Community
Land Acknowledgment
Mimico Lacrosse acknowledges the land we play on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. They are the rightful caretakers and titleholders of this land, which is covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between Indigenous Peoples to share and protect the territory and resources around the Great Lakes.
We recognize that the lands and territories throughout the province where we gather to play lacrosse, traditionally known by Indigenous Peoples as the Creator's game, were inhabited by people long before us.
We respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, we acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Diversity and Inclusion
Mimico Lacrosse prides itself on fostering and promoting diversity and inclusion within our programs. We believe in celebrating every race, age, disability, and sexual orientation to unite as one community. As Canada's national sport, we believe that lacrosse is a sport that should be accessible to everyone and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all of our players, coaches, and families.
We are continually learning and growing in our efforts to be more inclusive, and we welcome feedback from our community to help us achieve this goal. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun through the sport of lacrosse, and we are committed to making that a reality for all.
Environmental Impact
Mimico Lacrosse proudly offers free registration for our youngest divisions thanks largely to our sponsor Suboch Law — and the recycling of scrap metal and electronic waste.
In 2018, the club implemented a recycling program, which has been highly successful. In 2022, we invited our community to participate in our inaugural Metallic & E-Waste Recycling Day in support this program.
By diverting these materials from landfills, the Mountaineers are not only making a positive impact on the environment but the funds raised from the collection of scrap metal and electronic waste benefit our entry level programming, making lacrosse more affordable and accessible for families in the community.
Breaking Down Barriers
Mimico Lacrosse introduced a free entry level lacrosse program for their youngest U4 "Baby Peanut" and U5 "Peanut" divisions in 2018. The free program for 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds resulted in a significant spike in registrations, not just for the free program but eventually U7 and U9, where the club has implemented a 3-on-3 mini version of the game.
The 3-on-3 Mini Game is a non-contact introductory version of the game scaled for children. The program only requires players to wear helmets and gloves as opposed to full equipment, significantly reducing the cost of participation for parents.
Championing Girls and Women in Sports
Mimico Lacrosse is committed to achieving gender equity and driving change for women and girls in lacrosse. We do this by striving to offer the same opportunities and experiences for girls in all aspects of our programming.
Mimico Lacrosse established its first-ever women’s field lacrosse team in 2010 with Ontario Women's Field Lacrosse. It started with an enthusiastic group of lacrosse sisters that made up our whole team. In 3 short years we offered under-eleven to under-nineteen and senior.
When we introduced our free co-ed entry level lacrosse program in 2018, recognizing that we need to reshape the delivery of sport for girls, we offered the same free program for girls exclusively. This was not a girls lacrosse program; it was lacrosse for girls.
With the continued growth of girls playing box lacrosse in our co-ed programs, we are now offering 3-on-3 box lacrosse for girls in 2023. It is our intention to introduce a rep program by 2025. Mimico has historically been a leader in girls box lacrosse, establishing one of the first ever women's box teams in the 80s.