Hockey Cares Exchange Unites Kugaaruk and Ridley Students Through Sport

By: Mr. James Steward

The 2026 Hockey Cares Cultural Exchange brought together students from Kugaaruk, Nunavut and Ridley College, creating a powerful long‑weekend experience grounded in friendship, cultural sharing and the unifying impact of sport. As part of Hockey Cares, a program of True North Aid delivered in partnership with Experiences Canada, the exchange supports reconciliation by connecting youth from remote northern Indigenous communities with peers in the south through immersive, relationship‑based experiences.

Delays in travel meant Kugaaruk youth arrived 15 hours behind schedule, and their first interaction with Ridley students became a defining moment: a Niagara IceDogs game with a crowd three times the population of Kugaaruk. The noise, lights and scale of the event could easily have been overwhelming. Instead, the Kugaaruk players adapted, integrating with their Ridley peers, chatting and settling in beside new friends as if they had known each other far longer.

The following day, the blended group visited the St. Catharines Fire Department, where firefighters hosted a tour and casual lunch. The warm welcome from the broader community set the tone for the days that followed. Later, the students hit the ice together at the Meridian Centre for Skills and Drills, where Ridley and Kugaaruk players partnered naturally, trading tips, cheering each other on and building trust through shared movement and teamwork.

Friday night’s Welcome Dinner and Player Draft at Ridley brought together more than 80 members of the broader community, including Hockey Cares, True North Aid and Experiences Canada, as well as parents and special guests. Crafts, icebreaker games and the excitement of mixed‑team rosters added to the growing sense of unity. From that point on, “Ridley players” and “Kugaaruk players” simply became teammates.

A Saturday morning trip to the Pen Centre deepened these bonds, followed by an afternoon of games at the Meridian Centre. Team Fire and Team Ice, composed of mixed rosters, created opportunities for leadership, mentorship and collaboration on every shift. A dinner between games at Brock University’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts offered a meaningful look at post‑secondary opportunities in the region.

On Sunday, the group travelled to Journey Behind the Falls, where students stood only metres from the thunderous curtain of Horseshoe Falls. For many Kugaaruk youth, accustomed to the frozen Arctic landscape, the power of moving water was striking. The adventure continued on Clifton Hill, with arcade games, attractions and a relaxed lunch where students simply enjoyed the freedom to explore together.

The weekend concluded at the Ridley College Arena with the final game and an on‑ice award ceremony recognizing sportsmanship, leadership and connection. A community potluck wrapped up the night, filling the foyer with shared dishes, warmth and emotional farewells. In the early hours of Monday morning, the Kugaaruk delegation departed for Toronto, marking the end of one journey and the beginning of anticipation for the reciprocal visit in April.

Through the combined support of Hockey Cares, True North Aid, Experiences Canada, Ridley College and generous sponsors, the weekend delivered on its core promise: By playing together, we learn from each other, and by learning from each other, we build lasting bridges across cultures, geography and generations.