EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the last in a series of columns that featured this year’s individual inductees to the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame.
She’s a paramedic in Toronto now, but Andrea Ironside has fond memories of her childhood, spending her days in Collingwood’s arenas.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we spoke with Ironside, 36, one of four individual inductees to the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame for 2024.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in Collingwood. I went to St. Mary’s, and then at the time Jean Vanier Catholic High School (now Our Lady of the Bay).
Q: When did you know hockey was your thing?
A: I started playing when I was six. I got into it because I have an older brother and a younger brother and they both played.
I just remember being at the rink watching them, and it was just something I wanted to do.
I played local house league in Collingwood with the boys. There was no girls hockey at that time.
We didn’t see a lot of other girls playing at that time, but it never felt like I didn’t belong there.
Q: When you graduated high school, where did life take you after that?
A: I went to Wilfred Laurier University for a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology. I started there in 2005.
I played hockey for Laurier. The way it works with most universities is you get recruited. They scouted me while I was still playing minor hockey.
When I arrived at school, it was already a done deal. It was an interesting time of life. I was leaving a small town. Laurier’s not a large university but it felt like a big change to learn those ropes on my own and be away from family.
Our coach at the time Rick Osborne and his assistant coached me for all five years while I was there. I came in and they had just finished their season as the No. 1 team in the country. They were a big deal when I came in. I had a lot to prove, and I needed to earn my place.
I learned how to balance hockey, school and outside life. It just fit.
We were a successful team the whole time I was there.
Q: You played for Team Canada at the World University Games. Can you tell me about that journey?
A: I did two stints with Team Canada. The first was in 2009. From all university teams across the country, you’re selected and go into a training camp. From the training camp, they pick who they want for the team.
We went to Harbin, China for the first one. It was a wild experience. You always dream of wearing the maple leaf. It was very exciting and flattering. I was honoured to be chosen to represent Canada.
In 2011, the same thing happened again. I represented Team Canada in Ezra, Turkey. That year I was the team captain, which was also a big honour.
Q: Where are you in life now?
A: I live in Guelph now; I’ve lived here for seven years.
After Laurier I moved to Waterloo and I lived there for a good five years after I graduated.
I moved to Guelph because I work as a full-time paramedic in Toronto. I’ve worked there for 10 years now. Guelph was a closer landing place to get to Toronto.
I’m married, I have two children and I’m pregnant with my third.
Q: When you first heard you were going to be inducted into the Collingwood Sports Hall of Fame, how did you feel in that moment?
A: It was complete shock. I wasn’t aware I was nominated.
I had just picked up my kids from school and I got a call. I’m sure I was way too loud. (laughs)
It was surprising and flattering. I’m so honoured that I’ve been chosen.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: It’s just the kids right now. The kids are young so we’re in a phase of life where everything revolves around them. It’s an exciting time though because we’re getting them into hockey, skating and sports. I get to relive it all over again but from a different perspective.
There’s not a lot of time for hockey, but I’m looking forward to getting back to it when I’m done with this pregnancy.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like people in Collingwood to know about you?
A: Collingwood is such a special place to me and it’s something that I cherish.
We’ve always personally kept it in the back of our minds that we’d love to move back there to be closer to family. My family still lives there so we do get up there often.
I have such wonderful memories of childhood up there, in particular in terms of sport. It was such a small community but it felt like everyone was involved, everyone was supportive and everyone was rooting for you.
You’d show up at the rink for practice and the guys there would ask you about your games on the weekend.
In high school, my coach Liz Payton was a wonderful mentor.
Everyone I met in my journey growing up there has a special place in my heart.
For our feature People of Collingwood, we speak with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way, letting them tell their own stories in their own words. This feature runs on CollingwoodToday every weekend. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
