Give every kid a chance to play
The Howe We Play Campaign helps Saskatoon kids overcome barriers to sport by funding access, equipment, and opportunity.
This is Howe We Play
This is why it matters
Every child remembers the first time they felt part of a team; their first jersey, their first skate on the ice, the first moment they knew they belonged. For too many kids in Saskatoon, that moment never comes. The Howe We Play campaign aims to change that.
Barriers facing Saskatoon youth:
High cost of equipment
Costly registration fees
Limited or no transportation options
Lack of access to community leagues
low confidence, limited exposure, or belief that organized sport is not “for them”
In neighbourhoods across Saskatoon, hundreds of kids dream of joining a team but face barriers that keep them on the sidelines. For youth, these barriers add up quickly, and opportunities slip away.
When a child finally steps into equipment that fits, when they step into an arena where they can see a place for themselves, when they realize someone believes in their potential, everything shifts.
Kinsmen programs exist for these
moments.
9 facts about Kinsmen youth sports
Every number tells a story. Gordie Howe’s Number 9 has always stood for more than sport; it stands for community, character, and giving kids a chance.
105 track & field athletes supported
Over 70 Kinsmen members that support our community
90+ years of Kinsmen community impact
Roughly $1,000 to support one athlete per year
110 lacrosse players supported
105 track & field athletes supported
400+ youth supported every eyar
105 track & field athletes supported
$250,000 from the Howe family to launch the campaign
14-16 KHL teams anually
Total Goal: $1 million
Howe Family Gift
$250,000
Remaining to Raise:
$750,000
This is Howe we honOur Gordie’s legacy
We’re proud to launch the Kinsmen Howe We Play Campaign, a community effort to raise $1 million in support of Kinsmen youth sports in Saskatoon.
It started with a generous $250,000 donation from Gordie and Colleen Howe, who believed deeply in the value of community and the power of sport to shape a child’s path. Their family’s gift to this initiative is more than generosity, it is a continuation of their legacy: giving kids a chance to grow, play, and succeed.
Colleen Howe, known as the First Lady of Hockey, was instrumental in advancing youth access to sport. Her commitment to ensuring all children could play, partici- pate, and feel included is at the heart of this campaign. The Howe legacy isn’t just athletic; it is profoundly community-driven.
Campaign Goal
To honour Gordie and Colleen Howe’s legacy and ex- pand these life-changing programs, we aim to raise $1 million, including the Howe family’s foundational gift. With $750,000 remaining, we are inviting the community to help build a future where every Saskatoon youth has the chance to participate in sport.
This is the impact of your support
The need in Saskatoon is real — and growing. Each year, Kinsmen youth sports provide access, structure, and opportunity to hundreds of kids.
250
Hockey players
110
Lacrosse players
105
Track & field athletes
400+
Youth supported each year
Your support directly impacts young athletes by providing:
Equipment
Every child receives properly fitted gear, many for the first time in their lives.
Transportation
Safe, reliable rides that remove one of the biggest barriers to participation.
Community
A place where they feel supported, respected, and included.
Coaches & Mentorship
Volunteers and partners teach skills, teamwork, and confidence.
Access
Programs designed specifically for youth who face systemic barriers.
Youth in these programs show:
Improved attendance
Better classroom behaviour and engagement
Increased confidence
Stronger peer relationships
Grow in physical and mental well-being
Many go on to join school teams, community
leagues — or even return as volunteers or Kinsmen
members themselves. These programs don’t just
introduce kids to sport, they change the trajectory
of their lives.
This is Howe Kinsmen shows up
For more than 90 years, Kinsmen volunteers have stepped in where the community needed them most.
In the early years of the Kinsmen Hockey League (KHL),
members would arrive at outdoor rinks before dawn to
shovel snow, set up nets, and make sure everything was
safe for the kids who showed up excited to play. They
helped fit equipment, officiated games, and formed
relationships that extended far beyond the rink.
That spirit continues today.
Kinsmen programs now support youth in hockey,
lacrosse and track & field, with a special focus on
inner-city schools and Indigenous youth. Teachers and
school coordinators identify kids who are eager to par-
ticipate but face barriers. The programs are structured
to not only introduce kids to sport, but also reinforce
positive behaviours and classroom engagement.
When a busload of kids arrives for an equipment
fitting, many trying on gear for the very first time, the
excitement is unforgettable. These moments prove the
impact: sport brings joy, purpose, and possibility.
Kinsmen programs were created with a
simple belief: every child deserves the
opportunity to be part of something.
This is the legacy we’re building.
This is Howe Saskatoon shows up
When you support Howe We Play, you are doing more than funding sports programs. You are giving kids a safe place to grow, develop confidence, build friendships, and discover what they are capable of.
Your contribution helps eliminate financial and social barriers that prevent youth from joining organized sport. It ensures that Indigenous youth and inner-city students have the same opportunities as anyone else in Saskatoon. And it invests in a future where all children feel they have a place to belong.
Way to give
01
One-time gifts
02
Major gifts or legacy gifts
03
Monthly giving
04
Corporate & community partnerships
05
Support an athlete for $1000
Every contribution helps us get closer to our
$750,000 community goal.
This is our chance to build something
lasting; for our kids, our families, and
our city.
This is Howe We Play . Join Us.
