Gender identity training part of pre-season at Kitchener Minor Hockey

Coaches and trainers with the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association have started taking an online gender identity and gender expression program as the coming season approaches.

All minor hockey associations across the province are required to complete two modules offered by Hockey Canada and the Ontario Hockey Association, a move prompted after a transgendered hockey player from Oshawa was mistreated and forced to use a separate change room from the team.

Jesse Thompson of Oshawa filed a human rights case in 2013, which prompted a change to a dressing room policy which allowed any player who identifies as trans to dress in their corresponding room.

Two modules

Rolland Cyr, General Manager of the Kitchener Minor Hockey Association has completed the two online modules provided.

Cyr told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo the first module focuses on gender fluidity, gender stereotypes and training around gender identification. The second module is more hockey-centric and looks at how gender identity relates to the sport.

"It's providing a base level, should somebody start to gender identify, should the topic of conversation come up within the youth in the room. It provides [coaches and trainers] for a basis for response."

• Windsor minor hockey embracing new course on gender identity sensitivity training
• 'It's evolution. It's bound to come': Ontario minor hockey members take transgender training

Coaches and trainers have to complete the module by October 1.