Kingston City Council has directed staff to revise its ice allocation policy after concerns were raised about equitable access to arena change rooms.
Deputy Mayor Wendy Stephen addressing council on Monday (YGK News/Meaghan Beavis)
Deputy Mayor Wendy Stephen first became aware of the issue when she heard that girls on a local co-ed hockey team did not have access to appropriate change room space.
“This is 2026, this should not be happening,” said Stephen in an interview with YGK News.
Upon further review, Stephen found that the City of Kingston ice allocation policy did not contain clear guidelines for change rooms.
“When you look at the ice allocation policy, it talks about ice allocation equity and that’s really important but it doesn’t actually mention changeroom equity.”
While the issue was initially raised by girls on a co-ed hockey team, the policy changes will also aim to improve equity for the non-binary and transgender community.
Stephen shared a conversation that she had with a trans advocate about the new motion.
“One of the things that did come out of our conversation that I thought was really valuable was the reminder of sex-based language and identity-based language,” said Stephen.
River Stone, an advocate for the trans and non-binary community, appeared before council to give an informative presentation to provide suggestions on inclusive language to use when reforming the policy.
“If our policies and our social norms continue to centre sex, this furthers the systemic erasure of intersex people, justifies discrimination and exclusion of trans people,” said Stone.
Stephen’s motion originally included gender-based language, including “female participants.” After her conversation with Stone, she provided amendments that would change the policy to say “all participants.”
The council meeting included other councillors speaking out in favour of the new policy.
Coun. Amos, a former hockey coach who seconded Stephen’s motion, stressed the importance of inclusion in hockey.
“I have coached for a number of years, close to 15 and this has been a long struggle and battle to see equity brought forward in any sort of light in regard to hockey allocation or ice allocation so I’m super proud that this is moving forward,” said Amos.
During the meeting, Deputy Mayor Stephen concluded the proposed motion by delivering a reassuring message about using proper language to council.
“All of this stuff can make those of us who have grown up with privilege and not been in this world feel uncomfortable, and I just want to acknowledge that that’s real and it’s okay… most people will give you grace if you try, so let’s mess up, let’s keep trying,” said Stephen.
Kingston City Council unanimously approved the motion to create proper guidelines for equity and inclusion pertaining to change rooms and to use proper language when creating the new policy.
City Council asked that staff return to council with the updated policy at the end of the summer before the 2026-2027 hockey season.
