Sixteen girls came together to try something new, build confidence and celebrate the power of girls in sport.
Girls CAN Activation in Thunder Bay, October 11, 2026 (International Day of the Girl)
On October 11, 2026, Girls CAN celebrated International Day of the Girl with a special wrestling activation in Thunder Bay, bringing together 16 girls for a day of movement, connection and fun.
Led by Olympian and Girls CAN Co-Founder Leah Ferguson, the event marked another exciting milestone for the growing initiative, which is working to create welcoming, inclusive environments where girls can discover their strength, build confidence and develop a lifelong connection to sport.
And for approximately half the participants, it was their very first experience with wrestling!
Building Confidence, One Experience at a Time
Girls CAN Activation in Thunder Bay, October 11, 2026 (International Day of the Girl)
Girls CAN is about much more than learning wrestling techniques. It's about creating opportunities for girls to challenge themselves, connect with positive role models and discover what they're capable of in an environment where they feel supported and included.
Early feedback from the Thunder Bay event was encouraging. All five participants who completed the post-event evaluation reported having fun, feeling welcomed and included, and leaving with a greater sense of confidence or capability.
One participant simply shared:
“I loved the environment.”
Another had a slightly more practical takeaway:
“Learned animal walks, loved talking to the coaches, and now have skills to wrestle my brothers.”
Sometimes the best evidence of a successful day is hearing what the girls themselves have to say!
A Special Celebration for Girls CAN
For Leah Ferguson, the event captured exactly what the initiative hopes to achieve.
“We were so excited to officially launch Girls CAN on International Day of the Girl with such an incredible group of young girls here in Thunder Bay! It was amazing to see their energy, confidence, and willingness to try something new. Half of our participants were experiencing wrestling for the very first time, and that's exactly what Girls CAN is about — creating spaces where girls feel welcome, have fun, move their bodies, and discover what they're capable of. The girls were awesome, and we couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate!”
Leah Ferguson, Olympian and Co-Founder, Girls CAN
A Growing Movement for Girls and Women in Wrestling
Girls CAN Activation in Thunder Bay, October 11, 2026 (International Day of the Girl)
Founded by three accomplished women in wrestling, Leah Ferguson, Genevieve Morrison and Olympic champion Erica Wiebe, Girls CAN is working to transform how girls and women experience the sport.
Their vision goes beyond introducing more girls to wrestling. It focuses on creating environments where girls want to stay, women have opportunities to lead, and coaches feel supported.
And that vision is already making an impact.
According to the organization's inaugural 2025–2026 Impact Report, Girls CAN reached 546 girls, engaged 107 coaches and delivered seven major initiatives across its first year.
Through camps, community programming, coach development and partnerships, Girls CAN is helping build a stronger, more inclusive future for women's wrestling in Canada.
Growing Together with Beat the Streets
Beat the Streets is proud to be a founding partner of Girls CAN, providing an organizational home and supporting its development from the earliest stages.
Through this partnership, BTS has helped create space for innovative programming, collaboration and new opportunities for girls and women in wrestling.
The Thunder Bay celebration reflects that shared commitment to ensuring more girls have access to positive sporting experiences, supportive coaches and opportunities to discover their potential.
Congratulations to Leah, the coaches and community partners who helped make this special event possible, and especially to the 16 girls who showed up and gave it their all!
Discover Girls CAN
Learn more about the movement, meet its founders and explore its programs, resources and impact at www.girlscanmovement.ca.
Because girls don't just belong in sport. They deserve opportunities to thrive in it.
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique wrestling, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work it Girl, After-School and Open Mat Sessions programs, providing them with opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
