Why are there pins on the medals at the Canadian Ringette Championships?

At the 2024 Canadian Ringette Championships in Dieppe, each bronze, silver and gold medal presented to an athlete will be adorned with two pins that look like a mini version of the medal itself. Why pins? What do they do with them?

Ever since I started working in ringette I have always been asked, ‘Why is ringette so great? I have been asked this question by so many people. ‘Everyone I know who loves ringette…LOVES ringette. Why? What makes it so great?’

That is a great question with a very easy, but somewhat tricky to explain answer: ‘it’s simply the best”.

The speed, the community, the families, the camaraderie, the friendships, the people, teamwork, and being active for life – just to name a few.

There’s no disputing that an athlete’s ringette experience has the potential to not only be one of the most fun, but also one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives. Building and developing their strength, their resiliency, their response to adversity, and their commitment to being a great teammate – among other things – not only helps them find success on the playing field, but in their lives beyond it, too.

Through ringette, families and friends can watch athletes become stronger, more confident, and more capable. The people around this wonderful sport are engaged and supportive and create these wonderful support systems that help their athletes reach their full potential. 

Playing a high-level sport requires a huge investment of time, energy, and money. Athletes know how lucky they are when they have people in their lives that support their ringette dreams. Whether it is a parent, a teacher, a coach, a sibling or a best friend, the support of a loved one means the world.

Ringette Canada is proud to include two pins with each medal that the recipient can then pass on to two people who have supported their ringette journey to bring them to this moment. Inspired by a similar practice at Canada Games, this tradition was started by the host committee of the 2018 CRC in Winnipeg, Manitoba and has continued ever since. It is a wonderful tradition and one that we are very proud to continue. Showing your appreciation to those who support you and have played a part in your success is not only part of being a wonderful athlete, but also part of being a wonderful human.

– Jenni Lloyd