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Leslie Scanlon, Canadian High Commissioner in Pakistan, and ice-hockey aficionados, including her daughter, an ice-hockey instructor, took part in five Winter Festivals held in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan in January 2023.
This was the fourth year that Canadians actively participated in Winter Festivals to empower women and girls through sports, to encourage environmental protection and responsible eco-tourism while discussing the difficult impacts of climate change, and to support community-driven economic development, particularly for women.
Canada collaborated with The Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to support communities that demonstrated a commitment to organising inclusive winter festivals, raising awareness about climate change adaptation and environmental protection, and supporting female entrepreneurs.
The High Commissioner and her crew travelled for 16 days to tour villages, teach youngsters in ice hockey skills, attend festival activities, and meet with local officials.
The programme brought together 40 male and female ice hockey teams and gave over 100 rural women entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their products during Women Business Expos hosted on the sidelines of Winter Sports Festivals.
"Canada has a Feminist International Assistance Policy, which reflects our view that only through including women and girls in everything from politics to the business and sports will communities prosper both in Canada and around the world," Scanlon added.
"We all have a responsibility to play in tearing down barriers and ensuring that women, girls, and the differently abled have every chance to achieve in life. Watching the girls' hockey games and having the opportunity to play alongside all of these incredible female players has been a highlight for us. "We appreciate the efforts of these communities to accommodate everyone," she continued.
Meanwhile, Jamil Uddin, General Manager of AKRSP, discussed the project's goals.
"The overarching goal of the Winter Sports Festivals is to improve the economic and physical well-being of Gilgit-Baltistan populations, as harsh winters impede physical and economic activity in these areas. As a result, AKRSP, in collaboration with its partners, provides a chance to stimulate physical and economic activity," Jamil said.
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Ice hockey is a uniquely Canadian pastime that offers a unique chance for Canadian involvement in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. Winter sport diplomacy has evolved into a potent weapon for cultural exchange, in keeping with Canada's international commitment to gender equality and climate change mitigation.
The High Commissioner also paid visits to foreign assistance programmes financed by the "Broadening Economic and Social Transformation for Women's Economic Empowerment and Recovery (BEST4WEER)" initiative. BEST4WEER is a five-year, $20.16 million initiative co-funded by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and Global Affairs Canada with the goal of increasing women's social and economic empowerment.
