The Shift Forward: Evolving Hockey Culture, is a new learning and development program that will be the new home for national education and training courses.

The Shift Forward is an enhanced education program that was created to understand how education and training can better support participants and the key objective of changing unhealthy behaviours in the game.

The course is available online for Hockey Nova Scotia members through their Volunteer Requirements page.

All bench staff are required to complete The Shift Forward.

Existing team staff have until the start of the 2027-28 season to complete if they already have the RIS Activity Leader Course.

All new team staff are required to complete this season (2026-27).

In an effort to support a successful transition to The Shift Forward, Hockey Canada will continue to recognize existing training as an equivalent as part of a multi-year phase before all participants engaging with hockey will be required to participate in the national education and training courses.