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Get to Know: Natalie Spooner

Get to Know: Natalie Spooner

Natalie Spooner knows how to pump herself up. Whether it's telling herself she’s unstoppable or pumping breast milk for her baby in between periods of a professional hockey game, there doesn’t seem to be anything that can slow her down. It’s that kind of energy that makes her such a force on and off the ice and an integral part of helping get the PWHL to where it is now. Let’s get to know her.        Has hockey helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your identity or personality? I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. I don't think I would be the person I am without this sport. A lot of my personality has probably come from the energy I get from the teammates I’ve always been surrounded by. The best thing about being on a team is how much fun you have with your teammates. I think that has played a big role in shaping who I am.   I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? Teamwork, dedication, hard work, and time management—there are so many skills you learn through sports that I think everyone uses in their daily lives. It's so important for girls to have those experiences. For me, sports were always a great release. I’ve always felt free on the ice and just had so much fun playing. There's a lot of stress in the world, so why not go out, play a game, and have a lot of fun? Do you have any advice for young girls that are playing sports?  Believe in yourself. I think that that's the main thing. If I could go back, I would tell my little self to believe in myself and to know that you can achieve your dreams.  The other thing is that sports should be about having fun. I still remind myself every day to go back to thinking like that little girl who had so much fun playing hockey. That's what it's all about. So as long as you love what you're doing and having fun, it doesn’t feel like work. It's just fun. What do you think the development of the PWHL means for young women and hockey in general?  It means a lot. Not only are we able to have a career playing hockey, but all of those little girls who watch us get to have the dream of playing professional women's hockey, just like any little boy would have.  Is there anything that you wish non-athletes realized about professional women's hockey? I wish people knew more about all the amazing ladies that I get to play with and against. Before we had this professional league, there were ladies from all different walks of life: teachers, chiropractors, firefighters, police officers. Some women had full-time jobs and they would come and play hockey at night and be on the road all weekend.  This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. A lot of the ladies don't have to have side jobs or other careers now, and I think that’s amazing. It's going to help take women's hockey to the next level because everyone can focus on hockey and not have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from.   This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. What was your involvement in getting the PWHL started? So in 2019, the CWL folded and we decided to come together, all the female hockey players, to create the PWHPA Players Association, and we ended up going on a Dream Gap tour. We played all across North America in all different rinks, and it was a great way to show there was a market for women's hockey.   From there we were lucky enough to get icons like Billie Jean King behind us. She’s one of the main people giving money. I don't think we could have gotten to where we are now without people like Billie Jean, Stan Kasten of the LA Dodgers, and Dana Halford. All of them really believed in the vision and we're just so lucky for their support. What it was like to become a mother as a professional athlete? It takes quite a bit of planning to start a family and then come back to sport. I had to time my pregnancy. So after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, we wanted to start a family, but I had set a goal I wanted to be back playing in the next world championships. Luckily, I got pregnant right away, and it all kind of went smoothly and I was able to achieve that goal. But it also meant that while I was playing hockey, I was still breastfeeding. So you were playing at this high level while you were still breastfeeding? Can you tell us about that? It was definitely a challenge. The time commitment that breastfeeding takes was one of the things that surprised me most about being a mom. I was able to bring him with me to most of the places I went because my mom would come along, too. But being away from him for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. I had some pretty discrete pumps that I could just slip on in the locker room with the girls. I thought it was super funny when my teammates would look over and I’d be there pumping, and then either sending milk up or putting it in the fridge for after the game. When you're a high-performance athlete, you're trying to power through and so forth. Maintaining your milk and making sure you're drinking enough and eating enough was a struggle. During the world championships, we were in some pretty intense games. So that was hard, but I was able to make it through.    Being away from [my son] for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. You were back playing hockey four months after you gave birth. What are some of the things that you didn't anticipate would impact your career as a professional athlete? I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships, which were around the five-month mark. There were so many unknowns going into pregnancy and training afterwards. I don't think I realized how much my body changed because it happened so slowly.   I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships. You kept skating until you were 36 weeks pregnant—what was that like? I just loved getting out on the ice and I think the rink was where I felt the most normal, before and after giving birth. It felt like some type of normalcy to go out there and get back to being with my teammates. Life as a new mom can be quite isolating, so to have my teammates around me again was really freeing and so much fun. It made me feel like myself again. How did you deal with the hunger, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation that pregnancy can cause?  So I found when I was breastfeeding, I was definitely eating way more every time I woke up in the night to feed. I also drank excessive amounts of water. Even when I was pregnant, I was so thirsty. I don't think I've felt that type of thirst before, but I just had to make sure I was eating whenever I was hungry and fueling my body. Is there anything else you want to share about your experience becoming a mom and having a career as a professional athlete? Were there any emotional impacts or unexpected challenges? When I became a mom, I did feel my priorities shift. Before, my whole life was built around hockey. And I would say I was a very selfish person in a sense. I was so committed to my training and that was really all that mattered. And then I had this baby that needed me and that I had to care for. When I would have to go away for games and bring him with me, my mom would come, but I still felt this sense of guilt when I was leaving him to go on the ice. At the same time, I knew this was what I needed.  So there was some learning to do there and some new balances to find between my love for hockey and my love for my baby. My baby takes priority, but I was able to find a pretty good balance between being a mom and coming back to play the sport I love. If you’re having a challenging time or need a confidence boost or something like that, are there any things you say to yourself? I tell myself to be unstoppable, and I just picture myself being so dominant. I literally just tell myself “Be unstoppable.”  We noticed you like to play in your Sparkle Balls™ and other H&B jewelry. Why do you find yourself drawn to it?  I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™, I just loved the way I felt in them. It’s the same way now with my pearl Sparkle Balls™—I just feel really good whenever I wear them. They're my go-to's, and I have to wear the biggest ones.   I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™️, I just loved the way I felt in them. Do you have any advice for women in general?  My advice for women would be to chase your dreams. No matter what. I can't say it's going to be easy. It's probably going to be difficult and there's going to be lots of twists and turns. But in the end, it's definitely worth it. You'll remember the journey more than the destination.    Chase your dreams. No matter what. By: Carter Selinger

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Get to Know: Natalie Spooner
  • Article published at:
Get to Know: Natalie Spooner
Natalie Spooner knows how to pump herself up. Whether it's telling herself she’s unstoppable or pumping breast milk for her baby in between periods of a professional hockey game, there doesn’t seem to be anything that can slow her down. It’s that kind of energy that makes her such a force on and off the ice and an integral part of helping get the PWHL to where it is now. Let’s get to know her.        Has hockey helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your identity or personality? I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. I don't think I would be the person I am without this sport. A lot of my personality has probably come from the energy I get from the teammates I’ve always been surrounded by. The best thing about being on a team is how much fun you have with your teammates. I think that has played a big role in shaping who I am.   I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? Teamwork, dedication, hard work, and time management—there are so many skills you learn through sports that I think everyone uses in their daily lives. It's so important for girls to have those experiences. For me, sports were always a great release. I’ve always felt free on the ice and just had so much fun playing. There's a lot of stress in the world, so why not go out, play a game, and have a lot of fun? Do you have any advice for young girls that are playing sports?  Believe in yourself. I think that that's the main thing. If I could go back, I would tell my little self to believe in myself and to know that you can achieve your dreams.  The other thing is that sports should be about having fun. I still remind myself every day to go back to thinking like that little girl who had so much fun playing hockey. That's what it's all about. So as long as you love what you're doing and having fun, it doesn’t feel like work. It's just fun. What do you think the development of the PWHL means for young women and hockey in general?  It means a lot. Not only are we able to have a career playing hockey, but all of those little girls who watch us get to have the dream of playing professional women's hockey, just like any little boy would have.  Is there anything that you wish non-athletes realized about professional women's hockey? I wish people knew more about all the amazing ladies that I get to play with and against. Before we had this professional league, there were ladies from all different walks of life: teachers, chiropractors, firefighters, police officers. Some women had full-time jobs and they would come and play hockey at night and be on the road all weekend.  This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. A lot of the ladies don't have to have side jobs or other careers now, and I think that’s amazing. It's going to help take women's hockey to the next level because everyone can focus on hockey and not have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from.   This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. What was your involvement in getting the PWHL started? So in 2019, the CWL folded and we decided to come together, all the female hockey players, to create the PWHPA Players Association, and we ended up going on a Dream Gap tour. We played all across North America in all different rinks, and it was a great way to show there was a market for women's hockey.   From there we were lucky enough to get icons like Billie Jean King behind us. She’s one of the main people giving money. I don't think we could have gotten to where we are now without people like Billie Jean, Stan Kasten of the LA Dodgers, and Dana Halford. All of them really believed in the vision and we're just so lucky for their support. What it was like to become a mother as a professional athlete? It takes quite a bit of planning to start a family and then come back to sport. I had to time my pregnancy. So after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, we wanted to start a family, but I had set a goal I wanted to be back playing in the next world championships. Luckily, I got pregnant right away, and it all kind of went smoothly and I was able to achieve that goal. But it also meant that while I was playing hockey, I was still breastfeeding. So you were playing at this high level while you were still breastfeeding? Can you tell us about that? It was definitely a challenge. The time commitment that breastfeeding takes was one of the things that surprised me most about being a mom. I was able to bring him with me to most of the places I went because my mom would come along, too. But being away from him for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. I had some pretty discrete pumps that I could just slip on in the locker room with the girls. I thought it was super funny when my teammates would look over and I’d be there pumping, and then either sending milk up or putting it in the fridge for after the game. When you're a high-performance athlete, you're trying to power through and so forth. Maintaining your milk and making sure you're drinking enough and eating enough was a struggle. During the world championships, we were in some pretty intense games. So that was hard, but I was able to make it through.    Being away from [my son] for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. You were back playing hockey four months after you gave birth. What are some of the things that you didn't anticipate would impact your career as a professional athlete? I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships, which were around the five-month mark. There were so many unknowns going into pregnancy and training afterwards. I don't think I realized how much my body changed because it happened so slowly.   I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships. You kept skating until you were 36 weeks pregnant—what was that like? I just loved getting out on the ice and I think the rink was where I felt the most normal, before and after giving birth. It felt like some type of normalcy to go out there and get back to being with my teammates. Life as a new mom can be quite isolating, so to have my teammates around me again was really freeing and so much fun. It made me feel like myself again. How did you deal with the hunger, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation that pregnancy can cause?  So I found when I was breastfeeding, I was definitely eating way more every time I woke up in the night to feed. I also drank excessive amounts of water. Even when I was pregnant, I was so thirsty. I don't think I've felt that type of thirst before, but I just had to make sure I was eating whenever I was hungry and fueling my body. Is there anything else you want to share about your experience becoming a mom and having a career as a professional athlete? Were there any emotional impacts or unexpected challenges? When I became a mom, I did feel my priorities shift. Before, my whole life was built around hockey. And I would say I was a very selfish person in a sense. I was so committed to my training and that was really all that mattered. And then I had this baby that needed me and that I had to care for. When I would have to go away for games and bring him with me, my mom would come, but I still felt this sense of guilt when I was leaving him to go on the ice. At the same time, I knew this was what I needed.  So there was some learning to do there and some new balances to find between my love for hockey and my love for my baby. My baby takes priority, but I was able to find a pretty good balance between being a mom and coming back to play the sport I love. If you’re having a challenging time or need a confidence boost or something like that, are there any things you say to yourself? I tell myself to be unstoppable, and I just picture myself being so dominant. I literally just tell myself “Be unstoppable.”  We noticed you like to play in your Sparkle Balls™ and other H&B jewelry. Why do you find yourself drawn to it?  I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™, I just loved the way I felt in them. It’s the same way now with my pearl Sparkle Balls™—I just feel really good whenever I wear them. They're my go-to's, and I have to wear the biggest ones.   I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™️, I just loved the way I felt in them. Do you have any advice for women in general?  My advice for women would be to chase your dreams. No matter what. I can't say it's going to be easy. It's probably going to be difficult and there's going to be lots of twists and turns. But in the end, it's definitely worth it. You'll remember the journey more than the destination.    Chase your dreams. No matter what. By: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Natalie Spooner
  • Article published at:
Get to Know: Natalie Spooner
Natalie Spooner knows how to pump herself up. Whether it's telling herself she’s unstoppable or pumping breast milk for her baby in between periods of a professional hockey game, there doesn’t seem to be anything that can slow her down. It’s that kind of energy that makes her such a force on and off the ice and an integral part of helping get the PWHL to where it is now. Let’s get to know her.        Has hockey helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your identity or personality? I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. I don't think I would be the person I am without this sport. A lot of my personality has probably come from the energy I get from the teammates I’ve always been surrounded by. The best thing about being on a team is how much fun you have with your teammates. I think that has played a big role in shaping who I am.   I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? Teamwork, dedication, hard work, and time management—there are so many skills you learn through sports that I think everyone uses in their daily lives. It's so important for girls to have those experiences. For me, sports were always a great release. I’ve always felt free on the ice and just had so much fun playing. There's a lot of stress in the world, so why not go out, play a game, and have a lot of fun? Do you have any advice for young girls that are playing sports?  Believe in yourself. I think that that's the main thing. If I could go back, I would tell my little self to believe in myself and to know that you can achieve your dreams.  The other thing is that sports should be about having fun. I still remind myself every day to go back to thinking like that little girl who had so much fun playing hockey. That's what it's all about. So as long as you love what you're doing and having fun, it doesn’t feel like work. It's just fun. What do you think the development of the PWHL means for young women and hockey in general?  It means a lot. Not only are we able to have a career playing hockey, but all of those little girls who watch us get to have the dream of playing professional women's hockey, just like any little boy would have.  Is there anything that you wish non-athletes realized about professional women's hockey? I wish people knew more about all the amazing ladies that I get to play with and against. Before we had this professional league, there were ladies from all different walks of life: teachers, chiropractors, firefighters, police officers. Some women had full-time jobs and they would come and play hockey at night and be on the road all weekend.  This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. A lot of the ladies don't have to have side jobs or other careers now, and I think that’s amazing. It's going to help take women's hockey to the next level because everyone can focus on hockey and not have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from.   This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. What was your involvement in getting the PWHL started? So in 2019, the CWL folded and we decided to come together, all the female hockey players, to create the PWHPA Players Association, and we ended up going on a Dream Gap tour. We played all across North America in all different rinks, and it was a great way to show there was a market for women's hockey.   From there we were lucky enough to get icons like Billie Jean King behind us. She’s one of the main people giving money. I don't think we could have gotten to where we are now without people like Billie Jean, Stan Kasten of the LA Dodgers, and Dana Halford. All of them really believed in the vision and we're just so lucky for their support. What it was like to become a mother as a professional athlete? It takes quite a bit of planning to start a family and then come back to sport. I had to time my pregnancy. So after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, we wanted to start a family, but I had set a goal I wanted to be back playing in the next world championships. Luckily, I got pregnant right away, and it all kind of went smoothly and I was able to achieve that goal. But it also meant that while I was playing hockey, I was still breastfeeding. So you were playing at this high level while you were still breastfeeding? Can you tell us about that? It was definitely a challenge. The time commitment that breastfeeding takes was one of the things that surprised me most about being a mom. I was able to bring him with me to most of the places I went because my mom would come along, too. But being away from him for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. I had some pretty discrete pumps that I could just slip on in the locker room with the girls. I thought it was super funny when my teammates would look over and I’d be there pumping, and then either sending milk up or putting it in the fridge for after the game. When you're a high-performance athlete, you're trying to power through and so forth. Maintaining your milk and making sure you're drinking enough and eating enough was a struggle. During the world championships, we were in some pretty intense games. So that was hard, but I was able to make it through.    Being away from [my son] for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. You were back playing hockey four months after you gave birth. What are some of the things that you didn't anticipate would impact your career as a professional athlete? I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships, which were around the five-month mark. There were so many unknowns going into pregnancy and training afterwards. I don't think I realized how much my body changed because it happened so slowly.   I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships. You kept skating until you were 36 weeks pregnant—what was that like? I just loved getting out on the ice and I think the rink was where I felt the most normal, before and after giving birth. It felt like some type of normalcy to go out there and get back to being with my teammates. Life as a new mom can be quite isolating, so to have my teammates around me again was really freeing and so much fun. It made me feel like myself again. How did you deal with the hunger, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation that pregnancy can cause?  So I found when I was breastfeeding, I was definitely eating way more every time I woke up in the night to feed. I also drank excessive amounts of water. Even when I was pregnant, I was so thirsty. I don't think I've felt that type of thirst before, but I just had to make sure I was eating whenever I was hungry and fueling my body. Is there anything else you want to share about your experience becoming a mom and having a career as a professional athlete? Were there any emotional impacts or unexpected challenges? When I became a mom, I did feel my priorities shift. Before, my whole life was built around hockey. And I would say I was a very selfish person in a sense. I was so committed to my training and that was really all that mattered. And then I had this baby that needed me and that I had to care for. When I would have to go away for games and bring him with me, my mom would come, but I still felt this sense of guilt when I was leaving him to go on the ice. At the same time, I knew this was what I needed.  So there was some learning to do there and some new balances to find between my love for hockey and my love for my baby. My baby takes priority, but I was able to find a pretty good balance between being a mom and coming back to play the sport I love. If you’re having a challenging time or need a confidence boost or something like that, are there any things you say to yourself? I tell myself to be unstoppable, and I just picture myself being so dominant. I literally just tell myself “Be unstoppable.”  We noticed you like to play in your Sparkle Balls™ and other H&B jewelry. Why do you find yourself drawn to it?  I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™, I just loved the way I felt in them. It’s the same way now with my pearl Sparkle Balls™—I just feel really good whenever I wear them. They're my go-to's, and I have to wear the biggest ones.   I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™️, I just loved the way I felt in them. Do you have any advice for women in general?  My advice for women would be to chase your dreams. No matter what. I can't say it's going to be easy. It's probably going to be difficult and there's going to be lots of twists and turns. But in the end, it's definitely worth it. You'll remember the journey more than the destination.    Chase your dreams. No matter what. By: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Skylar Park
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Get to Know: Skylar Park
For Skylar Park, family is a big part of success. Her father is her coach, her brothers are competing to get into the Olympics, and in total 16 members of her family have black belts in taekwondo. Her family’s generational commitments to the sport are part of what has made Skylar’s achievements in taekwondo so special. We chatted with the 2023 Pan American Games champion about the upcoming Paris Olympics, mentoring young athletes, gender equality in taekwondo, and what it’s like to get your period right before a gold medal match. Let’s get to know her.        Are there any moments you've experienced while competing that have felt especially significant to you? Things that you look back on as either lessons or turning points? There have been so many. There have been times when I've won that boosted my confidence. I've also had some really big losses that have taught me so much and allowed me to come back even stronger. In 2016 I won the Junior World Championships on home soil. My whole family was in the crowd. It was super special. It was the first time that I competed on the world stage and I was just so excited to show the world what I could do. I'd been doing taekwondo since I could walk, mainly with my family. My dad's my coach, and I train with my brothers and cousins. So I felt like I was just coming out of nowhere and trying to shock everyone and see what I could do. That was a very special feeling.  Another big turning point in my career was the Tokyo Olympics. For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympics and winning a gold medal for Canada. I was so excited for my first Olympic Games, but I didn't end up performing as well as I wanted to. There was a lot of heartbreak that went along with that. But the lessons I learned through that experience have allowed me to become very successful leading up to the Paris Olympics. So it's been really exciting. Can you tell us a little bit about what you're most excited about for the upcoming Olympics? Yeah, I have now officially qualified for the Paris Olympics. I think I'm just excited to be back in the Olympics in such a special place. It’s something that I've dreamed of for so long. I did it in Tokyo, but it wasn't quite a normal Olympics per se. There were no fans and my family couldn't be there. I know I've worked hard since Tokyo, and so to be in Paris as a stronger athlete, a more confident athlete, and to have my whole family there will be really exciting. Has sport helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your personality or identity? Taekwondo is a sport but also a martial art, and I think there are so many aspects of confidence, discipline, and respect grounded in its principles. As a woman, I’ve been able to gain so much confidence through a combat sport. You learn how to defend yourself.   Sport is such a powerful tool, especially for young people. There’s the determination you get, the ability to work hard, to work with others. There are so many things that sport brings to us as athletes and as people, and I think that's why I love taekwondo so much. When I was young I was very shy. At taekwondo schools there would always be an awards banquet and a dance afterwards. Everyone would always be dancing and trying to get me to dance but I was too shy. But then, when I was seven years old, the night that I achieved my black belt at this awards banquet, I was on the dance floor all night and they basically haven't been able to get me off the dance floor since then.   As a woman, I’ve been able to gain so much confidence through a combat sport. You learn how to defend yourself. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? I'm very passionate about young girls staying in sports. Sport has given me so much in my life.  I now have the ability and the honour to coach young girls in taekwondo. On a daily basis, I see what sport brings them—how much confidence it gives them, and how many tools they learn from it and bring into their everyday lives. Seeing that transformation in them, the same transformation that I went through as a young girl, is really special.   I'm very passionate about young girls staying in sports. On a daily basis, I see what sport brings them—how much confidence it gives them, and how many tools they learn from it and bring into their everyday lives. Can you share a bit more about your experience mentoring young women in taekwondo?  Yeah, I think it's been an honour for me to have the opportunity to coach so many young girls and young women, in the sport that I love. I'm 24, and so having that experience of having gone to an Olympic Games and competed internationally for a long time, there are so many lessons that I can teach them. One of the biggest things is just showing them the confidence they have within and teaching them how to bring it out and carry it into everything they do in their lives.  It’s also important to remind them that not everything is as perfect as it seems and things don't go smoothly all the time. I think as young athletes or as young people, we think that the road to success is always a straight line and everything's going to go according to plan perfectly. But they need to understand that things don't always go your way. Sharing some of the setbacks that I’ve had with these young women, how I've overcome them, and how they've made me stronger in the end is very beneficial. And hopefully, I'm helping them get through their hard times and come out stronger. What's it like competing at a high level when you're dealing with everyday things like getting your period? Getting your period while competing is something that isn't talked about enough at all. I competed at the Grand Prix in Taiwan in September of last year and it was my first time winning a Grand Prix, so it was super exciting. But in between the semifinal and final match, I got my period. My stomach was cramping so bad. And I think on the broadcast, even here, when I go back in between the rounds to talk to my dad, I'm like, “My stomach hurts so bad.” I'm trying to tell him and he's like, “You’re fine, you’re fine. Like, you can do it.” I ended up finishing the match and winning the semifinal. And so I had to go up right away again to compete in the final. So they wanted to keep me in the holding area downstairs. But I was like, no, like I have to go upstairs to see my doctor. And so they finally let me through and I went with my doctor. And so she had me lying on the ground. I think I had like 5 minutes. And so I was lying on the ground while she had my feet up in the air and was putting ice straight on my stomach. So I was freezing. Then she gave me Tylenol or something to help with the pain. And then she was like massaging, pushing on my stomach. I don't know what she was doing, but it was chaotic and she kept telling me to eat crackers. So, we had 5 minutes to figure it out. And then they called me up, and I had to be ready to fight. I was in so much pain, which, to be honest, might have helped a little bit because I wasn't even thinking about being in the final of the Grand Prix. But as soon as I stepped on the mat, I was able to kind of fight through the pain of my cramps. I think that’s something a lot of female athletes go through, and it isn’t talked about a lot.    Getting your period while competing is something that isn't talked about enough at all. Can you talk about the history that this sport has in your family? My parents run a taekwondo school in Winnipeg, which is where my whole family lives. My dad started taekwondo in Korea, which is where he was born. His family immigrated to Canada when he was eight years old and so they lived there and still live there today. In 1993, my dad, alongside my grandpa, opened up the doors to the Town Park Academy, which is our taekwondo school. And so my whole family grew up there. My mom started training there, and that's where she met my dad. They got married and started running the school together. So, yeah, there are 16 black belts in my family, and nine of us are women. It's super cool and very empowering to have strong female role models in my life who are black belts too. We all get to share this sport we love so much together.   It's super cool and very empowering to have strong female role models in my life who are black belts too. We all get to share this sport we love so much together. Your father is your coach and your brothers are also competing in taekwondo. Does having so many family members competing in the same sport complicate things? Or is it a source of comfort to have them there with you? It truly is incredible to be on this journey alongside my dad as our coach and my two younger brothers. But there are challenges as well. On the days when training is not going so well, or you have a bad competition, driving back home with your dad and your brothers, the car ride is not the best. And then when you get home, and you're still sitting across the table from each other, it's not the most fun. Aspects like that make it hard sometimes. And being a 24-year-old girl and spending this much time with your dad isn’t typical. But I'm so grateful for the time we spend together, what we've been able to achieve together, and what we're still striving to achieve. How does gender equality show up in taekwondo?  I think we're very fortunate in the sport of taekwondo because it is very equal, whether you're male or female. The prize money is the same. The opportunities are the same. The competitions are the same. A lot of times if you ask people, they’ll say the women are more exciting to watch than the men. I hope to be one of those women who are exciting to watch. How does it feel to be the first person in your family to go to the Olympics?  It's an honour. It's been a dream in my family for a really long time. My grandpa had a dream to go to the Olympics in cycling. Although nobody knows where that comes from because he didn't even cycle. My dad was a speedskater, but taekwondo has been in my family for at least four generations. I'm the first to go to the Olympics, but hopefully not the last. My brothers are coming up as well, and the goal is for all three of us to be there one day. To become an Olympic athlete requires a ton of work and dedication. Is there anything you’ve had to let go of in exchange for your pursuit of this dream? You know, I think as athletes, we all sacrificed so much to be able to compete at the top of our sport and hopefully step on top of the podium. There are times when you miss events or things with your family or friends. There are things you miss out on daily. But if you have a goal and a dream to achieve something great, there have to be sacrifices that come along with it. And if your dreams are that strong, then I think it'll be worth it in the end.    If you have a goal and a dream to achieve something great, there have to be sacrifices that come along with it. And if your dreams are that strong, then I think it'll be worth it in the end.  By: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Keesa Koomalsingh
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Get to Know: Keesa Koomalsingh
Whether as a basketball player, coach, mentor, or entrepreneur—Keesa Koomalsingh knows how to pivot. Actually, she describes pivoting as one of her greatest strengths on her path to removing barriers and providing unprecedented support to female athletes of all ages. Keesa is changing the landscape of women’s sport in Canada. Let’s get to know her.      Can you tell us a bit about HoopQueens?  HoopQueens is a nonprofit organization made for female basketball players. We’ve changed the narrative for women's basketball across the country by creating Canada’s first paid women’s basketball league. But it’s a lot more than that—HoopQueens is an ecosystem for women in sport. We’re creating a pipeline of support for athletes at the elementary, high school, post-secondary, and pro level.    We’ve changed the narrative for women's basketball across the country by creating Canada’s first paid women’s basketball league. Are there any moments you've experienced either as an athlete or entrepreneur that have felt especially significant—things you look back on as turning points? When I tore my ACL I didn't know who I was after. That injury changed my perspective on how to deal with life. I had to figure out a different path, and just pivot. Now I feel like pivoting is my biggest strength as an entrepreneur and the founder of HoopQueens.   When I tore my ACL I didn't know who I was after. That injury changed my perspective on how to deal with life, figure out a different path, and just pivot. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? I think it’s important for us to just keep doing what we're excited about. Sports teach you many  transferable life skills that can be applied to so many different areas of life. When people embody that  sisterhood and concept of being on a team, great things happen; you meet so many new people and canform incredible, lifelong friendships. Do you have any advice for young girls in sport or just women in general? Believe in yourself, have confidence, and don't be so hard on yourself. We can be so hard on ourselves and so critical of how we look, how we think,  and how we act. Sometimes we don't give ourselves enough praise, especially with all of the barriers we face in society. So, my advice is to simply be positive.  Are there any things you say to yourself when you need a confidence boost or when you’re having a challenging time? What I say to myself now is, “You’re unstoppable. You can do it. You started Canada's first paid women's basketball league. You can do anything you put your mind to.” I just like to remind myself of the skills I have. What led you to create HoopQueens?  When I came back for the summers as a university athlete there was no place for womento play basketball. I had to jump in with the guys, and I was often the only girl. As well, growing up, I only had male coaches  and mentors. They were amazing and a big part  of my success today, but I didn't have that older sister figure in the basketball community to look up to and ask questions. I wanted to be that for the next generation, and to create an ecosystem of support for women's basketball.  Have you noticed a shift in the sport of basketball and the players that you deal with in Toronto since you started the league?  We’re heading into our third season this year, and there’s definitely been a big shift. If athletes don't have an option to play overseas when they graduate, they really look forward to playing in  our summer league. That means the most to me because it just didn’t exist when I was playing. A lot of  these players haven’t gotten to play in front of family and friends in a long time. So that’s really cool too.   Sometimes I just can't believe that I started this organization that means so much to the community.  What role do you think community plays in the success of female athletes Community is everything for female athletes. It's the cheer in the stands, the comforting words after a tough game, and the shared victories that make every win sweeter. In the rollercoaster of highs and lows, having a community means you're never alone. It's the teammates who become sisters and the fans who become family. We fall in and out of love with the game, so our support systems play such an important role in the success and trajectory of our careers. The theme for International Women's Day this year is “Inspire inclusion”. Can you share a little bit about what this idea means for the work you're doing in your community? Inclusion is about making sure we all have opportunities regardless of our many differences . Our junior HoopQueens program is one of my favourite things. It’s a skills and development program for young girls ages 5 to 14. And it’s also cost-free because when I was an athlete that was always an issue with not being able to  get to every practice or a game, or couldn't afford shoes, or uniforms and things like that. We get gas cards for parents and partner with Footlocker and Nike so we can provide shoes if need be. We do all that so kids can just step on the court, play, and have fun. We don’t want kids worrying about barriers.   We focus on the introductory skills of basketball, but that's only about 10% of it. Basketball is what I use  to get everyone in the room. I want to teach young girls about life, relationships, education, and how  to balance all those things. I just want to show young girls how to succeed on and off the court and teach  them to have the confidence to be the queens that they are.  With young women and basketball these days, it can often feel very transactional. It’s all about winning or getting a scholarship. I want it to be about sisterhood, having fun, and the life skills that basketball teaches you. My main thing is just trying to be the change I wanted to see growing up.    I just want to show young girls how to succeed on and off the court and teach them to have the confidence to be the queens that they are. How have your personal experiences influenced the way you teach? When I was in university, I went through a really bad relationship. It shifted my personal experience and my confidence. When I started HoopQueens I really wanted to build support for young girls that are in university, and high school because that's when those relationships typically start. That’s what started the mentorship side of our program. I want to let these girls know about setting boundaries, building healthy relationships in your life, and discovering what a healthy relationship looks like.  When we spoke earlier, you talked about the importance of recognizing intersectionality. Can you tell us more about that?  As Black women, we're in the trenches and we don't want to fight anymore. We don't want to be seen as  tough women anymore. We want to be able to walk into a room and feel respected without having to  say what we do and what we've done. Sometimes I feel I have to prove myself for people to respect me in a conversation. This is why it’s important to talk about intersectionality and how every woman can play a role in lifting each other up. A lot of Black women feel like, to be in certain rooms, we have to code  switch, or we can't be ourselves because we're not welcome in the space. There’s a lot of imposter  syndrome that comes with that.    As Black women…we want to be able to walk into a room and feel respected without having to say what we do and what we've done. Is there something you would say to people experiencing that kind of imposter syndrome?  If you don't feel like you belong somewhere, then create your own space. That's what I did. Just create your own room and let people gravitate towards you.  By: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Raia Carey
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Get to Know: Raia Carey
Raia—or “Coach Carey”—is a three-time-certified life coach, motivational speaker, and co-founder of Get Real, a charity that provides antiblack racism workshops, anti-bullying workshops, and LGBTQIA+ awareness workshops to schools, camps, and businesses. By openly sharing how she has overcome personal hardships, she creates a welcoming and safe environment for people to shift their mindset towards self-awareness, resilience, acceptance and sustainable success.  Why do you feel like your work is important? It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, what you look like, or how you identify—everyone is going to have ups and downs, and it's important for us to be able to be proactive about those ups and downs in life. Everyone can work on building their confidence from within.   "It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, what you look like, or how you identify—everyone is going to have ups and downs..." What’s something you wish someone talked to you more about when you were younger? Mental health issues, body image issues, and how to build confidence. I've dedicated my work to helping people move through the same issues I’ve struggled with so they can build the confidence to go through life. We all need that. I wish I’d learned how to speak to myself, and about myself, because that plays a big role in how you show up in the world.  Growing up, I really never heard anyone talking about body image. For someone like me, who's masculine representing and identifies a little bit differently than just male or female, it would’ve been really helpful to learn that I'm not alone. It's beautiful to see that now there are those resources for young people.   But I think that would have really helped me to hear more people talking about the realm of mental health. When I was younger, I faced a lot of bullying. I hated school. I cried. I never wanted to be there. I think if I would have learned a bit more about how to regulate my emotions at that age, it would have helped a lot.  How did you get started doing this? I started with really wanting to understand myself and others, which is why I majored in psychology. Psychology was a great way for me to gain insight on why people do the things they do. But I never saw myself represented in that field, whether it was case studies, or the work we were studying. So I thought, “How can I support myself and my communities if I don't see myself represented here?”  Given my background in psychology, life coaching seemed like a great fit. So, I went back to school for coaching when I was 27, and I really felt like I had to get back to the drawing board. I thought, “How can I support myself and support others?” Now I have three certifications in coaching, and I honestly can say that I love what I do so much. "I wish I’d learned how to speak to myself, and about myself, because that plays a big role in how you show up in the world."  Can you share one of the hardest things to overcome in your work? I love that people are getting more support, but what I find difficult in my space of life coaching is that there are a lot of people calling themselves life coaches that aren't certified, and that could be potentially harmful to someone who's looking to hire someone.  How are taboo topics about women's bodies, women's health, pregnancy and postpartum sex holding women back?  The two things that really get me fired up that I wish we talked about more are women's reproductive health and mental health. We need to be talking about these things.   I recently was in the hospital with a lot of cramps and pain. I had no idea what was going on. I wish these types of things were talked about more because then I could’ve been more proactive and preventative. The doctor thought I had a cyst on my ovaries. It turned out to be my fibroids. Luckily, I’m fine. I just wish that this was discussed or talked about more when I was younger.   "The two things that really get me fired up that I wish we talked about more are women's reproductive health and mental health. We need to be talking about these things."  What do we all stand to gain by connecting women to their power and inner strength?  When more women-identifying people have access to education and resources, I think the whole world stands to benefit. Historically, women-identifying people often put resources, money, and support back into the community, and back into young people. That’s how we continue to learn, grow, and share together. And I think our world could stand to use more women-identifying people in power, leadership, and support. When they have those resources and education, women-identifying people build their inner strength, their confidence, their morale, and it helps how they show up as leaders, partners, friends, and mothers.   What do you hope people walk away with after working with you?  The most rewarding part of my work is when my clients no longer need me and have the tools to truly do things on their own. I also love it when my clients have those “Aha” moments. Sometimes just a reframe, a shift in language, or a new perspective can have such a big impact on how someone feels about themselves. That gets me fired up.  Writing: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Shaughnessy Otsuji
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Get to Know: Shaughnessy Otsuji
Shaughnessy Otsuji is a cosmetic and restorative tattoo artist. She’s the owner of Studio Sushiko, which has locations in Langley, BC, and Los Angeles, California. Her passion lies in restoring confidence, taking an inclusionary approach to her work. She helps people reclaim aspects of their physical appearance while collaborating with them to realize their truest inner beauty. Why do you feel like your work is important?  It's transformative, it's restorative. It brings confidence to every single person that I tattoo. It's restoring a feature that a person has lost. It's really impactful.   "The emotional aspect of my work can be difficult. I think a lot of people get into this career because it's rewarding. And it is. It's amazing to be able to offer this to people, but not everyone realizes how heavy it can be..."   How did you get started doing this? I’ve been a cosmetic tattoo artist for over a decade. I started off brow tattooing, and got a lot of clients who were going through chemotherapy and losing their brow hair. I have an aunt who had a double mastectomy, and she was my inspiration for getting into nipple tattooing. She had a preventative double mastectomy, and she was the one who told me that I should start offering nipple tattoos. The more I learned about what she had gone through, the more I became convinced that this was an amazing thing that needed to be offered. So she kind of pushed me in that direction. Now, I finally get to tattoo her in, like, two weeks. I'm so excited! Can you share one of the hardest things to overcome in your work?  The emotional aspect of my work can be difficult. I think a lot of people get into this career because it's rewarding. And it is. It's amazing to be able to offer this to people, but not everyone realizes how heavy it can be going into these appointments and hearing everyone's story. I've definitely learned a ton about different types of surgeries and different scarring and mastectomies, and radiation. You have to take that on. As amazing as everyone’s story is, it's heavy. Half the time I don't even realize it until the end and I'm like, wow, I just learned so much about this person.  How are taboo topics about women's bodies, women's health, pregnancy and postpartum sex holding women back?  Social media still censors a lot of the work I do. I’ll spend a good two to three hours sometimes editing a video. I’ll make sure the transitions are perfect and everything lines up with the music. Then, I’ll finally post it, and within like 20 minutes it'll get flagged and deleted. That’s frustrating. I get a community guidelines violation, and it gets removed for “nudity” or “sexual activity.” It's really frustrating because I want to show people what's available for them. But Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook will delete my posts right away. I guess I'm flattered that it looks realistic and people are falling for it, but it should be allowed. It's a tattoo of a nipple. It's not even a real nipple, but what's the big deal with nipples anyway? Everyone has them.  "It's a tattoo of a nipple. It's not even a real nipple, but what's the big deal with nipples anyways? Everyone has them.”  But as far as reconstruction goes, and as far as tattooing goes, I do have a lot of clients who go through the process and don't know what's available to them. It's great when they end up doing their research and find me and find out that there is a natural-looking option. Sometimes people will bring me a photo of what they used to look like for reference, but oftentimes they have a blank canvas so they can choose their ideal nipple type, which might even be a heart shape, which is really fun. And I like to add as many details as possible. Strategic shadows and highlights, little bumps and wrinkles—all those little details that may be perceived as flaws end up making it look so much more natural and realistic. What do we all stand to gain by connecting women to their power and inner strength?  I feel like when women come together in a community, they're able to share so much knowledge between each other and go through things together. That’s so helpful when you're dealing with something as intense as breast cancer and reconstruction.  "I feel like when women come together in a community, they're able to share so much knowledge between each other and go through things together."  What do you hope people walk away with after working with you?  I hope that my clients walk away with the most confidence that they've ever had, and oftentimes I see it in their face, which is amazing. Once they leave my studio, it's like a weight is lifted off their shoulders. They can look in the mirror and not see scars anymore. They don't see this memory of cancer anymore. They just see what they used to look like.   Writing: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Nikki Bergen
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Get to Know: Nikki Bergen
Nikki is the Creator of The Belle Method and The Bump Method Inc. She fuses Pilates with Pelvic Health, supporting everyone in feeling confident and strong throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond. Why do you feel your work is important? Women's health has been largely neglected in many spheres, and now we're kind of behind in terms of research and how we treat women throughout pregnancy and postpartum. The more we educate women, the more they can advocate for what makes the most sense for them.  After giving birth, so many issues are explained away as just being “part of motherhood.” Women think, “I'll just suck it up.” And, unfortunately, when women have issues with incontinence, pain, or their pelvic floor there aren’t many people saying, “Yeah, this is common, but you don't have to live with it.” I'm very passionate about spreading the word because I think women internalize a lot of shame about issues with fertility, miscarriages, and complications with pregnancy when so often they’ve done nothing wrong. How did you get started doing this? I was a dancer. I injured my knee, found pilates, rehabbed it, and it was life changing. After that, I started working out of a physiotherapy clinic. In my mid-twenties, I felt I had no business teaching pilates to firefighters with herniated discs, and 65-year-olds with osteoporosis, and a teen with scoliosis and a rod in her back. But those were my clients. And so, I studied hard before each session and asked the physios, chiropractors, and massage therapists what I could do with each person. I learned so much from them early on.  Then, I started to make group classes. I was really able to fuse my dance background with my injuries and special populations background, which helped me create a class that would be a fun, energizing, accessible workout. I started getting a lot more pregnant women coming, and I thought: “Ooh, you guys need your own thing.” So, I started classes for pregnancy and postpartum.   "I think if we really focus on empathy, community, and support, there's nothing we can't accomplish."  What’s something you wish someone talked to you more about when you were younger?Pelvic health. When I was starting out, 70% of women in my postpartum class were joking about having bladder problems. I had no kids then. I was still in my twenties and I thought, “I need to learn more about this. I don't think this is the way it's supposed to be.” Then, after having my own kids in my thirties, my interest in pelvic health sort of just grew and grew. So, I'm not going to stop talking about it. I also really believe in community over competition. And I think that’s something we really need to teach our young girls about. There's this societal myth that women are catty and cruel to each other, and I really have found the opposite to be true. I think if we really focus on empathy, community, and support, there's nothing we can't accomplish. Can you share one of the hardest things to overcome in your work? I spend a lot of time convincing my students that it's never too late to improve their pelvic health. A lot of people think that peeing their pants, or having symptoms of heaviness, or having bad diastasis means it's over for them. But I have students in their 60s who are improving their quality of life, improving their pelvic health, and just feeling better in their own bodies.   After pregnancy there's a lot of trying to slim down, lose weight, and take up less space to fit a certain aesthetic. I like to come from a place of function. Let’s just work to help our bodies function well. Let’s come from a place of gratitude, especially if you've carried a pregnancy, for everything our bodies have been through and helped us through.   "Let’s come from a place of gratitude, especially if you've carried a pregnancy, for everything our bodies have been through and helped us through."  How are taboo topics about women's bodies, women's health, pregnancy and postpartum sex holding women back?Let's talk about postpartum sex. We are often cleared at six weeks to say we can resume all normal activities, including penetrative intercourse, and some women internalize that as pressure. It’s like “You’ve got to go do this.” And we're not really given any guidance. We're told the advice: “Just use some lube, be on top, have some wine,” and it's like a joke. But a lot of women experience pain, and then they think there's something wrong with them. But they haven't really gotten help. They haven't seen a physiotherapist, or learned about their pelvic floor. This can create a neurological feedback loop where your brain starts to anticipate pain. You can get issues with vaginismus. Or issues with chronic pain during sex. And this is terrible because, again, there's shame. Sometimes your closest girlfriends won’t even talk about this.   Let's talk about the lack of aftercare that women get after major abdominal surgery, like cesarean birth. When you have a cesarean birth they cut through seven layers of tissue. It's a major abdominal surgery, and then they’re like, “You're good. Go for a walk and go home. Take some Advil.” I've had heart surgery myself—it was a catheter ablation, which is a day surgery. It was nothing compared to birth, and yet I got more after care than I did with birth.  "Let's talk about postpartum sex. We're told the advice of just use some lube, be on top, have some wine, and it's like a joke."  What do we all stand to gain by connecting women to their power and inner strength?I honestly believe that women can change the world. Period. Self love can be challenging, especially if you look at your body and you don't recognize yourself, which is unfortunately common. I hope that we can come to this place of gratitude for everything we've been through and then trust that it's never too late to develop the belief that our bodies are stronger than we think. If we can work from a place of self love, I think we can make a lot of headway.   What do you hope people walk away with after working with you? Birth can either be one of the most empowering or traumatizing experiences of your life. And how we are treated, how we are respected, validated, spoken to—everything makes such a huge difference. I get a lot of women in our classes who have had prior traumatic experiences. And it's the most amazing feeling when I hear of a positive birth after that trauma. When I hear women saying things like: “I was able to do it my way” or  “I'm not peeing my pants anymore” or “I didn't tear this time and I feel like a million dollars” or  “You've given me a feeling of confidence about my body that I thought I had lost”—I get shivers every time.  Writing: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Joleen Mitton
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Get to Know: Joleen Mitton
Joleen is the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week and the co-founder of Supernaturals—the world’s first all-Indigenous modelling agency. Through the organization Urban Butterflies, she helps Indigenous youth in foster care connect with their culture. She's an athlete, advocate, activist, and former model. We spoke with Joleen about basketball, Indigenous fashion, and forming strong relationships. You’re going to want to get to know her. What role has basketball played in your life?Basketball is pretty huge for Indigenous people all across Turtle Island. I’ve gotten to meet and learn about so many different nations while travelling for basketball. The All Native Basketball Tournament is the biggest basketball tournament for Indigenous people. It’s like our olympics. Our practices like Potlach and other ceremonies were kind of stolen from us so the only places we could gather as Indigenous people was through church or sport. That’s why our basketball team, All My Relations, is so important. It gives us a chance to gather. There’s also a large gap between the oldest and youngest players. Our oldest player is 41 and our youngest just turned 18 so there’s a lot of intergenerational mentorship happening. Your team All My Relations won the All Native basketball tournament in 2022. What do you think helps women feel empowered and work well together in a team setting?We had a matriarch—a great coach who’d won at another big Indigenous gathering for sport and basketball. We also got elders involved with the team and changed our style of practicing. We did a lot of praying. It can be hard to keep up with your cultural practices in a big city because it’s expensive and we all have busy lives. But then, during the pandemic, we didn’t really have much going on so we’d get together a lot outside and do workouts, which helped keep us sane. We’d take spirit baths where we’d all jump into freezing glacier waters. We really made sure our spirits were taken care of. Getting together more often really helped us form strong bonds, and it became like a sisterhood where we really relied on each other for emotional support. I think that’s why we won. You’re the co-founder of Supernaturals modelling agency, and the founder of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. You were also a model yourself. What experiences while modelling propelled you to form both this agency and event?I just feel like I’m trying to push the needle as much as I can for Indigenous people. Back when I was modelling Indigenous people weren’t as revered as they are now. No one wanted to be Native. And now it’s like everyone wants to be Native. My goal is to make Vancouver as Indigenous as possible and I think we’re helping do that with these organizations. What historical aspects of Indigenous fashion do you find inspiring?I think we dress for the next generation. When you go into a Potlach or a ceremony, the significance of wearing a button blanket, or your hide, or your ribbons is to show the sacred items that represent you and your clan. Indigenous fashion is completely different from Eurocentric fashion because it tells a story. Our fashion isn’t about what colour is “in” this year. It’s about animals, or seasons, or berries, and we’re able to understand this because we still have our elders who pass down the stories that give these items meaning. A lot of your work is centered around building and strengthening community. What do you feel are the keys to building a strong sense of community?I think it’s about relationships. It’s also about learning systems and identifying the gaps within those systems, and bringing in Indigenous knowledge to help create solutions. It’s also important to help show people the way as opposed to doing things for them. You work with Urban Butterflies, an organization that helps Indigenous youth who are in foster care connect with their culture. Can you tell us about some of your favourite experiences working with this organization?My mom was a Sixties Scooper so, if she was a little kid, she would have been in my program. I think working here has helped heal that relationship between me and my mom and given me a deeper understanding of where she came from. But the experiences with the kids—they’re all so good. It’s amazing to get to teach these kids about aspects of their culture like button blankets and take them on trips to go swimming and things like that. When I was growing up I was often the only Indigenous kid around. So, it’s really special to watch all these little kids who are so happy to meet other Indigenous kids. I’ve known some of them since they were 10 and now they’re 25 or 26. I’ve gotten to be a constant in their life. Getting to witness these kids heal has been very impactful and powerful, even to my own development. What pieces of jewelry help you feel grounded in who you are?My cousin is a jeweler and he made a necklace for me that has “turtle” written on it in our language. Turtle is our last name. I’m not originally from the coast, I'm from the sovereign nation Sawridge Nation, which is in northern Alberta. So having that necklace makes me feel pretty grounded. It reminds me of where I come from, and it’s nice because we’re on Turtle Island and it’s our last name. What are some of the strongest relationships in your life? What makes them strong?I got really close with my Aunty who started Urban Butterflies. She actually passed the program on to me so I could keep the torch going. She was also a Sixties Scooper. She didn’t get to meet her mom. Community work can be daunting—there’s always so much to do—but I think that’s also what helped keep our relationship strong. Beau Dick was another great mentor to me. He was a hereditary chief and a master carver. He taught me a lot about how to read a room and place people during Potlach ceremonies. He smashed a copper shield on the legislature to break the colonial spell. He’s kind of a magician. I have a lot of great relationships—Patrick is like my life partner, the basketball team feels like a sisterhood, the little ones at Urban Butterflies feel like my kids, and so do the models. So many of the relationships with people around me have been deepened because we’re all interested in pushing Indigenous issues and showing people that we’re strong. Is there anything specific that you’d like to talk about or draw attention to?Come to Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. We have a really great market there. It’s a great place to get moccasins and blankets. It’s a come one come all event. We want everyone to come and buy from us. It’s also a really fun time with musical guests and tons of cool fashion. If you’re looking for things to support this month, All My Relations Indigenous Society, Urban Butterflies, and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week are really great organizations.
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Get to Know: Chelazon Leroux
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Get to Know: Chelazon Leroux
Chelazon Leroux is a Two-Spirit Dene First Nations Multidisciplinary Artist who appeared on season 3 of Canada’s Drag Race. She joined us to talk about drag, family, identity, jokes, and jewelry—all with their signature insight, glamour, and humour. You’re going to want to get to know Chelazon. How did you get into drag? Did it feel like something you were always suited for? I got into drag after watching Rupaul’s Drag Race, season 6. I explored with makeup and wigs at first, it very quickly became a love of mine. I feel that drag came into my life at a time where I needed it, and I never questioned its presence, I suppose it was meant to be.    You post a lot of hilarious videos. Can you talk a little bit about the role of humour in drag?Humour is a central part of indigenous identity. It’s the way we connect, show love, and heal trauma. It just so happens to be a wonderful add on to drag as an art form. Before finding drag, were there any aspects of life where you’d catch yourself performing?As a young kid I would always dress up in Halloween costumes and find myself creating stories and entertaining an audience or just myself. I’ve always been an entertainer, from the start. What do you think about when you’re styling a look for a drag performance? Is there any jewelry that helps you get ready and feel yourself?I can be inspired by many things as a source reference. Whether that is a fabric, texture, or a beaded earring that will inform a whole concept on what the final look will be. Are there any big differences between who you are on stage and who you are off stage?   Chelazon is the microphone to the words I already speak, slightly louder, a bigger stage, and a lot more glamour.      When do you feel most yourself?  When I am at home, having dinner with my mother while she’s visiting. I’m lucky she has meetings in the city I live in, we always make it a point to catch up and eat good food.    Tell us about your experience on Canada’s Drag Race. What was your favourite part?  It was the most stressful, magical, and vulnerable part of my career. I think the gift I was given is that it meant so much to people across turtle island. The representation I gave to my peoples is all I could have hoped for.   Are there aspects of drag that help you feel like you’re connecting, or reconnecting, with the history of Two-Spirit people within Indigenous culture?  Drag and Two Spirit identity go hand in hand, not necessarily the same experience, but they’ve come together in my work of advocacy, education, and entertainment. For me the art of drag, and identity of Two-Spirit come together to tell a story and create a whole realized experience.     You talk a lot about being an Aunty, and aunties in general. Can you define what Aunty means to you?   Aunty is an Indigenous woman who has taken part in raising you, not necessarily blood relations. But those women who showed you love, humour, and kindness, even when they are often dealt the toughest cards in life, they still manage to laugh and have a heart of gold.    If you were a Sparkle colour, which would you be and why?  I would be lavender, to me it’s calm, beautiful, and the midpoint between red and blue, a midpoint of a spectrum, something I feel closely as a Two-Spirit person. 
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Get to Know: Lizzi Kapran
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Get to Know: Lizzi Kapran
If you’re feeling stuck in a style rut, poised for a refresh, or ready to break free from the rules of the fashion world—you’re going to want to get to know Lizzi Kapran. Lizzi’s free-wheeling fashion philosophy has helped empower her growing online audience to dress for themselves. We spoke with Lizzi about comfort zones, trends, adventurous outfits, her style icon (mom), and her hairless cat Zeus.  What’s your style philosophy on comfort zones? Should they be pushed? Or should we wear whatever makes us feel good?     Comfort zones are created so you can stay out of them, in my humble opinion. Obviously, don’t wear clothes that make you feel uncomfortable, but pushing boundaries is what fashion is all about. Growth happens outside of the comfort zone. Some of my biggest shifts in personal style came from wearing something I initially thought I couldn't "pull off." Nowadays, that doubting mentality is pretty much gone. I actually feel most like myself when I wear something that makes heads turn.   "Comfort zones are created so you can stay out of them...”  Do you have any tips for owning an adventurous outfit? Vintage stores, thrift stores, and mom's hand-me-downs are my favourite places to source the funkiest of the funky, the weirdest of the weird. When it comes time to wear said adventurous outfit, just remember that the looks people give you are almost always looks of admiration, inspiration, and curiosity. Not a lot of people feel comfortable wearing a tutu to the local coffee shops, but I do it all the time. Embrace the fact that you have the confidence to even put it on, and own it like it's no one's business. (Hint: it isn't!) Do you have a favorite fashion rule? What style rules are made to be broken?   There's a quote by Picasso that I think strongly applies to my outlook on "fashion rules": Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist. There are zero rules to "follow" in my fashion book, just principles. Kind of like how art has principles of design, my outfits have principles of style. One principle of mine is called the "sandwich":   one solid colour on top (can be a hat/shirt)  one print/complimentary colour in the middle (can be pants, skirt, blazer, etc)  the same solid colour on bottom (pants, shoes, bag)  The sandwich is a great way to methodize my outfits when I'm in a creative rut.  Can you tell when Zeus (your hairless cat) likes an outfit?   Zeus loves colorful sweaters, sweater vests, the works! Winter is his favorite style season because he gets dressed in sweaters himself. He's like a tiny senior citizen with his affinity for cable knits.  “I really hope to see more metal mixing... Such a fun way to give more edge to the daintiest of outfits.” What jewelry trends do you hope to see in the future? What accessory trends are you loving right now? I really hope to see more metal mixing. I don't know why so many see it as a fashion crime! Such a fun way to give more edge to the daintiest of outfits. I love the maximalist jewelry trend peaking just in time for summer. A fully stacked ear and/or wrist just does something to me. What do you think about while choosing an outfit for an occasion? Ie. Festivals, nights out, dinners, weddings?   I only have one thought when choosing an outfit for any occasion—what will inspire, provoke curiosity, and make me feel like a million bucks? I ask myself this whether I'm styling a look for a press gala, or if I'm simply meeting a friend for lunch.  “I only have one thought when choosing an outfit for any occasion—what will inspire, provoke curiosity, and make me feel like a million bucks?"  Where do you get your style inspiration? My #1 style inspiration is my beautiful mama. My mom is an immigrant from Eastern Europe. She came from a place where self-expression was frowned upon and even politically suppressed. As soon as she landed in Toronto, she ran to the nearest department store looking for a job. To her surprise, she was hired as a sales representative while only knowing a handful of English words. Her first paycheck was spent on the necessities: rent, food, and of course, for me she handpicked the chicest baby clothes that store had to offer. As the years went on and my family fortified a stable life here in Canada, our shared love for shoes, accessories, and dresses only grew. My mom would show up to parent-teacher conferences in colourful, daring looks that were straight out of fashion magazines (or at least 8-year-old me thought so). I always look back fondly on the times she would bring home stacks of ELLE, Vogue, and any fashion magazine she could get her hands on for me.   What does your jewelry say about you?   I'm all fun loving and free over here—metal mixing, dainty necklaces stacked on the chunkiest of chains. It’s all colourful today and totally toned down tomorrow.   What’s it like getting ready in front of such a large online audience? Does it affect your style choices?   I don't see it as getting ready in front of anyone. When I'm styling outfits for content it's just me and the creative juices flowing. Sometimes I'll edit a video and look back and think, "Hmm. This might be too out there, too unrelatable in terms of other people's style choices." Those are usually the videos that end up getting the best engagement and commentary because they provoke curiosity and get people thinking outside of the box.  "I wish there wasn't so much of a collective focus on what's "in," and I wish people didn't feel so pressured to participate in it all.”  Say you can change one thing about the world of fashion, what would it be? I wish the concept of "trends" would cease to exist, to be completely honest! Things that are trendy this summer were deemed "weird" and "unusual" last summer. I wish there wasn't so much of a collective focus on what's "in," and I wish people didn't feel so pressured to participate in it all. Living in the city really highlights this because you can actually see a new "aesthetic" take over, but then it changes as soon as there's a new trend cycle. It all just looks super commercial and forced, even a bit robotic when you see the same "trendy" outfit multiple times in a single day. Shopping exclusively according to trends is a huge disservice to your wardrobe and our planet. 
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