Hockey Cares was proud to host a visiting hockey team from Kugaaruk, Nunavut, over the February long weekend, for part 1 of the 2026 cultural exchange.
Fifteen St. Catharines-based hockey players, along with their families and Ridley College staff, spent the weekend connecting with the visiting players through hockey, school activities and community experiences, including conversations about future pathways and life beyond their home communities.
For many of the Kugaaruk youth, it was their first time travelling south, making the exchange a meaningful opportunity to build relationships, broaden perspectives and support youth wellbeing.
This April, the St. Catharines youth will be travelling north for the reciprocal visit to Kugaaruk. Follow along to hear all about their experience.
Build lifelong friendships with teammates and families
Explore post-secondary pathways, with a special focus on careers in the trades
Experience a new environment, growing their confidence, independence, and sense of possibility
By playing together, we learn from each other.
Your support helps open doors and create life-changing opportunities for youth.
Hockey Cares is a cultural exchange program created to foster positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth in Canada.
Through a shared love of hockey, the program provides youth with the opportunity to play hockey, create friendships, and experience life in a new community. The youth build strong relationships with one another and make positive cross-cultural connections.
Participation Guidelines
To be considered as a Hockey Cares participant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a youth aged 13 to 15 years old
- Possess hockey experience
- Have an openness to learning about a new culture
- Be willing to abide by Hockey Cares’ Code of Conduct
- Be willing to take part in preliminary cross-cultural training
- Have a support system committed to facilitating the exchange and welcoming exchange players
Additionally, participants from southern communities must:
- Have a support system that is committed to supporting events and fundraising initiatives in support of Hockey Cares
Hockey Cares and True North Aid are grateful for the contributions of Experiences Canada, without whom we’d be unable to make our program possible!