UNB to reinstate women's hockey in 2018-19

The University of New Brunswick will reinstate women's varsity hockey at the Atlantic University Sport and U Sports Canada level starting in the 2018-2019 season, bringing an end to a human rights complaint filed in 2009.

The announcement, made on Monday morning, is part of an agreement reached between UNB,the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and former UNB women's hockey player Sylvia (Bryson) Dooley.

Dooley had fileda complaint with the Human Rights Commission about the university's 2008 decision to disband the varsity women's hockey hockey team it had operated since 2001 and give the program a lower club status. She argued the decision amounted to gender discrimination because UNB's men's hockey team was maintained.

• UNB agrees to settlement conference on women's hockey team ruling

On March 2, the Labour and Employment Board issued aruling in Dooley's favour, compelling the university to reinstate awomen's varsity hockey team by 2017.

UNB had applied for a judicial review of the rulingand had also struck a task force in June to review the matter. The task force recommended the parties enter a settlement conference to attempt to resolve the issues in dispute.

This has always been what we were after, what we thought was right.- Sylvia Dooley

As part of the agreement announced Monday, UNB has agreed towithdraw its application for a judicial review.

The university will alsorevisit its gender equity policy andprovide the commission and Dooley with its revised policy by Sept. 1, it states.

"This has always been what we were after, what we thought was right," Dooley told CBC News on Monday. "So we'revery pleased that this will finally happen."

'It was the principle of it'

Dooley noted that 2018, when the team is reinstated, will mark just over a decade since it was stripped of funding and downgraded, but she said herlengthy battle has beenworthwhile.

"It was the principle of it and doing what's right," she said.

"Being able to pursue athletics and academics at the same time was just so important and such a significant part of my university experience, and kind of the feeling that we're building something."

UNB's George MacLean on reinstating women`s hockey

8 years ago

Duration 1:01

The University of New Brunswick will reinstate women's varsity hockey at the Atlantic University Sport and U Sports Canada level starting in the 2018-2019 season, bringing an end to a human rights complaint filed in 2009.

UNB will also:

• Hire a full-time head coach, who will be provided with"resources to build the team and recruit student athletes."
• Invest in the infrastructure of the Aitken Centre to create a new coach's office, therapy room and locker room for the women's varsity hockey team.
• Provide resources for equipment and player supplies.
• Provide athletic financial awards.

Dooley said she was pleased the matter was resolved through the settlement conference rather than proceeding toUNB'sappeal.

"I felt that would be a more positive way to move forward," she said, describing the process as "very respectful."