You can play hard while respecting differences, that’s the message Normand Hector wants to send during Hockey Canada’s second Beyond The Boards summit.

Hector is Thursday’s keynote speaker who will kick off a two-day summit in Ottawa on the unhealthy consequences of hockey culture.

Hector is a black, gay man from Saint John, New Brunswick, whose drag persona “Normani” performed at the 2022 Memorial Cup and at a Pride Night hosted by the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League earlier this season.

Hockey New Brunswick also recruited Hector three years ago to speak to players, coaches and families about how to create a respectful hockey culture. Hector does not lead these seminars in his drag persona.

“I come from very diverse backgrounds,” Hector said. “I’m very lucky and very blessed to have this opportunity to educate, but also to try to change people’s mindsets in a sport that have never had someone like me in front of them.

“It is important that my story, as well as that of other disruptors in sports, and I mean disruptors in a positive way, that their voices are heard.

“I really want my message to be what I’ve discovered while I’m in the weeds, while I’m with the players and the coaches and the families. I want to share the powerful stories of the players, the coaches and the families. the families who help shape hockey today.”

Hockey Canada’s first summit in Calgary in September 2023 addressed toxic masculinity in elite men’s hockey.

Hockey Canada has come under pressure to change the culture of the sport following allegations of sexual assault by members of the national junior men’s hockey team at a 2018 gala in London, Ont.

These allegations have not yet been proven in court. Five players, all of whom played in the NHL, will be tried before a jury next year.

Revelations in 2022 that Hockey Canada had used a portion of minor hockey fees to settle lawsuits in other similar cases ignited a firestorm that highlighted other issues such as racism, hazing, discrimination and homophobia, and cost the organization money in lost sponsorship.

The first summit in Calgary took place during Katherine Henderson’s first week as president and CEO of Hockey Canada.

“Last year’s event was eye-opening for all of us and reinforced that there is still much work to be done, which is a challenge we take very seriously,” Henderson said in a press release.

The Ottawa summit includes longtime NHL executive Brian Burke, Olympic swimming champion Mark Tewksbury and transgender athlete Harrison Browne among panelists on the topics of sexism and gender-based violence, homophobia and transphobia in hockey.

When Hockey New Brunswick began tracking complaints of on-ice discrimination four years ago, the number was higher than expected, said general manager Nic Jansen.

At that time, Hector was already speaking in schools about respect and inclusion. HNB’s target audience for Hector’s work is players in the U13 (ages 11-12) through U18 leagues, their coaches and their families.

“It’s a PowerPoint presentation, but it’s very interesting when he talks about things like why diversity is important, and he talks about some of his own experiences,” Jansen said. “It speaks to the damage that can be caused by discriminatory terms, whether homophobic, racial or different terms, as defined by Hockey Canada.

“Then he tries to open up the discussion. He gets the players to talk about some things that maybe they said they shouldn’t have and some things that could have been said to them.

“One thing that really sets Normand apart is his ability to engage teens in the presentation and keep them interested for the 50 to 60 minutes he talks to them.”

Hector says he has seen changes since he started working in the hockey community.

“Here’s how I know: it’s firstly because of the number of questions I receive during my presentation,” he explained. “My presentations are largely an open book. I don’t hide who I am. I don’t hide what I do. Obviously they can see what color I am. I allow them to ask me questions in a safe environment, but a respectful environment.

“When I talk to them, I really make sure they understand that you can still play hard. It doesn’t mean you have to disrespect the players, it doesn’t mean you have to disrespect anyone which is different.”