Empowering children on and off the ice.

Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) is a volunteer driven charity that teaches life skills and empowers marginalized youth through hockey. We provide free programs to youth of all backgrounds from grade four through post-secondary.

 

Investing in one kid might give them that first opportunity or might be that one thing that turns their life around. – Tony Wray, Chapter Coordinator, Teacher

“Spending time with them is always a highlight, seeing how the program instills confidence in the kids and develops intangible life skills. I feel really lucky to be a part of it.”

Daria, Volunteer

“I think HEROS brightens up everybody’s day. It’s like another family to go to. It’s a good childhood memory and you can keep going back to it and see all the children, the people you knew, I think it’s just something great to have in someone’s life.”

Hailey, player

Each week boys and girls get an amazing opportunity to learn lifelong skills like, listening, respect, discipline, and have a blast playing hockey! I couldn’t be prouder of the skills these children have learned on and off the ice.

Teacher

“I can’t express into words how this program has changed our son’s life. A dream that he had given up on, is now a dream come true. Being accepted and allowed to be who he is has made him happier.”

SuperHEROS parent

“My family came from Syria. I was having trouble making friends as I didn’t speak English. HEROS helped me make friends, it helped me feel Canadian.”

– Suleyman, player

HEROS Programs

  • Grades 4 – 8, participants referred by partner schools or social services agencies
  • Weekly on-ice practices
  • Learn on-ice skills, confidence building, equipment care
  • Intro to mentoring relationships with volunteers & HEROS All Stars

FUTURE STARS

Grades 4-8

  • Ages 7 – 17
  • Open to players with physical and cognitive barriers to sport
  • Adapted on-ice curriculum
  • Focus on station work from a Learn to Play perspective
  • Team building with other HEROS participants across the country

SUPER HEROS

Players with physical
and cognitive barriers

  • Grade 8 and above
  • Weekly on-ice practices
  • Continued mentorship from volunteers and life-skills training
  • Mentoring opportunities with HEROS Future Stars

ALL STARS

Grades 8+

  • Annual hockey camp in Northern Ireland
  • Partnership with child and youth care organizations from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the UK
  • Bringing together marginalized youth from different backgrounds
  • Helping to promote mutual understanding and bridge the historical divide among communities

HEROS INTERNATIONAL

Annual hockey camp
in Northern Ireland

HEROS Communities

PROGRAMS

CITIES

HEROS offers 25 programs in 9 cities across Canada: Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Ottawa, with planned expansions into Montreal and Saskatoon in the coming seasons.

About Us

Norm Flynn

Founder & President
Vancouver, BC
Norm’s unwavering vision and belief that he can make a positive difference is what helps to drive the organization every day.

Kevin Hodgson

Executive Director
Calgary, AB
From gear to volunteers, Kevin makes sure everything runs like clockwork at HEROS.
READ MORE

HEROS Board of Directors and Ambassadors

Thank you to our partners!

The Team Captain - National Presenting Sponsor

Top Shelf Partners

Home-Ice Partners

Playmakers

Teammates

Community Partners