Interview with Carla Macleod

Partial Transcript: I was born in Edmonton Alberta, but spent my first 7 years of my life in Spruce Grove, Alberta just outside Edmonton...

Keywords: Alberta; Calgary; Edmonton; Spruce Grove

Partial Transcript: Certainly. They’ve had a profound impact on my life. So, my first Canada Games I I was actually a participant in 1995 in Grande Prairie...

Segment Synopsis: Carla briefly explains her involvement in the Canada Games over time, from her youth competing as a Team Alberta athlete and into her present role as women's hockey coach.

Keywords: Cornerbrook; Experience; Grande Prairie; Hall of Honour; Newfoundland; Red Deer; Team Alberta

Partial Transcript: Memories those are the key. So long ago. Uh, you know what I think some of the key things that stand out...

Segment Synopsis: Carla describes her memories of her first Canada Games at age 12, playing hockey for Team Alberta at the 1995 Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie, AB.

Keywords: Athlete's village; Calgary; Cornerbrook; Edmonton; Grande Prairie; Homestay Program; Michelle Wright; PEI; Pin(s); Team Alberta

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions; Pin collecting

Partial Transcript: Well because everyone, all us old dogs but never, you know we talked about Canada Games, “you guys it’s a mini Olympics” and we're not even lying.

Segment Synopsis: Carla describes why the Canada Games are exciting for young Canadian athletes.

Keywords: Athlete's Village; Athletes; Olympics; Opportunity; Pin(s); Women's Hockey

Subjects: Career Impacts; Media; Pin collecting

Partial Transcript: Yea certainly like you're not…. I think it depends on your personality style too. I’m naturally a little more introvert...

Segment Synopsis: Carla talks about her relationship with her teammates and coaches while she was an athlete at the Canada Games, including how she ended up hockey playing with many of them in future years in larger competitions.

Keywords: Athletes; Team Alberta

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions; Career Impacts; Friendships at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: Yeah, like I knew when I was playing I always had an inkling I wanted to be a coach...

Segment Synopsis: Carla describes why she chose to become a women's hockey coach.

Keywords: Career; Coaches; Experience; Hockey; Team Alberta

Subjects: Career Impacts; Coaching at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: Well I just kept telling the kids all about my career, those poor things, I just kept highlighting all my successes.

Segment Synopsis: Carla talks about what it was like to coach the Team Alberta women's hockey team, and reminisces about the exciting gold medal win at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, AB.

Keywords: Gear; Gold Medal; Jacket; Red Deer

Subjects: Career Impacts; Coaching at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: Yeah like the biggest, the biggest difference is just the sheer number of young girls playing the game right now.

Segment Synopsis: Carla explains how the training regimen for female hockey players today has changed since the 1980s, and the exposure of the sport in general has become greater.

Keywords: Age; Athletes; Hockey; Opportunity; Women's Hockey

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions; Media; Women & Gender Equity

Partial Transcript: Yeah, I think I think on the Games part the answers an easy no, to be honest.

Segment Synopsis: Carla explains why she never felt like the boys and girls hockey teams ever experienced the Canada Games differently, based on their gender.

Keywords: Athletes; Coaches; Experience; Women's Hockey

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions; Canadian Identity; Women & Gender Equity

Partial Transcript: Yeah well, I think the different platforms that exists now and always in the natural progression so...

Segment Synopsis: Carla explains the different ways in which she's seen the media coverage of the Canada Games change over time, from newer equipment to new streaming platforms to sponsorships.

Keywords: Alberta; Sponsor; TSN; Television; Women's Hockey

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Media; Women & Gender Equity

Partial Transcript: Yeah like the Canada Games ended up being the foundation for for my my career that you know, I was pretty fortunate...

Segment Synopsis: Carla explains how playing hockey at the Canada Games as the youngest person on the team pushed her to be her best and play at par with the older athletes, which impacted her career, ultimately playing for Hockey Canada as well as in the Olympic Games.

Keywords: Coaches; Community; Cornerbrook; Hall of Honour; Hockey Canada; Olympics; Red Deer; Vancouver; Youngest

Subjects: Athlete Mentality in Competitions; Career Impacts; Coaching at the Canada Games

Partial Transcript: I think I think what it does is it highlights what our fabric is as a nation.

Segment Synopsis: Carla talks about how the Canada Games bring out some of the best qualities in Canadians as people that care about each other and celebrate one another's accomplishments.

Keywords: Communities; Experience; Medal; Pride; Provinces

Subjects: Canadian Identity; Unity Through Sport

Partial Transcript: Oh yeah I'll tune in for sure, you know like again it's like no different to me than watching the Summer Olympics like you know...

Segment Synopsis: Carla says that she will follow the Canada Games like she would the Olympics, and looks forward to hearing about how the young athletes do.

Keywords: Athletes; Mentor; Women

Partial Transcript: You know of the top of my head like I just I’m so biased because I love 'em. So the answer of the top of my head is like no, but certainly we need to continue to grow...

Segment Synopsis: Carla talks about the societal growth that she'd like to see take place in women's sport in general, and how she thinks the Canada Games are doing a good job at tackling these issues today.

Keywords: Culture; Female; Society; Women's Hockey

Subjects: Women & Gender Equity

Partial Transcript: Well I just think the biggest thing is just respecting and appreciating with Canada Games Council in what that group does...

Segment Synopsis: Carla thanks the organizers of the Canada Games for the work they do in putting on these events for young athletes, and for allowing them to help shape her life.

Keywords: Athletes; Canada Games Council; Coaches; Red Deer