Congratulations on 35 years at Ringette Canada, Anik!
On February 19, 1990, Ringette Canada welcomed a new secretary to their team. Thirty-five years later, we couldn’t imagine what our office would be like without Anik Desjardins, our Office Manager.
Anik was hired for the role by the very first executive director of Ringette Canada, Wes Clark. Fun fact, she has worked with all eight executive directors in Ringette Canada’s history. Over time, Anik would have a number of job titles, including secretary and technical assistant, and work in every department of the company.
And as her role evolved, so too did the sport. She highlights advancements in equipment safety, in certifications of coaches, in officiating preparation. On a broader scale, she feels ringette is better supported in terms of sponsor recognition and the support of Sport Canada.
“I’ve stayed because of my love of the sport,” Anik said. “I believe in what it can do for our athletes, our administrators, our coaches, our officials. They become better people and our sport is better for all of our members.”
There have been many great moments with ringette over the years. Anik reflects on some of her favourites – the first time her daughter played in a Canadian Ringette Championship was an emotional one.
Anik has been in attendance at every CRC since 1994 as a staff member, dedicated to ensuring that each team and athlete has the support they need. But for the last 10 years, she’s also been a parent. These days, if the Gatineau Fusion are on the ice, you can usually find her sitting in the stands to support her daughter.
Ringette is more than just her career, as it also extends into their family life. When her daughter, Sara, was five years old, Anik took her to her first ringette practice.
“I’m used to high level ringette and the national teams at that point, and when I brought her to, it was called bunny then, I thought I wouldn’t be able to stay at those practices,” she laughs. “To be seeing the sport at the national level and then go to those practices and they would be crying and rolling on the ice, I didn’t know how I would make it through all those years.”
But they did make it, as Sara would continue to move through the high-performance pathway, playing for Equipe Quebec at the Canada Winter Games, Junior National Team Canada, and in the National Ringette League. “I was able to attend Worlds just as a parent twice, in 2017 and 2019, and even the Canada Winter Games,” Anik said. “They grabbed me a few times to help with work, but it was nice to be part of her ringette experience a few times as just a parent.”
Another fond memory is the 2019 events cycle with the Canada Winter Games, the Canadian Ringette Championship, and the World Ringette Championship. “We didn’t know it then, but those would be the last events we had with Alayne [Martell]. We worked together for 20 years, so that year holds a special place in my heart.”
While Anik has attended ringette events in every province (except Newfoundland – yet!) she says each experience is significant in its own way. “We always make some kind of memory or some souvenir that we remember for years. We’re writing history at all of those events.”
A milestone she is proud to be part of is when ringette had its first year with 30,000 athletes registered. Since then, there has been steady growth every year. What does she hope is next for ringette? More recognition of how amazing and beneficial the sport is. Over the years, Anik has seen more and more organizations take note of ringette and get involved, and with the massive shift to supporting women’s sport, she feels the opportunity is ripe for a potential sponsor to make a huge immediate impact.
“Ringette is so good for everybody involved, it brings out the best in people,” she said. “I hope there’s somebody out there for us that recognizes that and can help bring our sport to the next level.”
With support from the community, there is no limit to where ringette can go. The game has spread from North Bay to India, and beyond. Anik has seen the national office evolve with changing times, from typewriters to laptops, faxing coach records to working to have efficient online systems. And we’re incredibly lucky to have Anik’s insights and memories to help guide us in decision-making and to be industry leaders.
“I always said I would stay with Ringette Canada until the sport is in the Olympics. I’m hoping I will be able to see that before I retire.”
Please join us in congratulating Anik on 35 years, and wish her well for (hopefully) many more.
About Ringette Canada
Ringette Canada is the national body that oversees ringette in Canada. Ringette is a Canadian sport that was invented in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario by Sam Jacks. There are currently over 30,000 players on nearly 2,000 teams across Canada, with over 1,500 officials and nearly 8000 coaches. Internationally, it is played in more than half a dozen countries worldwide. Ringette has been designated a Heritage Sport by Sport Canada and as part of the Sport for Life movement, ringette is well advanced at adapting Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development model. Learn more at www.ringette.ca.