About The GTHLA

The Good Times Hockey League of the Arts is the south central Ontario affiliate of the Hockey Association of the Arts (H.A.A.). The league is focused in south central Ontario, spanning from Peterborough to Guelph to St. Catharines, including Toronto (150 km radius from Toronto). We welcome any team that shares our ideals and is based in this vicinity. A team can apply to become a member or simply just enjoy playing single exhibition games at a time.

H.A.A. Mission

The H.A.A. is an international social enterprise with a common interest in hockey, the Arts and community involvement. Inspired by the amateur roots of the game, the H.A.A. was founded on the ideals of sportsmanship, fun, safety, collaboration, imagination, creative expression, community, social awareness, inclusion, diversity, equity, communication, responsibility, empathy, participation, being proactive and trust. The H.A.A. is a forum for participating in hockey and sharing ideas and creativity upon which its members can collaborate in order to strengthen community and initiate positive social change. Leagues, clubs and players can liaise with others through the association and have their games publicized and recorded.

Principles and Core Values:

It is important that all members understand our mission and core values and that it is continually communicated throughout our membership. With a full understanding of our association’s orientation, our members are empowered to act without having to follow a rigid plan or wait for instruction from other members. Understanding and participating with our principles aligns all the members in a common direction, promotes fun, effectiveness and efficiency and avoids chaos that comes from poor communication.

Our principles start with our conduct on the ice. Our play has to be built on sportsmanship, fun and safety. If these principles are forgotten or ignored our first building block is not present and nothing else we do can be supported. These principles are promoted by being aware and respecting everyone in the game. This means we must recognize that digressive behaviour like verbal and physical abuse to others corrupts the game and our principles. Conflict must be dealt with constructively, pro-actively and respectfully.

We are a community which grows from the love of hockey and being creative. By sharing ideas and imagination we will encourage collaboration, inclusion and diversity. We can collaborate through the managing of our hockey association and through the many avenues of creative expression in the Arts. This collaboration builds and strengthens our community and the community at large. With community we can build awareness of social issues and concerns and encourage social change.

Our ethics have to be grounded in empathy and not rules. This will ensure that we optimize and expect understanding, equity, communication and trust amongst our membership. It will also promote individual and collective responsibility and not have it externalized. It will encourage participation, pro-active thinking and inclusion with all those who share our principles and core values.

The business must operate with all the association’s principles, with effectiveness, with efficiency and sustainability.

Social Media Policy:

1. INTRODUCTION

For the purpose of this Social Media Policy, the policy will encompass public communications,
through such internet mediums and websites as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,
Snapchat, Foursquare and/or any other social media network that allows users to communicate
online. The policy will be applicable to all members of the GTHLA Community, including GMs,
teams, GTHLA volunteers, on-ice and off-ice officials, players, and supporters.
The GTHLA recognizes and appreciates the value of social media and the importance of social
networking to all of its stakeholders. The GTHLA also respects the right of all teams and
associated personnel to express their views publicly. At the same time, we must be aware of
the problems social media and networking can create, and the potential for harm.”
The purpose of this policy is to ensure all teams and associated personnel are aware that
conduct deemed to be inappropriate may be subject to disciplinary action by GTHLA, via Fair
Play Committee.

2. SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES

a) The GTHLA holds the entire GTHLA Community who participate in social media activity
to the same standards to which all forms of league related communication are held.
b) Comments or remarks that are derogatory to a team, the league, or an individual will
not be tolerated and will be subject to disciplinary action.
c) Pause before posting. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for your comments and
they are published for the public record.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA VIOLATIONS

The following are examples of conduct through social media and networking mediums that are
considered violations of the GTHLA Social Media Policy and may be subject to disciplinary
action by the league, via the Fair Play Committee.
a) Negative or derogatory comments about any of the teams, league and/or GTHLA
volunteers, players or league officials
b) Any form of bullying, harassment or threats against players, volunteers or officials.
c) Photographs, video or comments promoting hazing, sexual exploitation or criminal
behavior
d) racist, sexist, or homophobic comments of any kind, in keeping with the GTHLA
principles and core values on these matters.
e) Online activity that is meant to alarm other individuals or to misrepresent fact or truth.

4. DISCIPLINE

The League will investigate reported violations of this policy. If the investigation determines
that a violation has occurred, the League, via the Fair Play Committee, will impose appropriate
consequences. Any appeal will be dealt with in a similar fashion to appealing on-ice
suspensions.

5. SUMMARY

When using social media, the GTHLA community should assume, especially as it relates to the
league, they should abide by the League’s principles and core values, as described on the
GTHLA website.

If any member of the GTHLA community asks that their identity or image be removed from
social media, community members should respect their request and remove it promptly.