The Importance of Safe Sport by MP Karen Vecchio
“Forcibly yanked my leg back behind my ear…snapped my hamstring and took part of my pelvis with it.” Through this study, we included recommendations to help eradicate abuse in sport that included a public registry of coaches and improvement to education and training for athletes, coaches and parents. Nationally, sports abuse and maltreatment can be reported to the office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner. This complaint mechanism is available to national-level athletes but not those taking part in local or provincial clubs. Provincially, it is up to the organizations to create a proper complaint process. Although the study has concluded, my interest and desire to ensure that sports are safe for participants continues. My role as a parliamentarian has provided an outlet for athletes to continue to share their concerns as they wait for resolution on their own complaints from provincial and local sporting organizations. The 24 recommendations made by the Status of Women committee to address safe sport were specific to national sporting organizations, recognizing the need to collaborate with provinces, territories and sporting organizations. Almost two years following the study, I have begun to see changes in some of the federal organizations, including the separation between the complaint management process, national sporting organizations and a discussion on the use of non- disclosure agreements. But realistically, how does this study impact local sports in our own communities? The Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner is not available to athletes who are not part of a national sports team. Organizations, including Hockey
In July 2022, Canadians became aware of allegations of sexual assault made against members of the 2018 Canadian Men’s Junior Hockey Team. It was reported that a lawsuit for $3.55 million was filed against eight former players and that Hockey Canada settled the case out of court. Following parliamentary hearings that began in June, focusing on the national sport organization and sexual assault cases, the Canadian Press reported that Hockey Canada was using a fund called the National Equity Fund to settle sexual misconduct cases. Sports in Canada, at all levels, were placed under the microscope. This toxic situation opened an opportunity for athletes to speak up and share their own experiences in sport. As the Chair of the Status of Women committee, I led an important study allowing athletes from various sports including gymnastics, skiing, and soccer to bring forward their stories and share reports of maltreatment at all levels of sport. Witnesses appearing at committee shared their firsthand experiences including psychological, physical, sexual harm and neglect. The witnesses spoke of abusive coaching and extraordinary pressures to perform. During this study, I hosted a viewing of CTV’s W5 documentary ‘Broken- The Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics’. Gymnasts for Change and Global Athlete worked to bring forward the voices of hundreds of gymnasts who shared their stories of inappropriate touching, fat-shaming and physical injuries. Amelia Cline, a former national gymnast, shared her story of ‘over-stretching’ to the extent that her coach,
U N 50 50
Happy Holidays To all of our customers and friends May the season fill your home with light and joy
50,000!
www.entegrus.com customerservice@entegrus.com
Holiday & Christmas Catering Call today to book your holiday catering!
SCAN ME
STEGHFoundation5050.ca
519.631.2030 x 2246
877 Talbot St, St. Thomas 519-633-5569 ca245@mypitapit.ca Mon – Sun 11:00 AM – 8 PM
LL: #RAF1423418
Page 14 Hometown St. Thomas • December 2024
To advertise here, please contact Geoff@VillagerPublications.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs