Monika: I know many trans women who are considering leaving the USA and moving to Canada, which is often seen as a safer haven for the trans community. How do you personally view Canada when it comes to being a trans-friendly country?
Dee: Yes, I would see Canada as a safer location for the trans community, though somewhat regionalized. Over recent years, some of the southern rhetoric and fears from the US attitude towards trans persons have crept into areas of Canada. There are still some very conservative areas and provinces. In Canada, the provinces have significant law-making powers and jurisdiction over certain aspects of everyday life, such as healthcare and education. Two provinces in particular, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have invoked a very rarely used clause within the Canadian Constitution, the "Notwithstanding Clause," which, if passed by provincial legislation, gives the provincial government the power to overrule specific bills.
Monika: Can you give an example of how provincial powers impact trans inclusion in Canada?
Dee: Two provinces in particular, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have invoked a very rarely used clause within the Canadian Constitution, the "Notwithstanding Clause," which, if passed by provincial legislation, gives the provincial government the power to overrule specific bills.
Alberta recently used this clause four times, which most in Canada consider an overreach and abuse of the clause, three of these times to block accessibility and inclusion of trans persons in healthcare, education, and sport. The fourth use of the clause was to force teachers back to work, overriding their right to strike. The clause can be in place for up to five years. This is an extreme case, however, and the government and premier of Alberta have received massive backlash for their use of this rule. The Canadian Constitution does, in fact, protect the inclusion of all persons from discrimination, including transgender persons. This use of the Notwithstanding Clause has been an extraordinary measure, never seen before in the nearly 45 years of the Constitution.
Monika: Despite these challenges, how would you describe the general experience of transgender people in Canada today?
Dee: That said, for the most part, the transgender community has good access to healthcare and affirming services, and generally feels much safer in Canada. There is still significant work to do, and much misinformation regarding trans persons remains, especially concerning trans women and girls and their inclusion in sport. This is an area I advocate very strongly for, and I serve on the boards of a couple of nonprofit organizations advocating for inclusion in sport.
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| "When I came out, I realized I couldn’t stay quiet or keep a low profile." |
Monika: Do you think the Canadian health care system is currently prepared to meet the needs of the transgender community, particularly when it comes to gender-affirming care?
Dee: Putting the current situation in Alberta aside, yes, the health care system is generally well prepared to meet the needs of the transgender community. Yet transgender patients still need to be their own best advocates for healthcare. In my personal experience, I was my doctor's first transgender patient, yet he was very open to learning, and we approached my healthcare needs with open minds. My situation has helped my doctor explore and learn more about the community. Alberta has used the notwithstanding clause in the constitution to block gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth in the province.
Monika: How accessible are gender-affirming surgeries for transgender people in Canada, especially for youth?
Dee: As for gender-affirming surgeries, GRS Montreal at one time was the only institution in Canada to provide such services. Now there are several hospitals and clinics across Canada providing these services. I would like to add that no top surgeries (except in rare extenuating circumstances) are performed on youth under the age of 16, as any surgery for someone under 18 requires legal guardian approval. Likewise, no bottom surgeries are performed on youth under 18, again except in extremely rare circumstances, which could happen at 17 with medical and parental approval. I know one person for whom this occurred; however, their situation was EXTREMELY RARE, they identified strongly as female from a very early age. There are significant checks throughout the process, but I am quite happy with the ability to access specific care needs for the transgender community in Canada.
Monika: You’ve done incredible work with 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and EDI initiatives. What drives your passion for advocacy today?
Dee: Awe, thanks. When I came out, I realized I couldn’t stay quiet or keep a low profile. Our family business was high profile in a conservative community, so I felt I was meant to do more with discovering my authentic self, showing the world, my community, that being me was normal. I returned to hockey, rediscovering the love and fun of the game as my female self, and used my visibility to help break down barriers to inclusion.
In late 2022, I began working in EDI initiatives in hockey, realizing how much more I needed to educate myself, from anti-racism to creating inclusive spaces. In 2023, I began online EDI studies through UBC, earning my Certificate as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Professional in December 2024. In April 2024, I left the wine industry to pursue this passion professionally, creating inclusive and diverse communities, which also opened opportunities for speaking engagements.
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| "I dream big now." |
Dee: The question feels a bit odd to me because often I just think, “I don’t know, it’s just what you do when you care about community and have a passion for change and helping.” But reflecting on it, I think these roles have shaped me, or perhaps I was drawn to them because of who I am.
As a firefighter, rescue personnel, hockey official, and business professional, I’ve often had to act in high-pressure, high-conflict situations with the goal of providing the best outcome for everyone involved, whether that’s safety, fairness, inclusion, employment, or productivity. Very rarely is it about me; it’s always about others. Life came to me with lived white male privilege, and I now see that isn’t the case for everyone. It’s my duty to use my positions, courage, and voice to stand up for those who may not feel safe advocating for themselves. It just seems simple to me, after all, isn’t that what kindness and being a decent human is about?
Monika: So many of us navigate the roles of wives, mothers, and daughters, often carrying the weight of our pasts and sometimes longing to leave it all behind. Yet, you’ve chosen to embrace your identity with such strength, becoming an advocate for transgender rights and vocal about presenting a positive image of our community in society. In the face of all this, have you ever felt the pull of staying in the shadows, of simply being seen as a woman, without the added layers of being a transgender woman?
Dee: That’s a great question, and honestly, it’s one I haven’t often thought about. Several thoughts come to mind. First, WHO I am hasn’t changed. My values, which may have been ignored personally for a time, have not changed. I like to help; I am supposed to help, that’s just part of my character. When I realized I was transgender, I knew I could no longer hide, and hiding was never going to be possible. My past thoughts of running away and leaving my world behind were really about running away from what makes me, me. Gender is irrelevant to that part of my identity, it’s only a small fraction of who I am.
Advocating for rights and standing up to inequality is a far greater part of my identity than my gender. Whether male, female, non-binary, or gender fluid, that’s what matters. I often say: it’s a fact that I am a transgender woman, but my identity is just “a woman,” simple. What has changed is the way I think and my greater call to use my voice and visibility to raise awareness for those who do not see inequities. My transition helped me “see the light,” but it’s just one step in my personal evolution.
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| "Gender is irrelevant to that part of my identity, it’s only a small fraction of who I am." |
Monika: Finally, what’s next for Dee? What dreams and goals are you working toward now?
Dee: Well, I dream big now. I believe in the idea of “think globally, act locally,” but it’s time for me to think globally and act globally. My message is simple: “Hey, this is normal. I may have had the same thoughts and upbringing as you. I get it. I once questioned privilege and realized it’s not always about hard work, it’s about understanding and awareness. I know I can reach more people. There are more allies than we realize, but they need to be ACTIVE allies. Allyship is a verb, you must take action.”
Monika: How does that vision translate into concrete goals for your work and your community?
Dee: My goals include working with more organizations to teach what DEI really is, getting more professional speaking opportunities, landing a book deal beyond self-publishing, creating impactful change around inclusion and belonging in sport, and showing that transgender women deserve to be in women’s sports, we are NOT a threat. This October, with municipal elections coming, I’m even considering running for town council. My kids are grown, my business is mobile, and I love my community. Ultimately, I hope to support myself, be happy, debt-free, and maybe, just maybe, change the world a little in the short time we’re here.
Monika: Monika: Is there anything else you would like to pursue, or any other areas you feel drawn to explore in the future?
Dee: One area of my life that I do like to focus on is my involvement in ice hockey. My passion for the game as a player, coach, and on-ice official. My involvement in the game continued through my transitioning and in fact helped open the doors to many new opportunities in advocacy and to create safer spaces for inclusion, by just being myself. My involvement with BC Hockey, Hockey Canada, Alphabet Sports Collective, and numerous 2SLGTBQIA+ hockey tournaments and organizations came from embracing my true identity as a person and someone who loves the game of hockey.
Monika: Dee, thank you so much for sharing your journey and insights.
END OF PART 2
All photos: courtesy of Dee McWatters.
© 2026 - Monika Kowalska
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