The Greater Toronto Hockey League is proud to welcome Felipe Palleros, the League’s new Associate Director of Culture, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The Associate Director for Culture, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) will lead the planning, implementation, and assessment of DEI initiatives in alignment with the GTHL’s overall strategy. Felipe will serve as the main resource for the GTHL Board of Directors, employees, and member organizations. Specific responsibilities include implementing and overseeing DEI efforts in all areas of the GTHL’s programs, practices, staff, and volunteers. The Associate Director will support the GTHL’s Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer in developing and measuring organization-wide DEI goals, manage the implementation of DEI recommendations, and serve as a subject matter expert for all Culture and DEI related policies and programs. The role will also lead the development of annual DEI strategic plan, report on Culture and DEI initiatives, and implement infrastructure changes necessary to achieve Culture and DEI goals.
The addition of the Associate Director for Culture, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion role comes following the Independent Committee’s Roadmap for Change: Report and Recommendations. The first recommendation of the report was to hire an experienced DEI professional.
“We are very excited to have Felipe join the team at the GTHL,” Scott Oakman, GTHL Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, said. “Felipe’s experience in the DEI space will help the GTHL and. the GTHL Members on our continued journey of making the game of hockey, and in particular, the GTHL a safe and welcoming space for all children and youth who want to play the game of hockey.”
Felipe has over eight years of experience supporting various equity-deserving communities within the Greater Toronto Area, beginning as a specialist supporting newcomers and assisting with settlement and securing employment. In 2018, Felipe started leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to further support newcomers and equity-deserving communities while working towards decreasing the many challenges and barriers these communities are faced with. Felipe became a DEI champion by successfully developing and implementing various initiatives throughout several years.
In the volunteer sector, Felipe gives his time to the Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership as a DEI Consultant. Additionally, Felipe used to volunteer for the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.
Beyond his professional experience, Felipe personally immigrated to Canada from Chile in 2006.
“I decided to move to Canada by myself to experience a more diverse culture and grow professionally and personally in a more multicultural environment,” Felipe shared.
Felipe has a specialized bachelor’s degree in international studies from York University and holds a certificate of Leadership and Inclusion from Centennial Collage and the Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion.
“I’m honoured and excited to start my journey with the GTHL as it has impacted our communities and culture directly in a meaningful way,” Felipe said. “I truly believe that by continuing to do so, but also through a DEI lens, the culture, experience, and impact in the communities can only get better and therefore make our GTHL become greater and stronger.”
ABOUT THE GREATER TORONTO HOCKEY LEAGUE
Founded in 1911, the GTHL is a non-profit organization and the largest minor hockey league in the world. The GTHL registers more than 40,000 annual participants in Markham, Mississauga, Toronto and Vaughan. The purpose of the GTHL is to govern organized hockey for youth within its jurisdiction, and to foster participation that reflects the cultural demographic of the League’s territory while promoting an environment that is welcoming and inclusive for all participants.
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Coratti
Senior Manager, Communications and Marketing
Greater Toronto Hockey League
SCoratti@GTHLCanada.com
