The City of North Bay has put a halt to its plan to retrofit arena dressing rooms in North Bay.
Hockey Canada released a new Hockey Canada Dressing room policy two weeks ago which was urging communities like North Bay to create private spaces for dressing rooms in hockey arenas across the country that are used by Hockey Canada sanctioned programs.
However, late last week, the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) sent out a bulletin stating it will not be moving forward on the new Hockey Canada Dressing Room Policy.
"The OHF, along with Hockey Northwestern Ontario (HNO) and Hockey Eastern Ontario (HEO) will maintain the existing Dressing Room Policy from the 2016 Ontario Human Rights Mediation," the OHF stated in the bulletin.
"Should a future transition be made by the OHF to the Hockey Canada Policy, the requirements will be addressed between the two policies with adequate notice to be announced ensuring all changes are made with due diligence. As previously mentioned, the OHF will be hosting three (3) Education Sessions on Gender Inclusion in Hockey including a presentation on the OHF Dressing Room Policy."
See related: City working to create private spaces in arena dressing rooms
The City of North Bay confirmed that this news has changed things.
"Dressing rooms will remain as is, in light of this," Gord Young, communications officer, with the City of North Bay, told BayToday via email.
