The Architect of NSMBWD: Celebrating Jen Donaldson
When you look across the diamond of Robert Lenihan field on a Saturday afternoon and see dozens of women competing, cheering, and sliding into home, it’s all part of a years-long dream held by Jen Donaldson.
As the General Manager and Founder of the Nova Scotia Monarchs Women’s Division, Jen hasn’t just started a league, she’s helped create a community where women can continue playing baseball no matter their background or experience.
A Legacy of Coaching and Leadership
Jen’s journey didn’t happen overnight. With over 17 years of coaching experience, she has been a fixture in the local baseball community. For most of those years, Jen was often the only female head coach in her leagues, a reality that many women have faced, and it only fuelled her passion for change.
“I started coaching my daughter at four years old because I wanted her to have a female role model”
That personal mission expanded into a provincial one as she joined Baseball Canada’s “Women in Coaching” program, working to ensure that the next generation of girls sees women not just in the dugout, but leading the strategy from the bench.
Filling the Gap
Before the Monarchs Women’s Division launched in 2023, many young women in Nova Scotia faced a “forced retirement” from baseball. Once they aged out of minor ball, the only remaining option was often to switch to softball.
Knowing that baseball has its own rhythm, skill set, and spirit, she refused to let that passion die out for local players. By partnering with the established Monarchs men’s organization, Jen successfully launched the province’s first all-women’s baseball league.
More than just a game
Under Jen’s leadership, the league has grown into a vibrant community. Today, the Monarchs Women’s Division hosts players ranging in age from 18 to 68. Whether they are former competitive players returning to the sport or newcomers picking up a glove for the first time, Jen has cultivated an environment where the focus is on growth, support, and the love of the game.
When she isn’t managing the league’s operations or advocating for female coaches, you can still find her on the field. As the Head Coach of the Wildcats, Jen continues to lead by example by showing that baseball is truly a game for everyone.
From the women of the league, thank you Jen, for your vision, your persistence, and your heart. Because of you, the crack of the bat is a sound that women across Nova Scotia can call their own.
Watch this video that features an interview with Jen Donaldson discussing the league’s formation and its importance for women’s sports in the province.