Montreal Roller Derby (MTLRD), founded in 2006, is a flat-track roller derby league operating in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, QC, Canada.
The league’s mission is to develop and promote roller derby locally and internationally. As a non-profit organization of skaters, refs, and volunteers, MTLRD follows the governing philosophy of “by the skaters, for the skaters.” MTLRD actively contributes to the growth of the sport through membership in the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and participation in international competitions.
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MTLRD was founded in 2006 by Georgia W. Tush as the first flat-track roller derby league in Montreal and a non-profit, skater-led organization.
In January 2009, MTLRD became the first non-American WFTDA member league, marking the start of its presence on the international derby scene.
Since 2011, members of MTLRD have regularly represented Canada at the Roller Derby World Cup.
Montreal has become an influential league, hosting major tournaments like the Beast of the East and the Georgia W. Tush. In 2019, MTLRD became the first international hosts of the WFTDA Championships.
MTLRD is composed of three home teams, two travel teams—the New Skids on the Block (A) and Les Sexpos (B)—and a rookie training team: the Smash Squad.
The league is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.
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MTLRD acknowledges that we gather in Tiohtià:ke, also known as Mooniyang in Anishinaabemowin, on the traditional, unceded and stolen territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation, who are the custodians of the lands and waters of this area.
For thousands of years, Tiohtià:ke has been serving as a place of meeting and exchange among many First Nations, including the Kanien’kehá:ka of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron/Wendat, the Abenaki, and the Anishinaabeg.
As a sports community composed largely of settlers, we recognize that our ability to play, grow, and connect here is made possible by the stewardship, knowledge, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples who have lived on these lands for millennia.
We are grateful for their ongoing care of this land, and we commit to supporting Indigenous sovereignty and justice.
This acknowledgment is not the end, but a beginning. We invite all participants, viewers, and fans to reflect, learn, and take action, on and off the track. We encourage our members and the public to learn about the rich cultures of Indigenous Peoples, understand the consequences of colonialism, and support those who are still facing systemic racism and discrimination.
Our solidarity extends beyond the borders of this territory. Around the world, Indigenous, colonized, and displaced people continue to face violence, genocide, and the theft of their lands in the name of power. In this global context, we affirm that every struggle for justice and liberation must begin with listening to Indigenous voices, respecting their right to self-determination, returning what rightfully belongs to them, and recognizing their legitimate right to resist by any means necessary.
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Photo credit @ezpz300 (except banner)