On Tuesday, January 2, Ottawa made sporting history by hosting the first game of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) on Canadian soil. A sense of inspiration was in the air as viewers eagerly watched PWHL Ottawa play Montreal at TD Place. It was the dawning of a new era of inclusivity in sports.
PWHL Ottawa’s Head Coach, Carla MacLeod, led her team through this historic game. An impressive athlete in her own right, Coach MacLeod started playing hockey in 1986 in her home province of Alberta. She has had a prolific career both as a player and a coach. Her career highlights include representing Canada at two Olympic Winter Games (2006 and 2010), helping the Japanese Women’s National Team qualify for the 2014 Olympics and being hired as the first ever female coach in the Czech National Women’s Team program in 2022. Coach MacLeod now calls Ottawa home after becoming the first Head Coach of the PWHL Ottawa franchise.
On Friday, March 8, Coach MacLeod will sit down with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for an armchair discussion in celebration of International Women’s Day. This year’s theme of #InspireInclusion is fitting; the establishment of the PWHL is another step forward in ensuring that women and girls have the opportunity to make a living by playing the sports that they love.
When asked about the positive impact of the PWHL on inclusivity in both the sport and our community, Coach MacLeod said:
“The PWHL has elevated our sport to a level many of us have dreamt about for decades. The road to this point has been a long one built by incredible people who have always known that not only did women deserve this opportunity, but also that the game would be valued by sports fans. And boy, were they right. The support and enthusiasm provided to our team here in Ottawa, from the beginning, has been incredible! Providing opportunity is at the crux of inclusion, and our league and Ottawa have done this to a level that has been unparalleled. We are grateful, our fans are loud and we love it!”
If you are interested in viewing this discussion, you can tune into Rogers tv 22 during the following broadcasting times:
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Friday, March 8 at 8 am – Live
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Friday, March 8 at 10 pm – Rebroadcast
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Saturday March 9 at noon – Rebroadcast
This discussion will also be available for viewing online at Rogerstv.com/womensday2024.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.