AHA is a Program of African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO)
African Hockey Association is a Program African Canadian Association of Ottawa (ACAO)
How it all started
A lot of Ottawa’s youth don’t even consider Hockey as an option due to the great incurring costs which include ice time, equipment costs, and paying for coaches to name a few. AHA was made possible through generous monetary and volunteer contributions. Most notably, ice time and free equipment were provided with the help of Steve Leon – District Business Manager at Merck Pharmaceuticals. Steve came to ACAO with the idea and as soon as we said yes, he hit the ground running. That is the power of allyship. The story of AHA cannot be told without Steve Leon, who started it all.
As the program evolves, we aim to be a catalyst in driving more inclusion in the sport, with a focus on visible minorities.
“It’s important to be around people that look like you during hockey”
Because there are not many racialized people playing hockey, as opposed to other sports like basketball, and soccer. This program aims to garner more interest in the community for parents to enroll their children, with a long-term goal of increasing diversity, and inclusion in the sport as a whole.
The Only Barriers Should Be Glass
Even though ice hockey is recognized as Canada’s national winter sport, many marginalized youths still face challenges when it comes to participating. Financial barriers and racial discrimination are a few reasons preventing some of our youth from playing the sport. That’s why the African Hockey Association is dedicated to providing a safe environment for kids in the Ottawa area to learn and participate in Canada’s national winter sport without fear of discrimination
Have Your Kids Enroll Today!