Lee Harding The Niagara Independent

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Former Canadian champion powerlifter April Hutchinson is a person worth hearing with a story worth telling. Hutchinson was the keynote speaker at a recent event this author emceed, a banquet gala for a citizens group.

Everyone left inspired by the London, Ontario native, for the strength of her convictions and the triumphant arc of her life story.

Problems began for Hutchinson at the age of five when a neighbour began to sexually abuse her. The abuse continued for two years, unbeknownst to her father, an Ontario Provincial Police officer who was often away from home working overtime.

Hutchinson came to view femininity as a vulnerability. She cut her hair and wore hoodies, believing it would protect herself from exploitation.

“Can you imagine if that had happened to me now? I would surely have surely been put on possibly puberty blockers, and that’s why I can firmly say right now that there is no such thing as a trans child,” she told a gala audience.

As Hutchinson’s body changed, she turned to alcohol for “that feeling of being comfortable in my own skin.” As her body grew, so did her alcoholism, until by age 18 she “couldn’t really function” without it.

“Every sport that I actually played, whether it was basketball or baseball, I would probably carry a six pack of beer with me in a backpack,” she recalled.

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Published May 25th Christopher Oldcorn

Western Standard News

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April Hutchinson delivered a deeply personal and impassioned speech on protecting women’s sports and standing against biological males competing in female divisions in an event put on by Regina Civic Action Awareness Network (RCAAN).

Hutchison began her speech by discussing her personal journey, including childhood sexual abuse that started at five years old by her neighbour, her struggles with identity, alcoholism, and a suicide attempt in 2018.

She became sober in 2019 after a month in rehab and took up powerlifting to channel her energy and rebuild her life.

Through that, she encountered a male athlete competing in her women’s division, who she calls “Mr. Andres.”

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Exclusive interview with Canadian powerlifter April Hutchinson, who faced a 2-year suspension from the Canadian Powerlifting Union after speaking out against a male athlete competing in women’s events under the pretext of being “trans”. April shares her story, the backlash she endured, and her fight for fairness in women’s sports.

I was born in Toronto and raised in London, Ontario, and my journey is a testament to passion and resilience.

Growing up in an athletic family, I was introduced to power skating by my father at the age of 5. Athletics ran in my blood; my grandfather, though drafted by the NHL Montreal Canadiens, faced health setbacks that prevented him from realizing his dreams. From track and field to tennis, ringette to basketball, I thrived in sports, always fueled by an unyielding competitive spirit.

My life took a dark turn when I battled alcoholism for most of my years, culminating in a near-death experience in 2018 and a subsequent suicide attempt. Emerging from the depths, I chose a different path, embracing sobriety and channeling my energy into powerlifting. Little did I know that within a year, I would become a national champion, even facing the world stage and securing the North American deadlift record.

The Unexpected Turn

Yet, my journey took a turn towards advocacy. In the midst of my powerlifting success, I witnessed a trans-identifying male athlete entering women’s categories. In fact, we were friends online. Needless to say, that didn’t last very long. The words “that’s not fair” would change the course of history.

This revelation ignited a passion within me to champion fairness in women’s sports. I became one of the few outspoken Canadian athletes advocating for women’s safety and fair competition.

The following year would be spent making appearances on media platforms ranging from Tucker Carlson to Piers Morgan.

Little did I know what would follow. The president of the Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) would resign amid the controversy.

Right behind the president resigning came The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) releasing an updated, albeit not perfect, transgender policy, effective August 21, 2023.

Adding another layer to the conversation, Alberta has introduced bills that impact this fight on almost all its fronts: education, sports, and the social and medical transitioning of children. These legislative measures have sparked significant discussions about the intersection of sports, gender identity, and human rights.

After being suspended from the Canadian Powerlifting Union for daring to speak out, I decided not to renew my membership with the CPU.

Imagine how much could happen in next year? It’s thanks to people like you, reading this, that I was able to travel coast-to-coast to raise awareness of the very real attack on female sports and spaces.

Undeterred, I continue the fight with the support of countless female athletes who share the belief in fair sport. This, I’ve come to realize, is my calling—more passionate and vital than anything I’ve undertaken before. I stand resolute, fighting until women are safe, protected, and able to compete on a level playing field.

It’s simple, really: Keep Female Sports Female XX

Thank you for taking the time to read. Onward, march!

It was pleasure to be invited to speak with Sasha and Stella on Gender: A Wider Lens

Sasha & Stella welcome April Hutchinson (@aprilhutchinson5801) — former team Canada powerlifter, North American deadlift record holder, fairness for women in sports advocate and grateful recovering alcoholic — where they discuss her incredible journey from battling alcohol addiction to becoming a world-class powerlifter.

During COVID, she turned to powerlifting as part of her recovery, and within a short period, she achieved record-breaking lifts, catapulting her to elite status in the sport holding national records, an extraordinary feat given her short time in the sport. However, her career took a dramatic turn. In this episode, April recounts the controversy she faced in the powerlifting world. After discovering that a male-to-female transgender athlete was competing against women, she felt compelled to speak out driven by her commitment to truth and fairness. What followed was a tumultuous battle with the Canadian Powerlifting Union that led to her suspension, highlighting the tension between truth-telling, fairness in sports, and the broader societal debates around gender. April shares the personal and professional consequences she faced, the courage it took to stand by her convictions, and her fight for fairness in women’s sports. Her story is a powerful testament to resilience, truth-telling, and standing up for what’s right, no matter the cost.

Thank you ladies, it was so meaningful and heartfelt.

For more information about Sasha’s & Stella’s parent coaching membership groups, visit:

Sasha Ayad: https://sashaayad.com/parenting-coach...

@SashaLPC

Stella O’Malley: http://www.stellaomalley.com/parent-c...

@stellaomalleypsychotherapist

Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, our podcast guest, April, is a triumphant figure in the sports field. She is not only a three-time representative of Team Canada for Powerlifting, but also holds the North American record for deadlifting. Aside from her noteworthy athletic achievements, April is an ardent advocate for fairness in women’s sports. Nonetheless, her greatest victory to date is her successful triumph over alcohol dependency, making her a symbol of strength and resilience.

Thank you, Tammy, for being such a fervent supporter.

Connect with Tammy:

Instagram: / tammy.m.peterson

Facebook: / tammypetersonpodcast

TikTok: / tammypetersonpodcast

Twitter: / tammy1peterson

Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TammyPetersonPodcast

To:

Shane Martin

Garrett Bentley

Jeff ButtVicky Taylor-Hood

Renae Witzaney

Linda McFeetersGabe Festing

Board Members of the CPU,

This letter was not easy to write, but here we go.

It’s with immense sorrow and a heavy heart that I annonce that I will not be renewing my membership with the Canadian Powerlifting Union this November when my suspension ends.

This decision comes from my deep commitment to fairness and integrity in women’s sports. I cannot, in good conscience, continue to support a federation where, currently, three men—potentially more—are competing in local competitions, taking away opportunities and medals from deserving female athletes. I am also concerned about a federation that penalizes female athletes for speaking up and that lacks transparency about whether women are competing against men.

I believe the Canadian Powerlifting Union has, unfortunately, lost sight of fairness, integrity, and safety in its decision-making. There has been a lack of accountability from key board members, including Shane Martin, Garrett Bentley, Jeff Butt, Vicky Taylor-Hood, Renae Witzaney, Linda McFeeters, and Gabe Festing. I sincerely hope that they will one day recognize the importance of preserving the values of our sport.

Despite these challenges, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have represented Team Canada. This experience has amplified my voice in advocating for fairness in women’s sports. I am especially thankful to Coach Linda Blade of the ICFS, my dear friend and a true champion who has supported me every step of the way. My gratitude also extends to Marshi Smith from ICONS, Riley Gaines, and the brave powerlifters within the CPU who stood up and fought alongside me. You are all heroes in my heart and in the hearts of every little girl who dreams of fair competition in sport.

I am proud to have been a part of a movement that led to changes in the Canadian Powerlifting Union’s policies, offering some level of protection for women at both national and international levels. However, the work is far from complete. The current policies are still not perfect and continue to allow men to compete at grassroots competitions. I was suspended for calling a man a man, for speaking the truth, and for that, I faced consequences. But it was worth it. I would do it all over again without hesitation because using our voices is how we drive change in this world.

While I will be moving on to new endeavors, my dedication to advocating for fairness in women’s sports remains unwavering. I will always be here to support any teams or female athletes who need assistance—please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. Keep supporting, keep fighting and let your voices be heard.

Together, we can protect women’s sports ensure they remain fair and competitive.

With love and gratitude,

I got to sit down with Kaylor from the Awake & Winning Podcast to chat about alcoholism, recovery and my experience speaking out about biological males competing in women’s sports. Watch:

or listen here:

Learn more about Awake & Winning:

Check out Kaylor’s Instagram: instagram.com/thekaylorbetts

Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1LLN3LPYq7nvyxeuHF2PAQ

Listen on Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-mental-wealth-podcast/id1491384824

Thank you to all of those who took part; it was an unforgettable day!

To learn about or support future events, subscribe to Meghan’s Substack Watch:

It was extra special having my father there who I thanked for saving my life by getting me into sports at a young age. My father and I both received an ovation neither of us could have ever expected.

It doesn’t matter how old a father is, he will always support and protect his daughters.

Here’s a clip from the event:

Megyn Kelly is joined by April Hutchinson, record-breaking female powerlifter, to talk about how she was suspended for calling a "biological male" a "biological male" in her sport, the "trans" athlete then harassing and threatening her over social media, and more.

Thank you to each and every woman who coordinated, planned, and lead the way for what is no doubt the first of many events to come. Success! Here’s my clip:

Watch Reality Based Women Unite! in full:

With love and so much appreciation,

Should a trans person be allowed to compete in sports alongside biological women? Powerlifter April Hutchinson was suspended from the Canadian Powerlifting Union after she protested the inclusion of trans Ann Andres. In “Episode Red,” she shares details of her struggle for a fair playing field. A TRT World exclusive series, “True Colours” explores the untold stories of those who have been affected by the spread of gender ideology and the LGBT lobby.

Her ban was recently reduced on appeal, and her activism for sports fairness spurred the resignation of the president of the CPU and forced the organization to adopt stricter guidelines on male-born athletes who identify as female. However, she’ll still be serving a one-year prohibition on competing in CPU events. I was joined by April to discuss the sweeping new policies Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced that will prohibit transgender women from competing in biological women’s sports leagues, among other changes. The province will also ban hormone blockers and ‘gender-affirming surgeries’ in children under 15.