When Marian Jacko was asked to be involved with an historic hockey game, others she wanted to be included immediately popped to mind. Jacko, the first Indigenous person to serve on Hockey Canada’s board of directors, was one of the honoured guests invited to be part of the ceremonial opening faceoff for the Toronto Sceptres’ Indigenous Heritage Unity Night on March 19. Wilton Littlechild, who had served as the commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, also took part in the opening faceoff during the game at Toronto’s Coca-Cola Coliseum.

@[email protected] “I, myself, I’m 12 times more likely to go missing or go murdered. But we need to change that narrative. And we need to change it to I’m 12 times more likely to be successful in my chosen career, 12 times more likely to go from the bench to the boardroom. And that’s really why I’m so passionate about this game.”