Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1516312
CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 15 KEYNOTE SPEAKER if you're not her, who are you?" With the grace of a deking defencewoman, Hextall made a foray into political communications. The move was validating and helped her understand the breadth of her skillset. She says she is grateful for the experience because it enabled her to grow, become a well-rounded person and recognize that she is more than her job title. "What I learned in that experience was that I have so many transferable skills; there are so many things that I can take away from my broadcasting that work in other industries. That's something that I didn't know that now I do, that provides me not only with work but also puts me in a sense of power to know that if that time comes again, where either I am forced out or hopefully I make the choice to walk away. I have a skill set that is worth something to other industries that I can take with me and be successful in." During her time away from full- time reporting, Hextall continued to pursue her passion for sports. She seriously considered the direction she wanted to take her career. Recognizing the absence of women calling play-by-play in hockey and with encouragement from her mentors, Hextall honed her skills by calling games on the side. In 2018, she made her televised play-by-play debut with the Canadian Women's Hockey League. Media companies began to take notice, and Hextall started down a path of 'firsts.' She became the first woman to call an NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship game in 2019. The following year, she became the first woman to call play- by-play for an NHL game. In 2021, she signed on with ESPN as the first woman to hold a play-by-play role in a national TV broadcast. While these firsts have been exhilarating, they've also come at a cost. "As soon as you start occupying a space that no other female has stood in, that is a tremendous change for many. There are those who don't believe that you should be there, that you only received this because you're checking a box because of physically what you represent, but not what you can actually bring," she explains. "It's a difficult spot, and that creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, and being 'the first' is one of the loneliest experiences I've ever had." As a public figure, Hextall has faced more than her fair share of criticism but says she has come to a place where she can navigate those thoughts and feelings. She only puts stock in the opinions of those who understand what she's trying to accomplish and recognize how difficult it is. She surrounds herself with supportive people who want to see her succeed. She's tough as nails and owns her seat at the table. "It's really important for me to call my own shots in this industry because I've been on the other side of it, and not many of us are allowed to do that or have that privilege. It's in me to be driven; I am competitive; it's part of my genetics being a Hextall. I want to keep seeing where I can go with it and keep pushing boundaries." "When I have done my keynote in the past, one of the things that women often say to me is that they feel like they've been seen, and I don't know if there's a better compliment than that." – Leah Hextall CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY! JENNIFER CHEN MLA for Fort Richmond 431-294-9854 JELYNN DELA CRUZ MLA for Radisson 204-599-2080 ROBERT LOISELLE MLA for St. Boniface 204-505-2800 JIM MALOWAY MLA for Elmwood 204-415-1122