Archive_2021-22

Archive
WFRA Season 2021-22

Posted April 13, 2022

The 2022 Annual General Meeting of the West Ferris Ringette Association will take place on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 7:00pm in the boardroom at Pete Palangio Arena. To encourage attendance at this AGM, we will be having a draw for those Association members in attendance (excluding Executive members) for a free registration for the 2022-2023 ringette season!
 
Below is a list of our candidates to date for the upcoming election being held at our AGM. At this time, any two WFRA members can still present nominations at or prior to the AGM. You can click here to download the AGM Nomination Form. Please send all nomination forms to WFRA Secretary Trina Palmieri at secretary@westferrisringette.ca.

Position	Nominee(s)	Term
President	Darren Pace	Open for 2 year term
Treasurer		Open for 2 year term
Equipment Director	Pam Voght, Caitlyn Stevens	Open for 2 year term
Rep Director	Marc Desroches	Open for 2 year term
Referee in Chief	Kyra Brownlee-Barnett	Open for 2 year term
Ice Director	Erin Johns	Open for 2 year term
House League Director		Open for 1 year term
Tournament Director	Chris Phillips	Open for 1 year term
Publicity Director	Jade Cayen	Open for 1 year term

Here is the by-law amendment request that will be voted on at our AGM. Please note we are not able to accept any other by-law amendment requests as per our WFRA by-law.
 
Current By-law 8.11 – Tournament Director: It shall be the duty of the Tournament Director to organize and coordinate the Association’s annual invitational tournament.
 
Proposed By-law Change: Requesting the title of Tournament Director be changed to Tournament Director/Director at Large and that it be responsible for the Tournament Director role in years WFRA hosts a tournament, and that the role be Director at Large in years WFRA does not host a tournament. The duties of the Director at Large will include attendance to Executive meetings, voting, and acting as a general support as needed to the other Directors.
 
Rationale: As we no longer run an annual tournament there is no specific utility in having a Tournament Director role in years WFRA does not host a tournament. The Director at Large role can be used as an ‘entry level’ Director position where the Director can support and shadow other Executive members to learn the roles and responsibilities of other Executive members so they can move into those roles in later years.
 
Hope to see you there!
 
Yours in ringette,
 
Darren Pace
WFRA President

Posted April 13, 2022

For those players and coaches who have borrowed equipment this season, please note there are two return dates scheduled for:
 
Saturday April 30 from 11am-12pm
Tuesday May 3 from 6pm-7pm
 
If you cannot attend either of these dates, please email equipment.director@westferrisringette.ca.
 
Returns need to be made to the WFRA office, located at the back of the West Ferris Arena (upstairs through the back door of the arena).
 
Thank you all for having your equipment cleaned and ready to be returned on these dates!

Posted April 15, 2022

Ringette Ontario strongly recommends that everyone eligible to be vaccinated is fully vaccinated prior to participation in any Ringette Ontario sanctioned activities. This is in line with the recommendations from the Ontario Ministry of Health that everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated, receives the approved number of doses to be considered fully vaccinated.
 
After careful consideration, and in consultation with various partner sport organizations and provincial regulations, effective April 18th at 12:01AM, the Board has elected to suspend the mandatory vaccination policy at this time and therefore, vaccinations are not mandatory in order to participate in spring tryouts and other sanctioned ringette activities in preparation for the 2022/23 season. Please note that any participant who is not fully vaccinated and chooses to register with Ringette Ontario must understand that, if mandatory vaccinations return by either Government or Ringette Ontario decision, they will be no longer eligible to participate. Associations who choose to form a team with participants who are not fully vaccinated, do so at
their own risk.
 
Should circumstances regarding COVID-19 evolve and dictate a change in our policy, Ringette Ontario will revisit this policy accordingly.

FAQ’s

Q: If my child did not register with RO for the 21/22 season but would like to attend tryouts, are they required to register with their local association?
A: Yes. All participants must register and pay the RO player registration fee of $52 to be eligible to participant in tryouts and other RO sanctioned events for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Please be advised that RO fees will not be reimbursed if participants register, and they are no longer eligible to participate due to COVID-19 restrictions including change in policy. Association registration or team fees are subject to association refund policies.
 
Q: If my child is unvaccinated, are they eligible to participate in sanctioned Spring Ringette leagues, and summer camps?
A: Yes. Effective April 18th athletes will be eligible to participate in Spring Ringette leagues, camps and spring ice time hosted by associations if registered with Ringette Ontario for the 2021-22 season.
 
Q: Our Association is recruiting for vacant Board of Director seats, are we permitted to accept nominations from volunteers 18+ who are not vaccinated?
A: Yes, but any participant who is not fully vaccinated and chooses to register with Ringette Ontario must understand that, if mandatory vaccinations return, they may become no longer eligible to participate in in-person events.
 
Q: Will try-outs still be required to occur in the fall?
A: Ringette Ontario did not require fall try-outs; however, we have and continue to strongly encourage associations and regions to consider pathways to allow players to return to the sport closer to the competition season. As a reminder, final rosters are not required to Ringette Ontario until November 1st. Ringette Ontario does not support try-outs for any teams or players U12 and under in the spring season.
 
Q: Is masking mandatory?
A: Ringette Ontario strongly encourages the use of a mask by all athletes, officials, coaches, and spectators in an indoor public setting. Masks are not required for athletes and officials on the ice but are strongly recommended for coaches while on the bench.

Posted March 15, 2022

The Rep Director is now accepting applications for A and B level Coaches for the 2022/2023 Ringette Season. The Rep team divisions are as follows: Fun 3, U12, U14, U16, U19, 18+. Coaches are required to hold or attain Coaching Certification. If you have any questions regarding certification please contact our association Technical Director, Meaghan Spykerman.
 
Bring your knowledge and experience of the ‘Fastest Game on Ice’ to our West Ferris Ringette Association players by submitting an application; you will be rewarded through the development of your team over the season both on and off the ice. Our Association has plenty of talent on the ice, and these players are waiting for Coaches to elevate those talents to the next level …. could that Coach be you in the upcoming season?
 
If you are interested in submitting an application, please review our Coaching Appointment and Selection Policy and complete the Coaching Application Form WFRA Rep Coach Application BY March 28, 2022. Any questions can be directed to the WFRA Rep Director, Erin Johns. Interviews will follow for selection.
 
Hope to see you on the bench next season!
 
Erin Johns
WFRA Rep Director

Posted March 15, 2022

Throughout the weekend, North Bay has played host to hundreds of ringette players, coaches, fans, and officials for an end of the season regional championship.
 
The teams come from as far as Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie and even one competitor came all the way from Thunder Bay.
 
“The tournament is going great,” said Sault Ste. Marie Icehawks U10 player Ryleigh Marcellus. “For the final game, we’re not nervous. We beat the same team in the first game.”
 
Originally planned for a 2020 tournament, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the players from lacing up their skates for two years. The games were deeply missed.
 
“We really haven’t been getting out for our tournaments,” explained Sault Ste. Marie Icehawks U10 player Jordyn Macknight-Slater. “Our tournaments have just been getting cancelled.”
 
Since Friday 28 teams from across Northern Ontario took to the ice in a total of 52 round robin matchups before 16 teams advanced to the semi-finals and finals Sunday.

At least 500 fans, players, coaches, and officials travelled to North Bay for the games.
 
“Just like listening to the play, the sound of the skates carve through the ice and hearing the players laugh you can hear that they’re having fun out there,” said tournament organizing committee spokesman Darren Pace.
 
Ringette was first conceptualized in North Bay by Sam Jacks in 1963. The sport has grown for young girls in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.
 
“He would be stuck for words.” Sam’s son Bruce Jacks told CTV News. “The game has been accepted in so many towns and cities and worldwide.”
 
For so many of these players from the age range of 5-9 as they start to get back to playing, it’s their first ringette tournament.
 
“It’s been really fun just hanging out with my friends,” said Sault Ste. Marie Icehawks U10 player Gabriella Nowitski.

There are nine teams in the youngest age division coming from North Bay, Sudbury, Walden, Valley East, Sault Ste. Marie, Iroquois Falls and Timmins.
 
“It’s been months of work but it’s been a few years of anticipation. We couldn’t be happier to have the tournament back here in North Bay, the birthplace of ringette,” concluded Pace.

Eric Taschner
CTVNorthernOntario.ca Videojournalist

Posted March 1, 2022

Dear WFRA Members,
 
As I am sure you are aware today marks a day that the Province has removed a variety of Covid pandemic and vaccine related restrictions that have been implemented until now by the Public Health Unit and the Corporation of the City of North Bay. However Ringette Ontario (RO) has decided it will not at this point make any changes to it’s Covid policy. This means the policy we have been working with since the new year is still in place. This includes the return to play guidelines for members who have tested positive for Covid and the expectation that all members participating in ringette related activities that are 12 years of age and older be vaccinated.
 
As the City is no longer monitoring these restrictions and our volunteer base is limited I am asking everyone to act in good faith and uphold this policy. Please keep in mind this is an RO policy, but that we in WFRA are responsible to live up to this policy as it relates to ringette activities. If we become aware of breaches of this policy we will inform the office of the Executive Director of RO of these breaches so that they may follow up on them as they see fit. If there are questions or concerns related to the expectations outlined in the policy please direct them to the Executive Director at Ringette Ontario.

I hope you are all doing well.
Daren Pace,
President WFRA

Posted February 21, 2022

Hello WFRA Members,
 
It is an exciting time at the WFRA as we plan to host the Northeast Regional Ringette Championships. We are looking for volunteers in the capacity of “Rink Hosts” to assist us in running the event. Games will be at Pete Palangio and West Ferris (Sam Jacks Complex) beginning at 9am on Friday March 11^th and ending on Sunday March 13^th at 4:30pm. The games on Friday and Saturday will end by 8pm.
 
Rink Host Duties include:

• ensuring that teams complete and sign the game sheets
• provide room keys to the teams
• ensure the appropriate score sheet is provided to the score keeper assigned to that game (instructions and schedule will be available at the desk)
• Collect the score sheet at the end of a game and communicate the score to the tournament committee (clear instructions will be provided)
• Communicate with the tournament coordinators if there are any questions or concerns (contact information is available and someone is always available)

Please complete this Volunteer Rink Host form to be contacted to volunteer for this event. We appreciate any time that you can offer.
 
Sincerely,
 
The WFRA Tournament Committee

Posted February 15, 2022

Hello Everyone!
 
With Regionals coming up we are getting started in finding Officials!
 
Below, I’ve attached the minor officials application for this year’s Northeast Regionals Championship, which is being hosted in North Bay from March 11^th to 13^th.
 
The Regionals Championship Tournaments is a good opportunity for anyone wanting to further their experience in officiating, and an amazing learning experience.
 
We will also be hosting a minors officials clinic at the end of February (more information to come). It will be mandatory for those of you that wish to work Regionals.
 
The 2022 NER Championship Application will close February 22^nd.
 
Click Here to Apply Online Now
 
Please reach out if there are any questions or concerns!
 
Thank you!
 
Kyra Barnett
WFRA RIC

Posted January 30, 2022

As I am sure most of you have already seen, Ringette Ontario has given us the green light to get back on the ice this coming Tuesday! To ensure we are communicating the information about arena access in a consistent manner please refer to the City of North Bay Arenas page relating to arena access and numbers. If you have any questions regarding arena access that are not answered by the North Bay Arenas page, please contact the City of North Bay.
 
Darren Pace, President WFRA

Posted January 24, 2022

Hello WFRA Members,
 
As it relates to Covid restrictions we have new information from the Province of Ontario, and the Corporation of the City of North Bay. We are still awaiting final details from our Provincial Sports Organization Ringette Ontario (RO), however I am feeling confident that when the RO Board meets on Saturday they will be allowing us to play. With that in mind I am asking all players, coaches, and officials to be ‘on deck’ and ready to go if they are scheduled for Tuesday February 1st. I should get the final ‘go ahead’ sometime this coming Saturday and will update everyone then but wanted to give everyone the heads up so we are all ready to go!
 
We still need to keep in mind we are under a variety of restrictions including:

• masks must be worn in the arena
• everyone entering the arena who is 12 years of age and older must show their QR code and photo ID to verify their vaccine status to gain access
• both Pete Palangio and West Ferris arena’s are allowing a total of 50 people on each ice surface so we should be good for players, coaches, and officials
• I am told we will have change room access as before
• Spectators are allowed – up to 75 people per side at Pete Palangio Arena and 150 total at West Ferris Arena
• the city made a point of saying players should bring a filled water bottle so I am assuming this means no water access

So let’s all plan to be ready for Tuesday! We will post another message Saturday I hope to confirm we are all good to go. Please keep in mind as we all continue to live the pandemic life this could all change with very little notice, but lets all hang on to our optimism.
 
Darren Pace, President WFRA

Posted January 4, 2022

Hello WFRA members,
 
Over the last several days there has been an influx of information regarding the Covid 19 pandemic, precautions being put in place, and vaccine expectations as it pertains to ringette in North Bay. First off there will be no ringette related activities until after at least January 26, 2022. The Province of Ontario has mandated closure of indoor sports and recreational facilities, which the City of North Bay has enacted. Due to these restrictions Ringette Ontario today announced the suspension of ringette related activities during this time. Secondly as a result of feedback that Ringette Ontario received about their position related to players aged 5-11 needing to be vaccinated by March 14 they have reviewed this policy and will be changing their position in this policy. The new expectation by Ringette Ontario is that all players aged 5-11 will be fully vaccinated by the start of the 2022-2023 season. NOTE: this is the position of Ringette Ontario and the Province of Ontario can set a deadline sooner than this and we, the ringette community, will need to follow that direction.
 
We will continue to communicate with you about how changes in restrictions will impact ringette in North Bay as we become aware of them.
 
I hope you are doing well.
 
Darren Pace, President WFRA

Posted December 30, 2021

Hello WFRA members,
 
We, the Executive of the West Ferris Ringette Association, are continuing to try and ensure we are giving you the most up to date information related to restrictions and limitations we are having to manage related to Covid 19 and its vaccinations. Ringette Ontario (RO), in it’s response to the latest access and expectations regarding Covid vaccination, released a statement outlining the following:
 
All participants of ringette aged 5-11 must be able to show proof of first vaccination by January 31, and proof of second vaccination by March 14, 2022.
 
In the RO statement they have included in their Covid 19 vaccine policy that all participants aged 12 and up must be double vaccinated 14 days before engaging in any RO sanctioned activities. Participants include players, coaches, major and minor officials, volunteers, employees, and contractors.
 
Furthermore, the City of North Bay has advised us that:
 
Beginning January 4, 2022 the only acceptable proof of vaccine (at recreational facilities) will be the QR code on a phone or in paper copy.

QR codes MUST be scanned and ID MUST be shown for entry into a recreational facility. NO QR code MEANS NO ACCESS.
 
As new information is presented to us we will continue to keep open communication with you, our membership.
 
Hope you are doing well.
Darren Pace, President WFRA

Posted December 18, 2021

Hello WFRA members,
 
I am afraid I must send out our regrets and apologies as we need to cancel the Christmas Skate we have scheduled for Sunday December 19, as well as all house league games and multi team practices between now and at least January 3, 2022. Single team practices are still allowed.
 
As you may be aware a new series of covid 19 related restrictions was announced by the Province of Ontario late Friday afternoon. This left the WFRA Executive with a lot of questions as to how this would impact ringette. That was answered this morning (Saturday December 18) when the Ringette Ontario Board of Directors met and has decided that all competitive on ice activities are to be cancelled until January 3rd when they will reassess. At that time they also ‘strongly recommended’ that all ringette activities except for single team practices be cancelled for the same time period. In that communication RO very clearly included all social events, games, multi team practices, and any between association events.
 
Once again I regret to cancel the Christmas Skate and any other ringette activities other than single team practices at this late date. The late afternoon announcement of new restrictions has left us all scrambling. I hope in spite of these new restrictions that you are all doing well and able to have a joyous holiday season.
 
Darren Pace, President WFRA

Posted December 14, 2021

Hello WFRA,
 
There have been recent changes regarding proof of Covid vaccines that will impact arena access for our membership. As of December 20, 2021, in addition to previous proof of vaccine expectations, those players aged 12-17 will now have to show proof of double vaccination as well as ID to enter North Bay arenas. Checks will occur at the front door of each facility. Also the provincial QR code goes into effect in the new year and these will begin to be checked as of January 4, 2022. Please keep in mind these are regulations being put in place by the Province of Ontario that need to be followed by the City and our Association.
 
Please view the North Bay Arenas – Proof of Vaccination Policy for further information.
 
I hope you are doing well.
Darren Pace, President WFRA.

Posted December 12, 2021

At the West Ferris Ringette Association Executive meeting in November it was motioned and carried that WFRA would fully adopt the Ringette Ontario (RO) Safe Sport Policy and Athlete Protection Guideline. These approvals were in keeping with the WFRA Strategic Pathway that has been developed to implement a variety of changes being mandated by RO over the next four years. I strongly encourage everyone to take a look at these documents which will be available on our website, but will put some key points down here.
 
Many of the policy changes that are being implemented relate to the idea of risk management, and are being implemented to mitigate potential risks. In keeping with this idea the Safe Sport Policy and Athlete Protection Guidelines are being put in place to promote a safe sport environment for our athletes. The Safe Sport Policy focuses on how RO and WFRA are dedicated to providing a Safe Sport environment by in part making the Safe Sport principles a guiding focus. These principles were outlined in my last article and can be found in the Safe Sport Policy. The policy reiterates the importance of the already implemented Codes of Conduct for all stakeholders including players, executives, volunteers, coaches, parents, and officials. The Safe Sport Policy acts as a foundational policy to promote safe sport including those mentioned above as well as policies for complaints and investigation, harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, etc.
 
The Athlete Protection Guideline is one of the policy areas mentioned in the Safe Sport Policy. The key focus of this policy relates to those individuals referred to as Persons In Authority. A Person in Authority can be defined as an individual in the association who holds a position of authority including but not limited to coaches, volunteers, executive members, chaperones etc. The purpose of the Guideline is to help support Persons In Authority in ensuring athletes have a safe sport environment. The guideline reviews a number of key concepts related to a Person in Authority including the Rule of 2. To meet the expectation of the Rule of 2 teams or groups of minor athletes must always have a minimum of 2 persons in authority with them. If 2 persons of authority can not be present it is important to have 2 screened parents or other volunteers present. There should be a person in authority of the same gender identity as the athlete present/available. The guideline expands on these generalities to explore the role of Persons in Authority in specific sport related situations including communication, locker rooms, travel, photography, physical contact, as well as activities before and after practices and other events.
 
As families and volunteers we are dedicated to making Ringette a safe sport for all of our athlete’s. Please take some time to review these new policies. As we go forward over the next 4 years we will be implementing RO policies with some regularity and I will continue to update you, our membership, as we move forward.

Posted December 7, 2021

The WFRA is having its mid-season Come Try Ringette For Free event on Saturday, December 11, from 1pm – 2pm, at the Pete Palangio Arena. The event is for age 4+, and to ensure there is enough equipment for everyone, please register before hand using our Ramp registration tool, although registration will also be available at the arena on the day of the event.
 
Come fall in love with the game of Ringette; it’s never too late to register for the season.

Posted December 2, 2021

The Northeast Regional Ringette Championships are just around the corner, and everyone is getting excited! Accommodations are available for booking now, so please see the list of participating businesses below, and book now! Don’t forget to mention you’re here for ringette when you book with these participating hotels! Select a hotel for directions and bookings.

$144.99/night Book by Feb 10

$135 – $155 /night LAKESHORE Book by Feb 10

$139/night O’BRIEN Book by Feb 10

$164.99/night Book by Jan 15

$114.99/night Book by Feb 25

$129.99/night Book by Feb 10

$130.99/night Book by Feb 10

Posted December 03, 2021

As we see increased social, political, and legal changes in our corner of the world we can see how this trickles down to the level of the Local Sports Organization (LSO). Since my start as President it has become very clear that there are many of these pressures prompting change at the National Sports Organization (NSO) level with Ringette Canada (RC), and the Provincial Sports Organization (PSO) level with Ringette Ontario (RO). These changes of course lead to us needing to change at the LSO level as WFRA. What I am trying to do with this document is take those parts of the Strategic Planning process that other organizations have done that impact us and create what I am calling a Strategic Pathway that allows us to have a plan. As a volunteer driven and run organization, WFRA has limited resources to manage these large scale changes so we need to be very diligent in our planning to deal with the strategic imperatives that RC and RO have decreed we implement.
 
The most common way to do a Strategic Planning exercise is to gather a representative group of executive members, volunteers, consumer parents, consumer athletes, and community partners and complete a Visioning exercise to create a Mission, Vision, and Values that then are used to lead and steer the organization for a determined period of time. However, we are going to have to do ours a bit differently because of the number of things we do every day as a LSO that are outside of our scope of power and influence. I do plan on doing such an exercise in the future but felt it was important to start out by declaring that which we already know about the direction we need to go before we articulate the areas that WFRA has influence over as an LSO and what direction we want to take with those items. With this in mind I will start things off by giving you some of the ‘strategic background’.

 
As the RC Mission, Vision and Values make mention of the True Sport principles I have decided to include those here as well.

 
Now I will introduce the RO Vision, Mission, and Values. As you look at this you can see how the RC and RO versions compare and contrast.

 
Now I will add what I have found so far in terms of the WFRA Mission and Mandate.

 
A final piece of the strategic background I want to add relates to Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD). This I find is a difficult topic to truly summarize but with some help I found the following summary on the Sport For Life website. The Sport4Life website is full of useful details regarding LTAD and I encourage everyone who has not already explored this to do so.
 

 
Ok, so you can now see the strategic background as it relates to RC, RO, and WFRA. Now I think we have enough to move forward in terms of describing the Strategic Pathway. The Strategic Pathway that the WFRA Executive has been planning will encompass a variety of policies, processes, and expectations given to us by RO to implement over the next four years. We have a rough outline developed so far and once a well edited and formatted document is available we will share that with the membership. For today I just wanted to share some of the ‘big picture’ concepts related to the overall Pathway to set the stage for the items we will be implementing in the coming months and years.

Darren Pace, President WFRA

Posted November 27, 2021

Dear WFRA members,
 
I am reaching out to you today as we need YOUR help.
 
We are thrilled to be running the Northeastern Ontario Regional Tournament here in North Bay this coming March 11-13. Since our Tournament Director had to step down for personal reasons, we are calling on members to take on this leadership role. If you’re interested in either a leadership or support role, or just want to find out more about it, please reach out!
 
Our RAMP registration system will make the tournament coordonation easier than ever for teams to sign themselves up, for planning the games and for keeping score. This will be a team effort – there will be lots of help! Please consider this opportunity and feel free to reach out to me.
 
For those who have teens looking for some volunteer hours, we would love to hear from them. Their experience of going to tournaments can help make ours a tournament to remember!
 
I hope you are all doing well.
 
Darren Pace, President WFRA

Updated November 23, 2021

The Parade was a great success, with thousands lining the streets to enjoy the show this year. The WFRA would like to thank all our parade participants for making it a wonderful way to open the Christmas Season!
———
The North Bay Santa Claus Parade is happening on November 21 this year, and the theme is a Christmas Reboot.
 
The West Ferris Ringette Association will be there with bells on, and we hope you can come too. If you would like to join us and show your WFRA colours, you can find us at our meeting point, D-5 (Chippewa and High Street) at 11:30am.

There will be Parade Marshals there to assist everyone, and there will also be busses available to return participants back to Memorial Gardens.
 
A few pro-tips:

• DRESS WARM
• Wear your WFRA gear or team uniform
• Bring a road ringette stick (save your ice stick for the ice)
• Wear appropriate footwear for walking

Please contact us anytime if you have questions, and visit the City of North Bay Santa Claus Parade page for more information.
 
Thank you,
Marc Desroches
WFRA Ice Director

Posted October 25, 2021

Hello U19/Open Division players!
 
Every month WFRA will be hosting a competitive night for players in this division who want to get out there and leave it all on the ice!

• When? Thursday, October 28. 8:15pm-9:10pm
• Where? Pete Palangio Arena
• How? In order to play you must pre-register to be placed on a team.

We have to cap it at 30 players so please do not register if you are not intending on playing. We will be providing pinnies for the teams that evening. To register, we’ve created a workaround to include this optional event:

1. Sign in on the RAMP Registration platform (remember that this username and password may be different than that used for the RAMP Team App).
2. Select Clinic Registration:



3. Choose the “Clinic” (which is really our Competitive night) and continue to fill out relevant info until the last screen.
4. Click “Submit.”

Thank you,
 
Erin and the WFRA

Posted October 22, 2021

Since taking on the role of President of the West Ferris Ringette Association (WFRA) I have on more than one occasion begun to think about the culture of Ringette. What has the culture been, what is it now, and where does it need to go? I’ve taken a look at the Mission, Vision and Values of our leading organizations. This includes Ringette Canada, Ringette Ontario, the WFRA, Sport For Life, and True Sport. Many interesting points come out but none of them really articulate what I ‘see’ and what I hear others talk about. In the following post I will try and describe what Ringette means as a sport, to friendship, to family, and to our community at large.
 
Ringette is a great sport. I myself have two kids who have played in it for several years, my wife has been involved in the leadership of the sport almost from the time our kids got involved, and I myself have now stepped up to try and support the sport. Full disclosure, I am legally blind. My vision has slowly deteriorated over the last 30 or so years and I only mention it here as it tends to impact on how I describe my world. My early memories of Ringette were very visual. Watching our daughters as they learned to skate, as they picked up the fundamentals, as they slowly and consistently got better and better at the sport. As their skating got better the sport got faster and faster. It has been a joy to watch our kids develop. Each of the players is so unique. At one point I could tell who I was watching just by the way they moved when they skated. As time went on my enjoyment moved from the sights of the game to the sounds. Hearing the sounds of their skates crunching the ice as they would go from full stop to full speed then back again. Thank you power skating! The sound of a wicked stick check. Most importantly though was the laughter. Hearing the players laugh and shout as they played. Such wonderfully unbridled joy. That laughter symbolizing the essence of the development of their friendships.
 
We are a small community, the family of Ringette. Many kids join up before the age of ten and then they stay with that age cohort as they grow and develop. My one daughter is 20 now, and one of her best friends continues to be a player she first met when she was maybe ten. These friendships don’t just impact the players; the Ringette family transcends formal relationships. As my daughters have built relationships on their teams as they journeyed through Ringette so have my wife and I. Some are casual relationships, others are much closer. These relationships bring a lot of fun to our lives, occasional frustration, and sometimes even loss. I still find myself thinking of Ian more days than not. Sitting in the stands, waiting for the Zamboni to finally get off the ice so our daughters can get on and play. Sipping a coffee, talking about Ringette, family and life in general. Sorry for the inside reference, those who knew Ian know what I mean.
 
Ringette is a part of our family. A family that at times does not have clear boundaries. My kids got used to my disability, and honestly so did many of their friends. They make ‘blind guy’ jokes in the changeroom I am told. They and their friends find it equally amusing as players who don’t know me, and my relationship to the jokers, try and decide if they should be offended on my behalf. At times we become parents of a collective rather than a single family unit. A common theme at tournaments is the process of ‘family hopping’ as players leave one family group to join another for a specific outing; that unique experience walking into your hotel room at a tournament to find a room full of players and realizing none of them are yours.
 
Ringette is family oriented and family driven. All of the local people involved in the running of WFRA are part of the Ringette family in some way. Almost every volunteer is a current parent, current player, or past player. Without this family of volunteers there is no WFRA. Unfortunately our family of volunteers is shrinking. Our Executive Board has a variety of positions, and currently some are vacant. One notable empty space is House League Director, where we have managed to MacGyver a working group together of four key people who already have roles with the executive as well as roles as bench staff of various teams (Thank you again Meaghan, Erin, Marc and Kelli!). WFRA is scheduled to host the Northeastern Ontario Regional Tournament this year, the weekend of March 11-13, and we are without a Tournament Director to lead this process. We have had some success recruiting coaches and other volunteers to help with House League and Rep teams at most age levels, but we still have some notable gaps. Volunteering with WFRA can be a lot of work at times, but it can also be rewarding. Doing new things and meeting new people can be a lot of fun (seriously). Yes, there are some hurdles to jump to be a volunteer. To formally volunteer you need a Criminal Background Check. If you work with kids you also need the Vulnerable Sector Check. To coach you need to obtain certain certifications. However, once you have done these things you have the chance to lead, mentor, and guide the direction of WFRA and it’s players.
 
I have been interchanging the words ‘our kids’ and ‘our daughters’. I do this for a few reasons. When I say ‘our’ I am not referring to Kelli and my kids, I am referring to ‘our’ kids; that collective I mentioned. I interchange ‘kids’ and daughters because of what I see as Ringette’s history, it’s present, and it’s future. I have been a Mental Health Nurse for a long time now and have heard many stories of suffering. What I have seen in Ringette is a safe space for girls and women to be themselves and explore the world of recreational and competitive sport in that safe space. Our present includes the recent implementation of Ringette Ontario’s Trans Inclusion Policy. This policy goes beyond just Trans athlete inclusion and I feel continues the process of making Ringette a safe space for those who can benefit from that safe space. That safe space is now inclusive more specifically to our LGBTQ2S players and volunteers. The policy also opens the door in a more clear fashion to include players into girls, boys, or mixed teams. There are more steps that need to occur in this evolution of the sport, but the opportunities are here. Directions like this help identify and evolve the sense of community within the sport. Our Ringette community is a part of a larger community and region. Our local community has been quite supportive over the years with sponsorships, and a variety of fundraisers that help support our ability to provide our programs. We have goals to continue to expand on how we engage and interact with our community and region, but our current volunteer base can only do so much.
 
I hope we can all take a moment to consider what I wrote here today. Ringette is a great sport that continues to evolve. With increasing pressure from Ringette Ontario to adopt a wide variety of new policies and practices to be considered a Quality Ringette Program we need the support of our players and their families to continue to implement these changes and continue to provide the programming we currently offer, let alone to expand upon it. WFRA is a volunteer-led and run organization. Without continued support from our volunteers we can not provide our programming. I thank all of you who have volunteered in the past, or are currently volunteering. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please reach out to anyone on the Executive Board, we are all happy to discuss this topic.
 
Sincerely.
 
Darren Pace, WFRA President

Posted October 15, 2021

‘The Ringette Ontario High-Performance AAA Program is a competitive program that provides players with exposure to high level development opportunities as well as the best high-performance coaching in Ontario. The HP AAA Program allows Ringette Ontario selected coaches, including the Team Ontario bench staff, to identify and develop Ontario’s most gifted young ringette players, to encourage and motivate them to play for their province and to provide them with the opportunities to measure and refine their skills at the top-level competitions.’
 
Click here for more information regarding the high-performance program.

Posted September 22, 2021

Are you interested in taking your game to the next level?
 
The WFRA Association is pleased to bring back our competitive program for this season.
 
The WFRA has appointed the following head coaches:
U12 – Marc Desroches
U19A – Richard Michauville
18+A – Denis Sevigny
 
We are still accepting applicants for U14 and U16. If you are interested in coaching a team, please complete the following application form.
 
All Ringette Ontario sanctioned events are set to begin in January 2022. This means official tournaments arranged by Ringette Ontario.
 
The fall is considered the preparation phase, where teams can begin to condition and practice together, including having exhibition games and festivals with other teams as per Public Health Unit and Ringette Ontario guidelines.
 
WFRA has booked ice times in the month of September and October where players who are interested in playing competitively this season can attend and learn more about what it is all about.
 
The cost for each ice time is $10 per player payable in cash when you arrive.
 
Players/coaches/volunteers must complete the Covid 19 daily attestation form prior to entering the arena.
 
Here are the ice times for those interested in playing on a rep team;
 
U12 – Thursday September 23 @ 6:15 – Pete Palangio Arena
U12 – Saturday September 25 @ 1:00 – Pete Palangio Arena
 
U14 – Saturday September 18 @ 1:00 – Pete Palangio Arena
U14 – Saturday September 25 @ 2:00 – Pete Palangio Arena
 
U16 – Saturday September 18 @ 2:00 – Pete Palangio Arena
U16 – Saturday September 25 @ 3:00 – Pete Palangio Arena
 
Tryouts
U19A – Saturday October 2@ 2:00 – Pete Palangio Arena
18+ A – Saturday October 3 @ 4:00 – West Ferris Arena
 
Please contact us if you have any questions.
 
Thank you,
WFRA

Posted September 22, 2021

Hi West Ferris Ringette Association Members!
 
The 2021-2022 house league season is on it’s way and the West Ferris Ringette Association is looking for interested members in becoming a head coach, assistant coach, on ice instructor or would like to assist with managing a house league team. The association relies on volunteers and coaches for a successful season.
 
If you are interested in helping out with the 2021-2022 house league season please complete this form.
 
If you are interested in coaching but would like more information, please contact us here.
 
House League coaches are required to complete the below throughout the season:

• Completed the Coach Initiation in Sport Online Module
• Making Headway eLearning Module
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders
• Sign the Bench Staff Code of Conduct
• A recent Vulnerable Sectors Check within the last three years. (if you do not have a current one a link will be provided to you for one to be completed by Sterling Back Check)

On Ice Assistants are required to complete the below throughout the season:

• Coach Initiation in Sport Online Module
• Making Head Way eLearning Module
• A recent Vulnerable Sectors Check within the last three years. (if you do not have a current one a link will be provided to you for one to be completed by Sterling Back Check)

All required courses are completed online and all cost associated with the courses will be reimbursed by the West Ferris Ringette Association.
 
Here are links to the Ringette Ontario requirements and qualifications needed:
House League Coach Requirements
On Ice Assistant Requirements
 
If you are under 18 and are interested in assisting with House League please let me know and I will help you find a team to help coach this year.
 
Thank you,
 
Meaghan Spykerman
West Ferris Technical Director

Posted September 10, 2021

Players registered with WFRA must make the request, be evaluated and approved to play in a division above or below their age group. As per the WFRA House League Policy, players and coaches can make the request and the process of player movement will be followed accordingly. There are many factors that are considered when assessing player movement including (but not limited to); age, experience, division combinations, skill level, and impact the movement will have on the milieu. Players must attend and be evaluated in the division that corresponds with their age.
 
We understand that there may be some confusion with the process of player movement, based some of the player movements that did occur last season, which was when we were operating under “exceptional circumstances” due to the Covid 19 restrictions and the return to play guidelines.
 
Please be aware that there may be divisions that are combined which may limit player movement opportunities for some players. Answers and approvals will be completed by the end of September. Please be patient while we work through all the of the requests.
 
Please complete the player movement request form by September 20th and include any questions or comments within that.
 
Sincerely,
WFRA

Posted August 26, 2021

The WFRA is asking to please return borrowed equipment from the 2020/2021 season:

 
We are also asking for any donations for the equipment loan program. Specifically, we are in need of equipment bags, girdles, and gloves. *Please note that new equipment loans will be done at another date. Questions or comments are welcome.

Posted July 22, 2021

As we move forward with Stage 3 of re-opening and returning to competitive sport, the WFRA intends on running the rep program for the 2021/2022 season. We are currently working with Ringette Ontario to plan for this season and will be able to provide updates as they are known.
 
To assist with the planning, we are asking ALL players interested in trying out for and playing on a rep team for the 2021-2022 season to complete the WFRA Rep Program Interest Survey
 
It will take only a few minutes, but will be very helpful as we look ahead and prepare for our next season.
 
We are very excited to get back on the ice and look forward to returning to competitive play. Click here to take the survey now.
 
Thank you in advance,
 
Erin Johns
Rep Director

Posted July 22, 2021

Our Association has plenty of talent on the ice and these players are waiting for Coaches to elevate those talents to the next level… could that Coach be you in the upcoming season?
 
The Rep Team Director is now accepting applications for A and B level Coaches for the 2021-2022 Ringette Season. The Rep team divisions are as follows: U10, U12, U14, U16, U19, 18+. Coaches are required to hold or attain Coaching Certification; if you have any questions regarding certification please contact us
 
Bring your knowledge and experience of the ‘Fastest Game on Ice’ to our West Ferris Ringette Association players by submitting an application. You will be rewarded through the development of your team over the season, both on and off the ice.
 
If you are interested in submitting an application, please review the coaching policy and application by clicking here, and complete the Coaching Application Form BY AUGUST 10, 2021.
 
Any questions can be directed here
 
Hope to see you on the bench next season!
 
Erin Johns
WFRA Rep Director

Posted July 12, 2021

We Want To Hear From You!
 
We’ve secured Summer Ice time for scrimmages and conditioning. We want to hear from you, our membership, on preference for ice times during the month of August. Please fill in this quick 30 second survey and help us select ice times that work for the majority.
 
Take the Survey Now – Click Here

Posted July 6, 2021

We are excited to open registration for the 2021-2022 season! We know that this season will look different, but we continue to work with Ringette Ontario, City of North Bay and Public Health authorities on a plan to return to the ice this season.
 
More than any other year, it’s important that we get a sense of how many players we will have this season. We are asking that players register online using RAMP. Similar to last year, should the season look different than usual, West Ferris Ringette Association will provide refunds to align with costs associated to the season.
 
Register by August 31st, 2021 and receive $25 OFF! (not included for 1st Time Player Registration)
 
Visit our Registration Information page.
 

Posted July 1, 2021

Ringette Canada would like to invite ringette parents and guardians to attend an educational training session regarding Gender Diversity in Ringette on July 7th from 7-9pm EDT. This session will be bilingual.
 
Ringette Canada recently updated its Transgender Inclusion Policy to allow trans athletes to play on a team that corresponds with either their gender identity or their sex assigned at birth. The changes also make options more explicit for non-binary players who can participate on a team of their choice (male, female or mixed).
 
For many, transgender issues in sport are new territory. Concepts related to gender diversity may feel overwhelming or confusing. Ringette Canada is committed to providing education and resources to support the understanding and practical application of this updated policy.
 
This interactive and engaging session will be lead by Kai Scott from TransFocus Inc with support from Ringette Canada.
 
Topics will include:

• Introduction to terms and concepts related to gender diversity;
• Insights into the unique and often invisible challenges and barriers faced by transgender and non-binary people;
• Information about the recent changes to Ringette Canada’s policy;
• Practical consideration related to privacy, how to respond to concerns, change rooms and registration forms;
• How to respectfully interact with transgender people (i.e. how misgendering happens, how to recover from mistakes, how to obtain pronouns, gender inclusive language, etc.)

Please note, webinars will be recorded and shared on the Ringette Canada website as a resource in the event you are unable to make it.
 
Pre-registration is required by 3:00pm EDT July 6th. Pre-registration can be found at the link below:
 
Zoom Meeting Registration
 
The link to the session will be emailed to you on the day of the session.
 
Any questions or concerns can be directed to Ringette Canada’s Safe Sport and Sport Development Manager at erin@ringette.ca.

Posted May 25, 2021

The Ringette Ontario High-Performance AAA Program is a competitive program that provides players with exposure to high level development opportunities as well as the best high-performance coaching in Ontario. The HP AAA Program allows Ringette Ontario selected coaches, including the Team Ontario bench staff, to identify and develop Ontario’s most gifted young ringette players, to encourage and motivate them to play for their province and to provide them with the opportunities to measure and refine their skills at the top-level competitions. These competitions may include the Ontario Winter Games (U19) and Canada Winter Games (U20), as well as potential future opportunities within the NRL, the Junior National Team and Senior National Team Programs.
 
Apply Now
 
Ringette Ontario will:

• Fully operate the High-Performance Ringette program in Ontario
• Will be responsible for ensuring that coaches and athletes are executing the HP Program according to the outlined set standards
• Select Coaching staff
• Evaluate and select athletes for up to six (6) teams of eighteen (18) athletes that will compete at the 2022 Ontario Winter Games (OWG) and up to five (5) development teams that will attend the High-Performance Development Camps

*Note – number of athletes participating in the OWG’s has not been confirmed by the organizers at this time.
 
The HP Program development and administration will be led by the Ringette Ontario Technical Director and supported by additional part time staff, hired by Ringette Ontario.
 
All Selected Athletes will receive:

• Coaching from selected high-performance coaches
• 2-3 in-person Development/Challenge Cup camps
• Access to virtual training content
• Sessions led by sport professionals
• Sport Psychology
• Mental Training
• Nutrition
• Physical Training

For eligibility and further details, please visit the Ringette Ontario High Performance Program page.

Posted May 25, 2021

Sport North Bay is looking to financially sponsor three (3) coaches, [35 years of age or younger], to attend the Northern Ontario Coaching Summit at Canadore College, October 2-3, 2021.
 
In order to determine interested applicants, we are asking all potential coaches to complete the following and submit your answers to Sport North Bay’s email: info@sportnorthbay.ca by Tuesday, June 15th, 2021:

1. Please review the information promoting the Northern Ontario Coaching Summit being held at Canadore College on October 2-3, 2021. The links are:
    
   https://improveyourcoaching.ca/summit2021/
   https://improveyourcoaching.ca/summit-schedule-2021/
    
2. Please provide Sport North Bay with the answers to the following questions so that Sport North Bay may gain an insight into your interest and coaching experience:
   • How long have you been coaching?
   • What attracted/inspired you to become involved in the coaching field?
   • Are you a secondary school student, a post secondary student, or working in a career? (education, health care, business, service, other)
   • Why do you feel that you would benefit from attending this conference?
   • How could you use the experience and knowledge gained from this summit in your personal coaching in the North Bay area over the next several years?
   • What other coaching, training and/or certificates have you previously obtained?
   • Would you be willing to attend a Sport North Bay meeting following the summit and share a brief summary of your conference experience?

    
   Your Name:
    
   Email:
    
   Contact number: