Central Canada Women Football League launches, planning 2022 season

3 Down Nation

3 years ago

Football Quebec and Football Ontario have joined the movement Les Reines Football, created in November 2020, to create the first inter-provincial women’s football league in the eastern part of the country.

The Central Canada Women Football League (CCWFL) has launched with the objective of empowering all women to participate in football in a competitive and safe environment, regardless of the role.

More than 50 women answered Les Reines’ call at their launch in February and more than 100 women have already expressed their interest in playing in the CCWFL even before its launch. Extending Les Reines’ existing reach to new regions, the CCWFL is confident to have their first competitive season in 2022.

The league currently has two teams: the Montreal Blitz and the Ottawa-Gatineau Capital Rebels. By the first season, the CCWFL’s objective would be to develop four new teams in Quebec City, Toronto, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

According to the CCWFL website, the Blitz will be coached by Larry Ghio, who worked as a scout for the Edmonton Elks from 2010 to 2012.

The association of the two provincial sports organizations is accelerating the pace towards the development of women in football in these two provinces.

“The association of Football Quebec and Football Ontario is a key element of this project of which we are very proud,” underlines Andréanne Dupont-Parent, founder of the movement Les Reines Football and now commissioner of this new league.

For Mathieu Joyal, General Manager of Football Quebec, this union reiterates the importance “of developing the women’s aspect in football in order to create an environment open to everyone, all passionate of the same discipline.”

Les Reines Football movement was launched by Andréanne Dupont-Parent, a former football player with the Montreal Blitz, in the midst of the pandemic to create a supportive community promoting accessibility to football for young girls and women.

“What we wanted was to assemble a pool of players and coaches in common with Quebec and Ontario to introduce the sport to athletes from other disciplines and to provide development opportunities through mentorships and training,” she said in a statement.

“We have a lot of people working in this project who are passionate about football and the development of women in sport,” said Maelle Benoit, communications manager for the CCWFL. “The development of this league also means seeking out women and men who want to get involved at the operational or organizational level and grow the league with us.”