The friendly referee makes history with women’s hockey scholarship endowment

While the women's hockey program at uOttawa has been a varsity team since 1999, firsts are still being made. In 2020, Manon Lacasse made her mark on the program by becoming the first to endow her own scholarship to the team.

Many varsity programs rely on alumni to set such firsts; Manon Lacasse is not a Gee-Gees hockey alumna. And she is not a uOttawa alumna. Lacasse is an alumna of the Canadian Forces and the Canada Revenue Agency, and she is a recognizable member of the hockey community through her work as an official. 

Lacasse has already made history, being the first ever female referee at the CARHA Hockey World Cup. Now she is the first female to endow her own scholarship for a Gee-Gees women's team.

After several years of supporting the women's hockey program, including establishing her own scholarship in 2017, 2020 marked a change as Lacasse thought more about what her legacy could be with the program. By getting to know the student-athletes through the ball hockey community, and learning more about their struggles, it reminded her of some of her own challenges.

"COVID-19 has allowed me to reflect on the fact that sometimes in life we take little things for granted," says Adele Dossou, a Gee-Gees forward and student in the Telfer School of Management who is the 2020-21 recipient of the Manon Lacasse Scholarship.

"Manon's scholarship has positively impacted me this year by reminding me how fortunate we are to have supporters like her believe in how much sport can play a positive role in our lives," Dossou continues. "With the help of Manon's scholarship, I can pursue my academic and athletic goals even in times like these, without additional financial stress."

Considering the lasting impact she could have on the lives of young female student-athletes, Lacasse chose to endow her scholarship with the program. This ensures that financial assistance will be provided to at least one student-athlete on the team annually, in perpetuity.

"Manon has been a loyal female ambassador to our women's hockey program for many years," explains Gee-Gees head coach Chelsea Grills. "Her latest major donation to our program will help our student-athletes pursue their academic and athletic goals for years to come. It is people like Manon that allow our program to grow and become a national contender."

A long-time friend and fan of the multiple generations of Gee-Gees women's hockey players, Lacasse is now retired from her day job. Luckily, this means the proud Franco-Ontarian is very active in the local Ottawa hockey and ball hockey communities and she gives her time back to multiple local charities and their events. She is the is currently the Director of Administration for the Gallant Knights Charity Sports Association, which supports veterans through sports.

"Thank you Manon for being a leader in giving back to female sports and for being a great role model for our student-athletes and our program as an entirety," adds Grills. 

As for being a program first – Lacasse is more interested in making sure that she is not the last. By sharing her story, she hopes that her leading example might encourage other women to give back and invest in women in sport.