It’s a bogus accusation of inequity, say the North Toronto Hockey Association (NTHA) and the North Toronto Arena, that is neither fair nor accurate.
On Nov. 11 it was widely reported that the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey League (TLGHL) was accusing the City of Toronto and local rinks of discrimination over ice access. The 900-member league threatened to launch a human rights complaint in a letter to Mayor David Miller, who agreed that girls are not getting enough ice time at North Toronto, Forest Hill and Leaside rinks.
Ron Baker, president of the TLGHL, has 210 female youth players that live in North Toronto and says that they have been shut out of its arena.
“What’s interesting about the North Toronto Arena board is how they understand their mandate,” said Ron Baker, president of the TLGHL. “They believe they are serving their community by working with two established user groups: hockey and figure skating. But anyone who wants to play girls-only hockey can’t play there.”
Gord Thompson, chair of the North Toronto Arena board vehemently disagrees.
“Overall, what we’re doing is fair and equitable,” he said.“The bottom line is that ice is really short and Leaside is trying to displace our figure skaters. North Toronto is getting 30 per cent of their ice from us. They just want their girls to be closer to home, whereas our boys go all over the city.”
The debate spun the media into a gender equality frenzy and the NTHA, North Toronto Arena and Coun. Karen Stintz responded by issuing press releases on their websites.
“This is not a gender issue, ” Stintz said. “It was really crazy and not necessary, the fact that the issue became so inflammatory.”
Stintz said it comes down to space and that the City should play on the same team as arena boards to solve this problem.