BC HOCKEY AWARDS: LIFE MEMBERS' EXECUTIVE AWARD - JEN LOEWEN
By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO
Described as a difference maker with determination and strong planning ideas, Jen Loewen is recognized as BC Hockey’s Life Members’ Executive Award winner for the 2024-25 season.
A longtime volunteer and Female Hockey Coordinator since 2019, Loewen has managed to pull minor hockey associations and districts together to grow women and girl’s hockey across B.C. and Yukon and nothing can make her prouder.
“I had to look it up, but that’s pretty nice of that group to think about me in that way,” Loewen said of the award. “It means that all the work that we’ve done hasn’t gone unnoticed. It’s not just me, there is always someone along side me.”
Being recognized by not only her peers, but associations across B.C. and Yukon- and even the country - creates that pride.
“It means that even though you may not talk to these people, they’ve still seen the work come out and that’s pretty important,” said Loewen, who is the Manager of Human Resources for School District 27, Cariboo-Chilcotin.
Her employment background has also helped Loewen in her position as Chair of the Nominating Committee for BC Hockey, helping change and improve the processes of that position.
It’s her work with the Female Hockey Model, some six years ago, that continues to bring out her joy.
“I’m very, very proud of that. When I was talking to June (McKenzie, the Branch Coordinator, Minor Hockey Operations) she said, ‘You know when I started doing operations chair, we never saw a tournament team request for female,’ ” said Loewen.
“Watching these girls come along and seeing them out in the community and now starting to coach - to me that’s where I have found the most value in the work that we’ve done.
“There’s been an avenue for these girls to continue growing through coaching or participating in Program of Excellence camps alongside BC Hockey or in the Try It events. I see these girls on Facebook or in the newspapers; my own daughter coaching for Kamloops Minor Hockey Association) – these are all important things that we were able to give an easier avenue for them.”
Loewen, who began volunteering with Williams Lake Minor Hockey Association, has seen incredible growth and strength in women and girl’s hockey in B.C. and Yukon and it’s been noticed across the country.
“Hockey Canada did a couple of Female Summits and brought people from across the country, but what I noticed - in Year 1 where people were starting off their journey promoting the female game – was we were the model for them,” said Loewen.
“We got a lot of airtime and a lot of show and people have done fantastic things with female hockey as a result of being able to share the work throughout the provinces, with people picking out a little bit of everything.”
Other provinces and territories are now starting to follow lead.
“B.C. is going to have to do a really good job of maintaining it. I’m a little competitive, I’d like to see us be number one all the time, but other provinces are catching up and I think we’re growing stronger as a country,” stressed Loewen.