Canada’s new sport guardian awaits commission report on abuse and maltreatment

The Future of Sport in Canada Commission’s first report is eagerly awaited by Canada’s new safe sport warden as it is expected to provide crucial direction on addressing issues of abuse and maltreatment within the sporting community.

In April, the Canadian Centre For Ethics in Sport (CCES) took over the responsibility of receiving and investigating complaints of maltreatment and abuse from the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner. However, the CCES’s mandate is limited to the national level and does not extend to the provincial, territorial, and club levels, presenting jurisdictional challenges.

Out of 111 reports received by the CCES in the first quarter, only 11 were considered admissible due to jurisdictional limitations. The organization has taken provisional measures against two individuals but has not imposed any sanctions yet.

The Future of Sport in Canada Commission is set to release its preliminary report ahead of a September summit in Ottawa. The commission conducted consultations across the country to gather input from athletes, coaches, officials, and sport organizations on issues of maltreatment and abuse.

The commission was established in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports that emerged after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes testified before parliamentary committees about various forms of abuse they experienced and the repercussions they faced for reporting it.

The CCES’s safe sport executive director, Signy Arnason, emphasizes the importance of the commission’s findings in advancing safe sport practices in Canada. One possible solution could be to bring provincial/territorial and club sport under the CCES’s jurisdiction, but funding for such an expansion remains a challenge.

While Volleyball Canada has integrated its provincial/territorial and club systems under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), the CCES currently only handles national-level cases. Arnason acknowledges the need for a broader approach to address maltreatment across all levels of sport.

Reports to the CCES in the first quarter highlighted various forms of prohibited behavior, including psychological, physical, and sexual maltreatment, as well as discrimination. Arnason stresses the importance of establishing a consistent approach to addressing maltreatment regardless of the level of sport.

The CCES is committed to improving its processes and expanding its jurisdiction to better address issues of abuse and maltreatment within the Canadian sporting community. The findings of the Future of Sport in Canada Commission are expected to provide valuable insights and recommendations for the future of safe sport practices in the country.