OHL program teaching respect for women pioneered by Kitchener Rangers

The Kitchener Rangers have formally introduced a respect for women program, called OHL Onside, which they pilot-tested earlier this year and that was launched league-wide this week. 

The program was developed with significant input from Stephen Soucie, the male allies program coordinator at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC).

• Kitchener Rangers to pilot sexual assault program

"This program looks to engage OHL players as leaders in the community and in their schools," Soucie told The Morning Edition host Craig Norris in an interview Friday on CBC K-W.

"We want to encourage them to reflect on their attitudes and behaviours and think about the ways in which they can promote healthy versions of masculinity and stand up and speak out as role models in promoting respect for women."

The SASC worked with the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) in Peterborough to develop the curriculum. The program is mandatory for all players and team staff, and takes about two hours.

Soucie says the key to program is in the approach.

"We don't go in and blame and shame and say you shouldn't do this and you shouldn't do that, we don't approach them as potential perpetrators, we approach them as potential leaders," he said.

What it means to be a man

"We go in and we say, you know, the dominant narrative of what it means to be a man limits all of us and we can work to redefine that. And working to redefine that will improve men's lives and it will also improve women's lives," said Soucie.

The program grew out of a training session the KSAC did for the Peterbourough Petes in 2014. The Kitchener Rangers, along with the Erie Otters, piloted the program earlier this year before the league-wide launch this week.

"We get them to buy in by first doing some critical introspection and examining their own attitudes and then reflecting on how they can then go out into the community and model those positive and healthy attitudes," said Soucie.

"I think it's a very necessary program for all of society and why wouldn't you want to be involved in this?" said Kitchener Rangers general manager Murray Hiebert. "So if our kids could be seen as leaders in any of these kinds of initiatives, I think it's all very, very positive for both our players but also the community."

The program joins other social issues training the OHL already does, including training on mental health awareness, drug awareness, and health and safety. 

The Rangers scheduled their ceremonial puck-drop Friday night to promote Onside, and created a kiosk at the Aud for fans to learn more about the program.