Learn It

Programming that goes beyond the game - featuring athlete engagement and real talk on what matters most to girls in sport.

Check back as more information is being added!

Chalk Talk: Bring Your Best Self to the Game!

Saturday May 23, 10:30am

Presented By: Captains & Poets

Description: Join us to discover your inner Captain and Poet and learn how they can help you build self-awareness, confidence, and resilience to be the best you can be! Take what you learn into every aspect of your life, for your whole life!

Presenter(s): Jennifer Johnson, CEO, Captains & Poets, As a parent, former educator, entrepreneur, and passionate change-maker, Jennifer is on a mission to empower young people, and the adults who serve them, to be their best selves. She holds an M.A. in Education in Curriculum, Teaching, and Organizational Learning from OISE, is a seasoned leader in both education and the corporate world, and a Board Member of Resilient Kids Canada. As a parent, Jennifer is committed to nurturing self-leadership skills and the ability to navigate an increasingly dynamic world with authenticity, compassion, and resilience. A proud hockey mom, she is also invested in fostering positive cultures in sports for athletes, coaches, and parents - creating environments that promote Positive Youth Development in challenging times.

Suggested Age Range: 8-18

Chalk Talk: Coaching Beyond the Game: Building Confidence, Belonging & Leadership in Sport

Saturday May 23, 11:30am

Presented By: Tennis Canada

Description: Join us to explore how coaching can shape confidence, belonging, and growth far beyond sport. Using tennis as a starting point, this interactive Chalk Talk will spark conversation about how coaching can help girls feel supported, stay engaged, and discover their potential on and off the court. Together, we’ll unpack how positive coaching can create stronger sport experiences and lasting impact.

Presenter(s): Toni Ormond is a Tennis Canada Club Professional 2, former Division 1 athlete, and educator who is passionate about creating meaningful sport experiences for youth. As Program Manager for Women and Girls at Tennis Canada, she works to expand opportunities for girls to build confidence, feel like they
belong, and stay involved in sport. With coaching experience across community, collegiate, and high-performance environments, Toni brings together her background in teaching and sport to help shape positive experiences on and off the
court. She holds a Master of Science in Sport Pedagogy from Baylor University, where her studies focused on sport psychology, motor learning, athlete development, and coaching practices, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in French Secondary Education from Ball State University. Through her work, Toni is committed to creating inclusive sport spaces where everyone can thrive.

Suggested Age Range: 13-18

Chalk Talk: Empowered to Play: Periods, Puberty & Advocacy in Sport

Saturday May 23, 12:30pm

Presented By: Help A Girl Out

Description: Join Help A Girl Out for an interactive and empowering session all about periods, puberty, and thriving in sport. Through engaging discussion and activities, participants will learn more about body changes, menstrual health, and how self-advocacy can support athletic performance, confidence, and overall well-being. This session also highlights how Help A Girl Out is advancing menstrual equity across Canada through access, empowerment, and education, while encouraging athletes to support themselves and their teammates in creating healthier, more inclusive team environments. This session will feature testimonials from athletes supporting HAGO.

Presenter(s):

Lauren Kutchera is the Bilingual Education Programs Coordinator at HAGO, where she coordinates and facilitates menstrual health and sewing workshops in English and French. She is committed to community-based education and knowledge translation, creating safe, culturally responsive spaces where youth build knowledge, confidence, and practical skills. With a Master of Science in Global Health, Lauren brings experience in women’s health locally and internationally, including an internship with Giants of Africa focused on philanthropic strategy and women’s empowerment, global scoping-review research, and volunteer service in medical clinics abroad. She is also a United Nations Association in Canada SDG 5 Gender Equality Fellow, strengthening her commitment to feminist policy, health equity, and empowerment through accessible, evidence-informed education. On weekends, you can find her tutoring students in French and occasionally participating in community fashion shows, blending education and creativity with community engagement.

Suggested Age Range: 10-18 (and parents)

Chalk Talk: Ask An Athlete

Saturday May 23, 1:30pm

Description: An interactive Q&A session where participants can connect directly with athletes to ask questions about their journeys, challenges, training, mindset, and experiences in sport. A chance to gain inspiration, advice, and insight from women who have lived it firsthand.

Presenter(s):

Monica Knowlton, Weightlifter (World Championships, Pan American Championships, Commonwealth Championships), Law student

Sheriauna Haase, Sprinter, Paralympian, (World Para Athletics Championships), Actor, Dancer

Suggested Age Range: all ages!

Chalk Talk: Confidence Lab: Build your power phrase

Saturday May 23, 2:30pm

Presented By: The Embrace Collective and The Mirror Diaries

Description: You don’t have to feel confident to begin - you build confidence by showing up. This session will help you move past self-doubt, and stop overthinking, so you can back yourself, be yourself, and feel like you belong in your sport. You’ll create a personalised power phrase for your mirror to remind you to keep going- even in the tough moments.

Presenter(s): Vanessa Coulbeck is a researcher at the University of Toronto whose work focuses on self-compassion, body image, and supporting girls to feel confident participating in sport and physical activity. She contributes to initiatives through the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre that aim to improve girls’ wellbeing, inclusion, and enjoyment in sport environments. Vanessa is also author of the Mirror Diaries series, which helps young people explore confidence, identity, and belonging through relatable storytelling.

Dr Zali Yager is Co-Executive Director of The Embrace Collective and an internationally recognised expert in body image, mental health, and wellbeing. With over 20 years of research experience, her work focuses on translating evidence into practical tools that help build better body image. She has published extensively in this field and co-authored Embrace Kids, supporting families, educators and coaches to create environments that strengthen confidence and resilience against appearance pressure.

Suggested Age Range: 10-18

Chalk Talk: Ask An Athlete

Sunday May 24, 10:30am

Presenter(s):
Reghan Devine, Martial Arts, World Association of Kickboxing Organizations, 3-time World Champion (Jumpstart Play to Lead athlete)

Yvette Yong, Taekwondo, Olympian, 15-time Canadian National Team member, Co-owner of North York Taekwondo

Zoe Sherar, Sprinter, Olympian, World Championships, World Relays

Suggested Age Range: all ages!

Chalk Talk: Keeping Girls in the Game: Body Confidence, Menstrual Health & Participation

Sunday May 24, 11:30am

Presented By: Canadian Women and Sport

Description: This interactive community session explores the real-life experiences shaping girls’ participation in sport today. Together, we’ll unpack how body confidence, social pressures, and menstrual health influence girls’ decisions to stay, drop out, or sit on the sidelines.

Designed for parents, coaches, young people, and community members, this session moves beyond awareness to action, offering practical, realistic ways to create sport environments where girls feel comfortable, confident, and connected.

Presenter(s): Jenny Lim (she/her) is a Program Manager at Canadian Women & Sport, where she has helped shape core initiatives including the Gender Equity LENS e-module, Gender Equity Playbook, Same Game, and Gender Equity in Coaching. She now leads the design and delivery of customized gender equity solutions for sport and community organizations at all levels of the sport system.
Canadian Women & Sport is a national non-profit dedicated to advancing gender equity and empowering girls and women in and through sport.

Suggested Age Range: 15+

Chalk Talk: Discover Your Potential: A Fireside Chat with RBC Olympians and Olympic Bronze Medalists Marion Thénault and Larissa Franklin

Sunday May 24, 12:30pm

Presented By: RBC

Description: Join us for an inspiring conversation with two RBC Olympians and Olympic bronze medalists who've turned their athletic potential into reality. Marion Thénault and Larissa Franklin sit down to share their journeys, from discovering their potential to standing on the podium.

Whether you're an athlete wondering what's next, a coach looking to guide the next generation, or a parent supporting a young competitor, this conversation is for you. You'll hear firsthand how RBC Training Ground identifies talent across sports, connects athletes with new opportunities, and opens doors you might not have known existed.

Presenter(s): Marion Thénault

Sport: Aerial Skiing
Hometown: Sherbrooke, QC

After attending an RBC Training Ground event, Marion was identified by Freestyle Skiing and won the Canadian Championships in her first year. She has since competed in the NorAm Tour, multiple World Cups, and two Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 2022. She's an aerospace engineering student at Concordia University.

Major Accomplishments:

Beijing 2022 Olympic Bronze medallist
RBC Training Ground Alumni
World Cup Champion

Presenter: Larissa Franklin

Sport: Softball
Hometown: Maple Ridge, BC

A Guinness World Record Holder, Larissa has represented Canada for over a decade, highlighted by a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In 2025, she was diagnosed with cancer, yet showed remarkable perseverance, returning to competition that season, earning Softball Canada Female Athlete of the Year.

Major Accomplishments: