Field Hockey Canada CEO Susan Ahrens reflects on the last 12 months
As Field Hockey Canada shares its 2025–2026 Annual Impact Report as part of our annual reporting to members, I am proud to reflect on a year defined by collaboration, continued domestic system building and meaningful progress across our national field hockey community.
The report captures the breadth of work underway at the organization: strengthening governance, supporting safe and inclusive sport, advancing athlete and coach pathways, delivering national events, investing in officials and volunteers, developing facilities, growing partnerships and connecting the many people who make field hockey possible across Canada. For me, the Annual Impact Report is more than an accountability document. It reflects the shared effort behind our sport. Every program delivered, every event hosted, every committee meeting, every early-morning training session and every volunteer hour contributes to the future we are building together.
This year’s work has focused on building a stronger, more connected national system. Through collaboration with provincial members, clubs, universities, committees, partners and community leaders, Field Hockey Canada has continued to align around shared priorities and practical delivery. That connection is essential as we work to support participation, strengthen communication and ensure our national programs are rooted in the needs of the field hockey community. The report also highlights the importance of governance and Safe Sport. These are foundational responsibilities for a national sport organization. Field Hockey Canada’s continued work in policy, education, alignment and accountability helps create environments where athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and families can participate with confidence and trust.
Growing Community and Capacity
One of the most exciting areas of progress is the continued growth of opportunities for people to experience field hockey in their communities. The development of the new Hockey 5s facility in Ottawa, in partnership with the International Hockey Federation (FIH), is an important example of what can happen when local, national and international organizations work together.
For the local club and broader Ottawa community, the facility creates an opportunity to accelerate the Stick Together vision of community growth. More importantly, it creates new possibilities for participation, programming, events and development that simply were not available at the same scale before.
Facilities matter because they create the physical spaces where communities come together. This project gives us an opportunity to think differently about how Hockey 5s can support participation, not just in Ottawa, but across Canada. Through it and Stick Together, we can introduce new people to the sport and create a stronger connection between community field hockey and the international game. I look forward to this facility opening in 2027 and hosting local, national and international events.
Growing Pathways
Across the athlete pathway, Field Hockey Canada continues to support development opportunities that connect grassroots participation with high-performance ambition. This year included another successful Field Hockey Canada U SPORTS National Championships, with tremendous success both on and off the field. We saw the University of PEI deliver an outstanding hosting experience, bringing the university and broader community together around the championship, while York University captured the national title. Meanwhile, over in BC, Field Hockey Canada’s partnership with Sikh Games Canada continued to strengthen with SCG hosting an international series with the USA and Canada Men’s National Teams. This model, which will grow in future years, is an example of community partnerships helping support national and international performances.
Field Hockey Canada Youth tours also continued to provide athletes with meaningful opportunities to compete, learn and experience field hockey beyond their local environments. At the other end of the participation pathway, the Masters World Cups (Indoor and Outdoor) showcased that field hockey can remain a lifelong sport, bringing athletes together through competition, community and a shared love of the game.
Development is not only about athletes. This year also saw strengthening uptake of new umpire and coaching education courses, helping support and develop the people who make quality sport experiences possible. From youth programming and national championships to NextGen environments, junior and senior national teams, university competition and masters programming, the pathway depends on coordinated work across many parts of the system.
Investing in People, Programs and Community
One of the clearest messages in the report is that progress happens through people. Coaches are helping athletes learn and grow. Officials are elevating standards and creating fair, well-managed competitions. Staff and administrators are building the systems that make delivery possible. Volunteers are leading locally, often quietly and consistently, in ways that shape the experience of participants across the country.
Field Hockey Canada’s work this year also reflects continued investment in community support, digital infrastructure, education, communications and system coordination. These areas may not always be visible on the field, but they are critical to building a more sustainable, accessible and participant-centred sport system for the future.
Building the Resources to Support the Future
A strong sport system also requires a strong and diversified financial foundation. This year, Field Hockey Canada has continued to focus on developing partnerships and new revenue opportunities that can provide greater stability and allow us to invest in both community participation and international performance.
Two important initiatives are the National Bank of Canada partnership and the Power the Podium Fund. These projects represent more than individual sources of revenue. They are part of a broader effort to build sustainable resources for field hockey and create new opportunities to invest in athletes, programs and communities.
Alongside these initiatives, the new Government of Canada investment in sport provides important support for the Canadian sport system and helps create the conditions for continued development and performance. Together, these investments give us greater opportunity to look beyond the immediate year and build for the years ahead, supporting the growth of field hockey in communities while continuing to pursue excellence on the international stage.
The Power of Collaboration
What stands out across the year is how many different parts of the field hockey community are contributing to progress. National and provincial organizations, clubs, universities, athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, sponsors, government partners and international organizations all have a role to play. The success of the all Field Hockey Canada’s work, from U SPORTS Championships, through youth tours, Masters World Cup, education programs and new facility development all demonstrate what becomes possible when we work collectively. Our Team of Teams approach continues to be an important framework. We are creating more opportunities for people across the sport to contribute expertise, share ideas and help shape the future of field hockey in Canada.
Thank You to the Field Hockey Community! On behalf of Field Hockey Canada, I want to offer my sincere thanks to our staff team for their dedication, professionalism and care in serving the sport every day. I am also deeply grateful to our Board of Directors, committee members, provincial partners and volunteers across the country for the leadership, stewardship and energy they bring to this work. Thank you to the athletes who inspire us through their commitment; to the coaches and officials who make quality sport possible; to clubs, schools, universities and provincial members who create opportunities in communities; to event hosts, partners and sponsors who help us deliver; and to families and fans who support the journey.
Field hockey in Canada is only possible because of this collective effort.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Field Hockey Canada will continue to focus on connection, clarity, opportunity and shared progress.
We have important work in front of us: growing participation, strengthening pathways, supporting safe and inclusive environments, elevating events, investing in people, developing facilities and building the financial capacity needed for long-term success. The Hockey 5s facility in Ottawa is one example of how new infrastructure can unlock new community opportunities. The National Bank partnership and Power the Podium Fund demonstrate how strategic revenue generation can help create a stronger foundation. New education programs, youth tours, university championships and Masters opportunities show how the pathway can continue to grow at every stage. And with continued support from the Government of Canada and our many partners, we have an opportunity to build on this momentum. The 2025–2026 Annual Impact Report shows that Field Hockey Canada is moving forward with purpose. More importantly, it shows that we are moving forward together.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this year’s progress and to everyone who continues to believe in the future of field hockey in Canada.
