIA+ newcomers through sports.
After noticing the underrepresentation of BIPOC newcomers on the trails I cherish, I started a program called Newcomer Hikers to build community.
But I soon realized I wanted to expand our focus to a very “Canadian” winter pastime: ice skating. In many public rinks across the Niagara region, skates are not available to rent, which makes learning incredibly difficult. Drawing from the impact of our hikes, Newcomer Skaters emerged, a program where participants can borrow skates and practice in a welcoming environment. Thanks to a microgrant from Howl Exploration and a partnership with Bridges Niagara, I was able to create a community-supported lending library of ice skates.
Baby steps
“I wasn’t a skater : I was Superman, Spider-Man… sitting on the wall and slowly moving along it. But having volunteers around you is so important when you’re learning something new as an adult. You’re not alone. Your progress is noticed, encouraged, and celebrated.”
As one of our participants beautifully shared, learning to skate is about much more than balance. Watching these adults let go of the wall and glide on their own is a powerful reminder that while we come from different countries, on the ice rink, we become a family.
What’s next?
Continue building the lending library to support more learners through the 2025/2026 season and ensure Newcomer Skaters is ready to launch at the start of the 2026/2027 season. Thanks to the Niagara Bruce Trail Club, the project has also begun receiving hiking gear. Limited storage space will be stretched as much as possible to continue supporting normalization through sports and recreation!
Recruit more volunteer coaches. This includes recruiting the newcomers and immigrants who have years of rollerblade and hockey experience back in their home countries; and more 2S-LGBTQIA+ community members in the region.
As one participant shared during their fifth session:
“I’m learning from many different people, so I’m learning faster.”
Continue developing a training tool to help allies, volunteers, and Immigrant and Refugee staff demystify gender identity, gender expression, gender dysphoria, and gender euphoria. This tool uses clothing and other materials to create an embodied learning experience, encouraging reflection on how and why clothing is gendered and supporting deeper empathy for 2S-LGBTQIA+ newcomers and immigrants. Two sessions of this training tool have run so far with a total of 25 participants, and there is appetite for more.
Continue collaboration with Pflag Niagara and the Niagara Bruce Trail Club to increase 2S-LGBTQIA+ and newcomer representation on local trails.
Create special skating events with local 2S-LGBTQIA+ organizations to keep building connection and community, and expand Newcomer Skaters into the summer through a lending library of roller skates and rollerblades.
What about you?
Do you know how to skate? Most Canadians will confidently say yes, but for many newcomers, gliding on ice looks like pure magic. What winter sports bring your community together, and how can you help make them more accessible to everyone?
With deep gratitude to Y4RC, Howl Exploration, Bridges Niagara, and our amazing volunteers,
Thanks for reading!
xoxo
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