Image
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Windspeaker.com
The board of directors for the Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) will once again have Indigenous representation.
That’s because earlier this month, Gayle Payette, who served on the OHF board from 2022 through 2024, was selected to fill a board position for one year.
Payette, a member of M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island, is believed to be the first Indigenous person to have served on the OHF board.
After her initial term, Payette decided not to seek re-election last year.
At the time, however, she made it clear that perhaps she would be willing to return to the association’s board at some point down the line.
“I said there'd be a possibility in the future,” Payette said. “I wasn't really firm on it. But I said if there was a possibility in the future, and if things worked out, I would make the attempt to return.”
Following a recent phone call from the chair of the OHF’s nominating committee, Payette entertained thoughts of rejoining the board.
“They were trying to fill a one-year term that became vacant,” she said. “And they asked if I would be interested in fulfilling that role and asked if I would apply for the position. And, of course, I said yes.”
A vote was held and Payette was accepted onto the board.
Payette is also the principal at Shawanosowe School at Whitefish River First Nation. The elementary school has classes from junior kindergarten through Grade 6.
She does not believe her school duties will interfere with her OHF board position.
“I think I'm able to manage it,” she said. “It’s a one-year term and I think it's manageable. And, if somebody needs help with hockey, I like to step up if I can.”
The OHF board has in-person, bi-monthly meetings. Any emergency meetings that are required are held on Zoom.
Payette’s first meeting with the current board is scheduled for Sept. 19 in Toronto.
OHF board members are also required to sit on various committees. Payette anticipates she’ll receive more information in the near future on which committees she will serve on.
But she said when Jeff Turner, the chair of the OHF board, called to congratulate her on her appointment he suggested Payette sit on a committee which oversees season-ending OHF championships.
He also felt Payette would be well suited to be on a committee that supports various partner organizations and specifically the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA).
Payette is no stranger to the NOHA. She served as the association’s second vice-president from 2020 through 2022.
Her involvement in the sport goes back much further than that. It was more than three decades ago, in 1994, when she became the secretary of the Manitoulin Minor Hockey Association.
She went on to hold various other executive hockey positions near her First Nation.
Payette loves the fact she will once again be providing an Indigenous voice on the OHF board.
“That's always important,” she said. “I think it's dynamic that I'm able to fill a role on a board like this being an Indigenous person and advocate for truth and reconciliation, and those relationships that need to continue to be built for enhancement of diversity and inclusion.”
Payette said she believes she filled a vital role during her first OHF term.
“I think I brought a different perspective,” she said. “I had a lot of minor hockey knowledge and I think I brought just a new personality to the table in terms of what I know.”
Payette said she also assisted in the creation of a land acknowledgement, which is now held prior to all OHF board meetings.
“And I really pressed that we acknowledge Every Child Matters, regardless of their situation,” Payette said.
As for her current OHF term, Payette said she will do her best to be supportive of minor hockey associations. She’s hoping to stress player development, not only with their on-ice performance but their mental well-being as well.
Payette is also keen to continue being an advocate in a couple of other areas.
“Recruitment and retention are always ongoing issues,” she said. “So, I want to be supporting on-ice officials (and) off-ice officials and see what we can do to support and promote the advantages of being involved in hockey.”