Lacrosse Canada Celebrates International Women’s Day with Interview Featuring Lacrosse Legend Michelle Bowyer
Lacrosse Canada Celebrates International Women’s Day with Interview Featuring Lacrosse Legend Michelle Bowyer
Oshawa, ON - March 8, 2025?- In honor of International Women's Day, Lacrosse Canada is proud to share an insightful interview with lacrosse legend, Michelle Bowyer. Bowyer, a trailblazer in both box and field lacrosse, reflects on her storied career and discusses the challenges and triumphs she has faced as a female athlete in the sport.
Bowyer’s journey began in her hometown of Port Coquitlam, where she played box lacrosse before joining the Kirby Klippettes in Burnaby, an experience she describes as transformative. Under the mentorship of Hall of Fame goaltender Dave Evans, the team secured multiple provincial and national titles, these years shaped Bowyer’s mindset as both a player and a leader.
Bowyer’s international career includes representing Canada in three Women’s Field Lacrosse World Championships, with a third-place finish in 1982 in Nottingham, England. She credits coaches Courtney Solenberger and Libby Williams, as well as international competitors from the US, Australia, and Great Britain, for inspiring her to elevate her game.
As a pioneer for women in lacrosse, Bowyer faced early challenges in a sport dominated by male athletes. She recalls the lack of support and funding for women’s teams and the constant need for creative fundraising efforts. Despite these obstacles, Bowyer emphasizes the importance of mentorship in her development and has since passed her knowledge on to the next generation of female players and coaches.
Bowyer’s vision for the future includes a more equitable approach to women’s lacrosse, with a focus on creating clear pathways for female players and offering more financial investment and resources for women’s programs. She advocates for the normalization of women’s participation in box lacrosse, the establishment of consistent national team programs, and greater media coverage to ensure the visibility and respect female athletes deserve.
As the first-ever Women’s Box Lacrosse World Championship made history, Bowyer was filled with pride and elation, just seeing these athletes finally getting to compete on the world stage alongside the men.” Looking to the future, she hopes that momentum from this milestone event will lead to further advancements and greater opportunities for women and girls in lacrosse.
“Lacrosse has given me so much, and I am committed to helping grow the game for future generations of female athletes,” says Bowyer. “It’s an exciting time for women’s lacrosse, and we’re on the cusp of something truly special.”
On this International Women’s Day, Lacrosse Canada celebrates Michelle Bowyer’s remarkable legacy and is committed to continuing the work necessary to ensure the growth and success of women’s lacrosse in Canada and beyond.
About Lacrosse Canada
Founded in 1867, Lacrosse Canada is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 60,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. Lacrosse Canada’s mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. Lacrosse Canada oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. Lacrosse Canada is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - Nike, CoachThem, Gait, Cascade, Normatec, Zoll, Boddam, Signature Lacrosse, and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Kealan Pilon
Communications Coordinator
Lacrosse Canada
Email: kealan@lacrosse.ca
