A group of 12 new Canadian students at Frank Ryan Catholic School are participating are getting on the ice as part of a new program aimed at teaching youth how to play hockey. The Skating Forward Together, in its first year of operation, runs every Friday until the winter holiday break, and teaches basic skating and hockey skills. The school has a large population of new Canadians and the teachers wanted to create a space where they could feel welcome and included. “Part of something that is huge in the lives of Canadians, that’s here on the ice playing hockey and learning to skate,” says Alicia Davis, teacher at Frank Ryan Catholic Intermediate School. The program kicked off with a group of very shy 12-year-olds, but now the students are usually found laughing, joking and creating lasting friendships. For the teachers say being together as a community and seeing the joy that it brings the students, makes the whole project worth it. “For them being here in a new school with new friends, it can be very intimidating and often they struggle with that,” says Davis. “Creating a space like this where they can just be kids on the ice, learning these skills, while learning the language as well has been so beneficial for them and their confidence.” Luliya moved to Canada from Eritrea two years ago, and she joined the program this year. “I never knew how to skate or anything about it until I came to Canada,” says Luliya. “I decided to participate in skating because I saw some hockey players play and I thought that was really cool, so I decided to try it.” Vasikaran also decided to join the Skating Forward Together after moving to Canda from India in September. “I’m hoping to learn how to play with the hockey stick on ice and how to skate properly,” says Vasikaran. The initiative started as a small idea to teach skating fundamentals to kids, but they decided to add hockey skills to the mix. Students are guided by teachers, as well as experienced players the school’s Grade 8 hockey teams. “It’s crazy to see these guys out here. Our first, session was six weeks ago and when they first stepped on the ice, they wouldn’t let go of the boards. They were scared, they were falling all over themselves or they were worried about falling,” says Taylor Burns, teacher at Frank Ryan Catholic Intermediate School. “Now, five, six, seven sessions later, here they are. They’re skating around, they’re moving, they’re passing and not only are their skills growing but their confidence as well, which is kind of the best thing to see. They’re willing to take risks, try new things.” Burns says he hopes the students will take the skills they’ve learned through Skating Forward Together and use them over the Christmas break with their friends and maybe teach some of their younger family members to skate as well.
