Andrew Adair
Founder and president. He started Open Ice Initiative in 2025 as a Grade 10 student at Upper Canada College.
Founder and President
Andrew Adair
Andrew Adair founded Open Ice Initiative in 2025 to remove the financial barriers that keep underprivileged youth out of hockey. He built the twenty-member Headquarters Team that makes sure every Open Ice chapter runs to the Open Ice standard and runs the flagship camps in Toronto. He recruited professional coaching and secured partners including MCW Consultants, Platform Insurance, Rockland Resources, Pizza Pizza, PHPA and HockeyStickMan.
Under his leadership Open Ice ran a December 2025 pilot, followed by camps at March Break and in August 2026, and has sent home 576 individual pieces of equipment that campers keep for good. The organization has been covered by CTV News, CP24, Beach Metro News and TorontoToday.
In March 2026 he incorporated Open Ice Initiative Inc. as a not-for-profit organization in Ontario, overseen by a volunteer board of directors, with adults joining him on the administration team. He now leads its expansion across Ontario: applications for new student-led chapters open in November 2026, with the first chapter camps planned from July 2027.
In his words
Why a student started a free hockey program, as he told Beach Metro Community News in January 2026.
I am fortunate that my family was able to support my involvement in the sport, but through research and direct community engagement, I became aware that many families do not have that same access due to financial barriers.
Andrew AdairFounder and President, in Beach Metro Community News, January 2026
For me, this project is about giving back to my community and making opportunities possible for families who otherwise would not have access to them.
Andrew AdairFounder and President, in Beach Metro Community News, January 2026
Hockey gave me confidence, structure, and a sense of belonging and responsibility, and Open Ice is my way of passing those lessons on to others.
Andrew AdairFounder and President, in Beach Metro Community News, January 2026
Milestones
From a Grade 10 idea to an Ontario not-for-profit
2025
The idea
As a Grade 10 student at Upper Canada College, Andrew starts Open Ice Initiative to remove the financial barriers that keep underprivileged youth out of hockey.
December 2025
The pilot camp
The first Open Ice camp runs at Ted Reeve Community Arena. Every camper goes home with a full set of equipment.
March 2026
Incorporation and March Break
Andrew incorporates Open Ice Initiative Inc. as a not-for-profit organization in Ontario. The March Break camp is covered by CTV News, CP24 and Beach Metro News.
August 2026
Summer Camp 2026
Four days at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens and Ted Reeve Community Arena, run by the Headquarters Team with professional coaching.
2027
Chapters across Ontario
Applications for new student-led chapters open in November 2026, with the first chapter camps planned from July 2027.
Speaking and interviews
Speaking and interviews
Andrew is available to speak to the program's mission, growth and next camp cycle.