By Keith McNeill
Clearwater’s Peewee team was almost 50 per cent female this past season but during a recent tournament the girls had to share their dressing room with girls from an opposing team, while the boys got a room of their own, according to town councillor Shelley Sim.
She felt this was particularly unfair because four new dressing rooms were added to the Sportsplex about six years ago specifically to provide female hockey players with their own rooms to change in.
During its April 3 meeting, town council discussed the method of assigning dressing rooms as outlined in a staff report provided.
According to the report, being able to provide teams at tournaments with dressing rooms that they can keep all weekend is an attractive feature that helps bring teams to Clearwater.
“Rooms are always available for female players. In discussion with Minor Hockey, they are satisfied with the room schedule,” the report stated.
“We have a continuaton of the girls having to share,” Sim said. “The grant (for the new changing rooms) was quite specific. I don’t see why this is still an issue.”
Town council requested that staff draft a policy on protocol and procedures for the assignment of dressing rooms. Staff will meet with Clearwater and District Minor Hockey and Junior Council for input.
Town to work with school district on crosswalk
The discussion about the changing rooms was in response to a representaton from Junior Council at a council meeting held March 6.
READ MORE: Junior council suggests rainbow crosswalk (Mar. 15, 2018)
During that March meeting, junior council also asked that town council also consider installing a rainbow crosswalk near Clearwater Secondary School.
Purpose of the crosswalk would be to raise awareness in the generral population of the local LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning and others) community.
At the April 3 meeting, the councillors directed staff to work with School District 73 (Kamloop-Thompson) regarding approval to cost share on installation of a rainbow crosswalk at a location to be approved by town council.
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