Connection Through Community: Advancing Gender Equity in Sport Across BC

When it comes to increasing sport participation and retention among girls and women, collaboration is one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting change. Montana Molyneux of PacificSport Columbia Basin and Laura Doherty of Freestyle BC are living proof of that. The two connected through a Gender Equity Community of Practice (COP) that is supported by viaSport — the space is designed to foster peer support, learning, and collaboration among women working in BC’s amateur sport system.

Developed by listening to the needs of women involved in the sport system, the COP is one of the ways viaSport is helping women in sport build meaningful connections and share strategies for advancing gender equity. Thanks to this network, Montana and Laura are now teaming up to expand opportunities for women-identifying athletes and coaches across the province.

While they work in different corners of the skiing world—Montana in alpine ski racing and Laura co-leading Girlstylerz, a freestyle skiing program—they quickly discovered they were facing many of the same challenges and shared a vision for a more inclusive future in sport.

“The passion is contagious,” says Montana. “Our experiences in winter sport had many similarities, and connecting through  COP, facilitated by viaSport, made it easy to see where we could support each other.”

Montana, who leads regional sport development across the Columbia Basin, spent the past year launching a number of initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for girls and women in sport. Among them: a Kootenay Women’s Alpine Coaching Network for female coaches in leadership roles, and a Female Athlete Health Webinar Series, which focused on menstrual cycle education and promoting “period-positive” environments in training.

Meanwhile, Laura’s work with Girlstylerz has taken off across the province. Established as a national initiative through Freestyle Canada, Girlstylerz gives girls a chance to try freestyle skiing in a fun, safe, and welcoming environment. Their “Girlstylerz on Tour” activations brought the program to 15 of 17 freestyle clubs across BC this past season—many of which were first-time or returning athletes eager to reconnect with the sport.

“We’re trying to build something with legacy—something that comes back season after season,” Laura says. “We don’t want these opportunities to be one-offs. Thanks to strong partnerships and funding, we were able to run 23 unique initiatives this year and reach even more communities.”

Their collaboration began informally—after meeting through COP, Montana joined Laura for a freestyle competition at a local hill. They skied together, exchanged ideas, and recognized the value of cross-sport partnerships.

“Montana’s perspective helped me think differently about how we sustain our programs,” says Laura. “As female coaches in a male-dominated space, we face many of the same hurdles. viaSport’s COP has been a space to share ideas and just feel supported.”     

For Montana and Laura, the COP has been more than just a networking opportunity—it’s been a catalyst for innovation.

“In sport, it can often feel like you’re working in a silo,” Montana explains. “Through CoP, we’re able to learn from each other, share resources, and find inspiration in each other’s journeys.”

Looking ahead, both organizations are focused on creating long-term impact: increasing visibility for female coaches, supporting leadership development, and ensuring girls and women have safe, empowering spaces in sport.

“We want girls to see what’s possible—and to know there’s a community behind them every step of the way,” says Laura.

Through shared values, lived experience, and a strong sense of community, Montana and Laura are not only building better programs—they’re building a more equitable future for sport in BC.

Want to hear more about their leadership journey and insights on gender equity in sport? Watch the International Women’s Day webinar where Montana, Laura, and other women in the CoP share their experiences.