Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
In October 2021, Hockey Alberta created a Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to review and build recommendations with respect to addressing racism in hockey and making the sport more diverse and inclusive for all Albertans. The task force has now been instated as a full-time committee of Hockey Alberta. The committee will focus on creating opportunities to:
- Promote a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion while balancing the spirit of the game.
- Review current environmental and societal trends and their possible relationship to amateur hockey, and advise on potential solutions and next steps to help mitigate or support the trends.
- Identify best practices to ensure the experience within hockey is equitable, inclusive, safe and fun.
- Review, understand and highlight the experiences of players related to inclusion including factors that contribute to negative experience, prejudices, and feelings of exclusion (i.e.; discrimination, racism, harassment, bullying etc.).
- Establish an implementation plan to educate and inform associations, teams, coaches and parents about concepts, processes and best practices related to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Hockey Alberta’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Survey
In 2022, Hockey Alberta’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee undertook an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Survey.
The purpose of the survey was to better understand the experiences in hockey of as many current and former players, coaches, family members, and other participants and stakeholders as possible. Hockey Alberta wanted to gather feedback on hockey experiences, learn about what can be improved, and collect recommendations that could be implemented to improve the game.
The survey was built to gain perspectives of those in the game, those that may have left the game and those that were reluctant or unable to participate in the game due to a lack of inclusion. This information provided important data, feedback and recommendations to better understand the current environment and use the findings to make the sport more inclusive.
EDI Survey Summary of Results >
EDI Survey Infographic Report >
Anton Joseph - CalgaryCommittee ChairAnton Joseph is an accomplished executive and community leader with experience in advancing equity, inclusion, and organizational transformation across Alberta. As Chair of Hockey Alberta’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, he leads the strategic direction and governance of initiatives that promote safety, accessibility, and belonging for more than 100,000 participants province wide. Anton also serves as Executive Director and CEO of IDEA Advocacy Group, a national consultancy specializing in organizational change and inclusive leadership. Currently completing his Doctor of Education in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice and holding an MBA specializing in Innovation and Change Management, Anton brings a disciplined, collaborative, and forward-thinking approach to strengthening culture and community across the sport. |
Sanjeev Bhagrath - EdmontonSanjeev has been a hockey official for more than 25 years, working as a referee in U-Sport, College, and the AJHL. He is a Level 5 official who has worked as an instructor, supervisor and mentor to younger officials, and volunteered with North Region officials. Officiating has provided Sanjeev with great opportunities and experiences, including working league finals and making lifelong friends. But during his career as an official, he has encountered many forms of racism from players, coaches and fans at all levels of hockey. In the summer of 2020, he spoke out against the racism that he has encountered, pointing out that hockey is not immune from this. Shortly after speaking out, Sanjeev created the Officials’ Diversity Committee to foster diversity, inclusivity, and equality in the game of hockey. The committee’s slogan is “making the call on equality”. |
Devin Buffalo - WetaskiwinDevin is from Samson Cree Nation, and played junior hockey in Flin Flon, Manitoba, and for the Drumheller Dragons in the AJHL. After his junior hockey career concluded, he played four years at Dartmouth College followed by various teams in the ECHL. Devin is now a law student at the University of Alberta, and he is committed to making real change in hockey at the grassroots and league levels. His passion project is Waniska Athletics, which consists of motivational speaking, and goalie camps with a goal to motivate Indigenous youth to raise the bar for themselves. |
Sameena Siddiqui - CalgarySameena Siddiqui is a hockey leader with deep roots in Alberta’s hockey community, dedicated to advancing inclusive policies that help ensure the sport is a welcoming space for participants at every level. A lifelong hockey participant, Sameena grew up playing co-ed hockey before continuing her playing career in the Southern Alberta Women’s Hockey League. She is currently in her fifth season on the Ice Crew for the Calgary Flames, Wranglers, and Hitmen, supporting professional-level game operations, and is a recipient of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Scholarship. She has also coached youth hockey with Girls Hockey Calgary, with a focus on building confidence and belonging through sport. While studying in Los Angeles, she was involved as a coach and mentor with the Empowerment Effect, where she helped reduce barriers to sport participation and support access to hockey for girls from underrepresented communities. More recently, her involvement with the emerging Pakistan Women’s National Ice Hockey Team reflects her belief in the importance of global representation for women in sport. Her commitment to equity in hockey has been shaped by lived experiences and a strong belief that representation is essential to the growth of the game. Sameena holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary and is pursuing law, with long-term aspirations to work for the NHL. |
Angela (Ange) Epp (Burke) - CalgaryHailing from Whitehorse, Yukon, on the traditional lands of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Ange grew up playing predominantly boys’ minor hockey. She represented Team Yukon Women’s hockey at the Arctic Winter Games (2006, 2008, 2010) and the Canada Winter Games (2009). Her hockey career includes playing for the University of Lethbridge Women’s Hockey team from 2010-2015 and being drafted into the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) in 2017. As a member of the invisible disabilities community, Ange lives with multiple lifelong mental health conditions, including PTSD stemming from maltreatment in hockey environments. These experiences inspire her commitment to educating others about trauma-informed practices, promoting understanding of mental health, and preventing maltreatment. Ange is a master’s-level graduate student in her final year of the School & Applied Child Psychology program at the University of Calgary. With her lived experiences and growing expertise, she is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in hockey and beyond. Ange continues to play in the Southern Alberta Women’s Hockey Association (SAWHA) tier-one division, where her love for the sport remains strong as she advocates for meaningful change. |
Chanel Hykaway - CalgaryGraduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Arts degree – Sociology, with a concentration in Structured Inequality. She is a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. She played for the inaugural Mount Royal University Female Cougars hockey team and for the University of Calgary Dinos. When she is not at the rink coaching hockey, she working away at a book about memory. |
Sunpreet (Sunny) Singh Johal - EdmontonSunny Johal is a passionate advocate for social justice and inclusion, with a strong focus on combating hate crimes and advancing anti-racism across Alberta. He has led numerous community initiatives promoting education, allyship, and resilience in the face of hate, working collaboratively to create safer and more inclusive spaces across the province. His dedication to equity earned him the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Leaders Award and the Human Rights Award from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. Recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30 by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation, Sunny brings a deep commitment to community building, empathy, and equity to Hockey Alberta’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. |
Jamie Keeley - CalgaryJamie Keeley is an experienced leader and coach with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. With over 22 years in learning and development, Jamie has led global training initiatives and created programs that promote inclusive environments in both corporate and community settings. Jamie’s commitment to EDI is most evident in the creation of a Female Coach Development Program in the Fall of 2022. This initiative was designed to address barriers faced by female coaches in community hockey, provide coach development opportunities, support networks, and foster positive team dynamics aimed at keeping girls in sport. Jamie holds a Masters of Education in Workplace & Adult Learning, a Bachelor of Management in Human Resources/Labour Relations, and is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). Multiple coaching certifications, and national and provincial awards, including Hockey Canada’s BFL Canada Women in Coaching Award (2023/2024) in the Community category, reflects Jamie’s dedication to empowering others and advancing EDI at every level. In addition, she will be pursuing a doctorate of education in sport and performance psychology starting in Fall 2026, furthering her commitment to supporting mental wellbeing and excellence in sport. |
