At Immaculata High School, a conversation about hockey became much more than that. What started as a visit from a sports journalist turned into a powerful exploration of identity, history, and whose stories we choose to tell.
When Grade 10 Civics and Career Studies students welcomed Julian McKenzie, staff writer for The Athletic and author of Black Aces, the discussion quickly moved beyond the rink. Together, they wrestled with an important question: Who gets to shape our understanding of Canadian identity? In a country where hockey is often described as part of our national DNA, students were invited to think critically about whose voices are reflected in that story and whose have too often been missing.
Hockey, Representation, and the Human Story
McKenzie's book Black Aces shines a light on the lived experiences of Black athletes who have shaped the game at every level, from Hall of Fame legends to Olympic competitors and rising stars redefining the sport today. Rather than focusing only on stats or highlights, Black Aces centres the human stories behind the jerseys: the barriers faced, the resilience shown, and the communities that stood behind these players.
The conversation encouraged students to look beyond the familiar hockey narrative and consider how representation shapes not only sport but history itself. It reinforced a powerful truth: history is not a single story. It is a collection of voices, and every voice matters.
Deep Learning in Action
This experience is directly connected to the Ottawa Catholic School Board's commitment to Deep Learning, an approach that goes beyond memorization to develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, citizenship, and character.
At the OCSB, Deep Learning means helping students make meaningful connections, apply their learning in real-world contexts, and see themselves as active participants in shaping the future.
Through McKenzie's storytelling, students were not simply learning about hockey history. They were practising empathy. They were analyzing narratives. They were asking important questions:
- How are historical narratives shaped?
- Who has been left out?
- How do diverse perspectives deepen our understanding of Canada's social history?
This is the kind of learning that moves beyond the textbook and invites students to engage with the world around them.
Much More Than a Guest Speaker
Experiences like this help students build the competencies that matter most. The ability to question assumptions. The confidence to engage in thoughtful dialogue. The awareness that history is complex and deeply human.
When students encounter real voices and real experiences, they do more than learn about the past. They learn how to think critically, listen deeply, and contribute meaningfully.
By welcoming authors and community partners into the classroom, Immaculata High School continues to reflect what we believe at the OCSB: learning should be engaging, inclusive, and rooted in human connection.
And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a conversation about hockey.
