Good afternoon everyone,

We wanted to pass along an update on some new items and a few reminders, too, for your boards and volunteers. 

Please share this information with the people in your association who need them.

1. Stick With It: applications open for U7 and U9 girls program

Hockey Canada’s Stick With It program is open to U7 and U9 girls in Nova Scotia associations this season. 

This is a program designed to keep girls in the game at U7 and U9: each participating player receives a 16-week sticker booklet that marks hockey and personal milestones through the season (teamwork, participation, confidence, independence, and the U7 and U9 skill pathways), and coaches can build the milestones into their practice plans. It was piloted last season in Newfoundland and Labrador and is being expanded across the Atlantic region this year. 

STICKER BOOKLET

The program is optional for associations and teams. Details on how you can sign up are below.

How to take part:

1. Apply through the HCR on behalf of your teams. The application window is open. Step-by-step registration instructions are here: https://help.spordle.com/space/HDNE/3978657894
2. Hockey Nova Scotia reviews and approves applications in the HCR as they come in.
3. Once approved, each participating coach orders their team’s booklet quantities through the HCR questionnaire. Booklets ship directly to the association.
4. At the end of the season, participating coaches complete a short survey.

Again, sign-up can be found in the HCR and the booklet from Hockey Canada can be found here. 

Questions about this program can be directed to Mia Landry, Manager, Growth and Retention, Women and Girls, atmlandry@hockeycanada.ca.

2. Fall Road Show: correct locations and times

Thanks to everyone who attended our first Fall Road Show meeting last night in Wolfville.

The correct locations for our 2026 Fall RoadShow can be found below. All meetings run 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Tonight’s stop is the Emera Centre in Liverpool. Please pass this along to anyone from your association planning to attend.

• Wednesday, October 21: Emera Centre, Liverpool (Western Region, Western Riptide Female Hockey Association)

• Thursday, October 22: RBC Centre, Multi-Purpose Room, Dartmouth (Halifax West, Halifax East and Dartmouth Regions, Metro West Force and Metro East Inferno Female Hockey Associations)

• Monday, October 26: Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, Membertou (Cape Breton Region, Cape Breton Blizzard Female Hockey Association)

• Tuesday, October 27: Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, Port Hawkesbury (Strait and Highland Regions, Quad County Whitecaps Female Hockey Association)

• Wednesday, October 28: Rath Eastlink Community Centre, Truro (Fundy and Highland Regions, Fundy Highland Female Hockey Association)

3. The Shift Forward, Parent course: deadline Tuesday, December 1

We wanted to share a reminder from our summer notice regarding The Shift Forward.

One parent or guardian of every new-to-hockey player (first-year registrant) must complete The Shift Forward: Parent Course this season. The same applies to families whose child started in 2025-26, since no parent course was offered last year as Hockey Canada moved from Respect in Sport to The Shift Forward. 

By 2028-29, at least one parent or guardian from every hockey family will need it.

The course is open now, costs $11.50, and is available through the HCR or directly: https://page.spordle.com/hns/clinics/1f17b941-da78-6c7e-bc53-02fa6b8d4193. The deadline to complete it is Tuesday, December 1.

Hockey Canada’s two FAQ documents are attached again, and the email template you can send to your new-to-hockey families is at the bottom of this email. 

Questions: Kelly Dalrymple (kdalrymple@hockeynovascotia.ca) or Brad Taylor (btaylor@hockeynovascotia.ca).

4. HCR Customer Satisfaction Survey (closes October 31)

The following is shared on behalf of Hockey Canada.

Have your voice heard – the 2026 HCR Customer Satisfaction Survey is now live!

Hockey Canada has released the 2026 HCR Customer Satisfaction Survey and is asking all Hockey Canada Registry (HCR) users to provide their input. Both Hockey Canada and Spordle strive to deliver an enhanced, streamlined end-user experience for families and hockey organizations across the country. Getting your feedback is a critical piece of being able to deliver that.

You can complete the survey here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Eymx69jatz

The survey will be open until October 31st and takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Please feel free to share this link with other HCR users. If you have any questions, please reach out to hcr@hockeycanada.ca.

Thank you for your participation.

5. Charitable gaming: AGFT policy reminder

As requested at last night's first Fall Road Show stop, we are re-circulating the notice from Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco (AGFT) on how charitable gaming revenue can be spent, first shared in February. The revised policy and an FAQ are attached. Questions about the policy go to AGFT directly at 877-565-0556 orAGDLICENSE@novascotia.ca.

Shared on behalf of Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco: Eligibility and Use of Funds Policy

Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco (AGFT) issues, and regulates charitable gaming licenses. Recent investigations have raised concerns about how charitable gaming revenue is being spent. The attached policy has been updated to clarify how charitable gaming revenue can be spent.

It is important to remember that:

1. The Criminal Code of Canada requires that ticket lotteries be licensed, and it outlines that funds raised through lotteries must be used for a charitable purpose. The Gaming Control Act and Ticket Lottery Regulations are the rules for charitable gaming in Nova Scotia.
2. All lotteries, raffles and draws must have a license or a permit issued by AGFT. If a lottery is offered without a permit or a license, the organization could be subject to an investigation, Criminal Code charges and deemed not eligible to get licenses.
3. Charitable gaming revenue raised with a ticket lottery license or permit must be kept by the licensed sports organization.
4. The sports organization must use the money for purposes consistent with the delivery of its charitable purpose.
5. If charitable gaming proceeds are not used as required by the Criminal Code of Canada, the Ticket Lottery Regulations - organizations may be investigated, charged, and/or determined to be no longer eligible for charitable gaming licenses.

There are more details in the attached policy and ‘Frequently Asked Questions’. 

Sport organizations are not required to be federally registered charities. However, the CRA guidelines for sports organizations provide some helpful information to support your organization to ensure compliance with the Criminal Code and Ticket Lottery Regulations: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/policies-guidance/policy-statement-027-sports-charitable-registration.html

If you have questions or would like to speak to someone, please reach AGFT at 877-565-0556or AGDLICENSE@novascotia.ca.

6. Sport School Credit Program: coaching and officiating

Also by request from the Fall Road Show stop last night: intake is open for the Sport School Credit Program, Coaching and Officiating. Students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 can earn a full high school credit for coaching or officiating in Nova Scotia, and can start and finish the program at any point in those three years. 

Feel free to share the information with young coaches and officials in your association and their families. 

Details and registration can be found here:https://cch.novascotia.ca/high-school-personal-development-credit. 

Questions can be directed toschoolcredit@novascotia.ca.

Thank you, as always, for everything you do to give players across the province a safe and positive hockey experience. We appreciate all your efforts!

Sincerely,

Mike Field
Executive Director
Hockey Nova Scotia

Brad MacKinley
President
Hockey Nova Scotia