Redefining Strength: New GNS Athletics Programs

This year, GNS has seen an incredible growth in our girls’ sports, with the return of Senior Girls Rugby and the introduction of a new Weightlifting Club. 

While teaching PHE classes in the Scott Fitness Centre, I noticed that some of our female students were asking a lot of questions and were curious about how to do certain exercises. My first career was as a professional athlete (you can read more about Ms. Kaljuvee’s Olympic experience here) and as a result I understand the importance of confidence when walking into a gym and knowing that you can use the equipment.

Girls in my PHE class were interested in learning more after school, so we created this activity for female-identifying or non-binary students. We’ve had at least 20 students show up to each session, and their work really complements their other sports as well. 

It makes me so happy to see more than 20 girls in a weight room, empowering one another, lifting each other up, and trying new things. They’re learning how to do different fundamental movement skills as well as lifting weights, and it gives them the knowledge, encouragement and confidence to be able to do it. 

I’ve always felt that when you walk into a room, you deserve to be there just as much as anyone else. So, I want women to feel the same way when they walk into a gym and not just feel that they should only have to go to the cardio equipment. Gyms can sometimes be intimidating male-dominated environments. 

I firmly believe that you have to open the door for someone, but people can’t open the door if no one even leads them to it. You should be able to go to the squat rack and confidently know how to use a barbell and a dumbbell and demonstrate that women can be strong too. 

I’m also trying to debunk the myth that if you work out you get massive, which isn’t true. You can lift and still be feminine and strong. The funniest thing that was shared with me was, “No one gets big by accident. No one looks like a bodybuilder by accident.”

In addition, the Senior Girls Rugby team has returned to the pitch for the first time since 2019. They ended their first game day with 2 wins on Friday, April 4. It was a great team effort with lots of learning and sportsmanship.

Last year, we ran a pilot program to gauge interest, and then this year, we have 15 girls on the team playing in the tier two division. It’s really exciting to have girls come out and have a space to be able to play rugby. With my experience being on the Canadian National Team, I’m able to break down the skills and teach them how to give a tackle, take a tackle, be safe and have fun doing it. 

We have such a great boys program that has a lot of interest—GNS has fielded both a Junior and Senior Boys team this year. Over time, it’ll be nice to have even more girls come out and be able to play a male-dominated sport, which leads to even more representation. Rugby is a newer sport in North America, and we want to give it the visibility required to ensure people have the opportunity to try playing the game.

Photos taken by Gabby Seguin ’27