Together, we soar: Calgary Wild FC kicks off inaugural season and new era in women's sport
After kicking off their inaugural season in the Northern Super League on the road for three games, the Calgary Wild welcomed fans at their home opener on May 11. The crowd went wild when the team stormed the field wearing their vibrant violet jerseys, emblazoned with a fierce red owl on the crest. And, as the Official Founding Sponsor of the Calgary Wild FC, Cenovus Energy employees were there supporting the team.
The cheering erupted the moment the players and their mothers set foot on the pitch, celebrating the city’s first-ever professional women's football club – and a new era of women's sport in Canada.
“It’s inspiring to see women’s sports leagues forming, especially in Canada – it just wasn’t a career option for women when I was growing up,” says Allison Warkentin, Senior Strategy Specialist. “I am beyond proud to work for a company enabling this change, supporting an emerging league that’s making it possible for young women passionate about soccer, like my daughter, to see themselves playing professionally here at home. My daughter now has more female leaders to look up to and draw confidence from in sport, which is invaluable.”
The United Nations has shared research showing that 80% of female CEOs in Fortune 500 companies played sports in their formative years, illustrating the profound impact that early exposure to sports has on a woman’s leadership development and ability to reach their full potential.
"At Cenovus, we believe it’s crucial for everyone to see themselves reflected in prominent roles in our society, whether that’s in professional sports or leadership within organizations like ours," says Candace Newman, Senior Vice-President, People Services, and co-sponsor of our Women’s employee network at Cenovus. “Supporting the Calgary Wild FC is helping to inspire and encourage the next generation of women to follow their passion and become leaders for the betterment of themselves and our communities – together, we soar.”
The Wild’s motto, she shoots, she soars, captures why Cenovus values this sponsorship. Cenovus's involvement supports team operations, including the players, who are athletes, leaders and role models for young girls across the country. Cenovus also helped fly in the mothers of the Calgary Wild players from around the world to watch their daughters play in person at the home opener. The excitement for the first season is palpable, as families and communities cheer on the Wild and witness history in the making.
Off the field, Cenovus invests in other leadership initiatives focused on empowering women of all ages. These efforts aim to foster a culture of belonging, ensuring that the impact of the Calgary Wild FC partnership reaches beyond the pitch.
LAST UPDATED: MAY 2025