At 20 years old, Kara Westlake is someone who approaches life with curiosity and a steady commitment to personal growth. Her grit and determination allows her to study at the University Of Windsor in Forensic Science and Criminology as a double major. Long before stepping into university, Kara’s character was shaped somewhere far different…on the ice.

Hockey became a part of her life at the age of five, when the rink was simply a place to play. Over the years it became something so much more. Spending much of her youth competing in a male dominated sport being the only girl in her league, required her to develop a strong sense of self and the ability to navigate spaces where women are often underestimated. The love for her sport opened doors she never could have imagined, leading her to participate in the Team Ontario training camp and earn the role of captain for her high school team. That same path gave her the opportunity to move to Boston, where she competed at the NCAA Division I level with Stonehill College.

Experiences like these did not happen by chance. Without the support of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, an organization that helps children across Canada participate in sports by breaking down financial barriers, Kara would not be the same person she is today. Having once been the child who benefited from that opportunity, she understands how meaningful access can be. For Kara, the chance to play shaped far more than athletic ability; it influenced the way she approaches challenges, opportunity, and her own potential.

Today, she continues to advocate for Jumpstart so more young individuals are given the same opportunities to step into sports and discover what it can offer them. Her own journey reflects what can happen when a young athlete is simply given the opportunity to begin.