Thank you to those who, upon reading the articles and viewing the videos put out by CBC, paused before passing judgement- realizing that there’s another side to every story. We appreciate the shows of support that have been extended as our association has dealt with this sensitive matter. The statements we released to CBC were believed to be adequate at the time because we were not given a preview of the story that would be told prior to its release. The Dalmeny Minor Hockey Association acknowledges the article released by CBC and upon now being able to view it, would like to provide some information that was not in the article. 1. Berkeley Trayhorne was never banned from being in a dressing room with the boys. She was required to have a separate dressing room (as per the Hockey Canada Coed Dressing Room Policy) but was invited into the larger dressing room once a coach was present. Often, Berkeley arrived at practice once players were already on the ice and avoided the dressing rooms altogether. At all 4 of the games that the U13 team played before Covid cancelled the season, Berkeley was in the dressing room with her male teammates pregame. 2. Berkeley was not the only female player on our Dalmeny u13 hockey team. The females, as the minority gender on the team, shared a separate dressing room. 3. The Dalmeny female players were given either full dressing rooms or the ref’s dressing room throughout the entire season in Dalmeny. They were never assigned a utility closet or hallway. The CBC video showed images of Berkeley dressing in a hallway- this was not our Dalmeny arena, nor was it her team in the background. 4. The Dalmeny u13 team consisted of many respectful young males who enjoyed playing with their female teammates/friends. The Hockey Canada Co-ed Dressing Room Policy was enforced, not because of a lack of trust for our male or female players but rather because it was considered important to abide by rules as a means of protecting everyone so there never is an issue. 5. Those who were present at the skate where Berkeley felt she was blocked from the main dressing room (mid October) have a very different perspective/memory of that event. Berkeley was simply asked by one executive member (not a wall of adults as the CBC article led people to believe) to wait for a coach. (Notably, there was some confusion early on around the protocols for a coed room during a pandemic.) 6. DMHA Executive was not aware of the magnitude of the Trayhornes’ sentiments concerning females having a separate dressing room from their male teammates until a letter from their Lawyer was received on Nov. 2nd. There was no email or conversation that preceded getting lawyers involved. Correspondence with their lawyer consisted of a review of rules and protocols, all of which our executive had the full backing of SHA (all letters were sent to SHA for review). After these explanations were made, correspondence from their lawyer ceased. (This is when the Human Rights Complaint was filed and then denied) 7. Berkeley has not been banned from playing hockey. After a year of not being able to come to a peaceful resolution with the Trayhornes, it is in the best interest of all parties involved to permanently release Berkeley to play elsewhere. In the last piece of written communication we received from the Trayhornes they told us to go ahead and release her. The conduct of Rod and Laurelea (Berkeley’s parents) throughout this past season has brought a level of negativity that can’t be condoned. Please note that our DMHA executive is made up of parent volunteers who were found to be in an extraordinary situation figuring out how to have a hockey season during a Pandemic. The Hockey Canada Coed Dressing Room Policy was created for hockey seasons that never could have accounted for a pandemic that we have experienced. The Policy has to be adaptable to what each facility decided were the best restrictions to apply based upon each Community’s level of concern regarding Covid. We did the best we could to facilitate a hockey season that best-suited all of our players within the parameters we were in. Sincerely, Dalmeny Minor Hockey Association Executive