We are pleased to announce that we have signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.
Canada Skateboard, and its stakeholders at the national level, will have access to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, following a transition period which will end no later than April 1st, 2023.
"Canada Skateboard recognizes that safe sport is everyone’s responsibility. We’re fully committed to doing our part to support a growing national movement that is changing the culture of sport in this country. As part of that commitment, we’re pleased to sign on to Abuse-Free Sport and to soon have the OSIC to administer our safe sport complaints,” says Hagan McCreath, Executive Director of Canada Skateboard. “The sport community has been asking for just this kind of consistent national program. It’s an important step forward for the Canadian skateboard community and everyone involved in sport in Canada.”
During the transition period, Canada Skateboard is completing full adoption of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), which it must do before it can become part of the Abuse-Free Sport program, and making the required policy changes.
While our currently appointed independent mechanism is safe, secure and independent, we believe that centralizing the handling of complaints [of maltreatment and discrimination of matters under the UCCMS] through Abuse-Free Sport and the OSIC will provide the necessary consistency across sports when it comes to investigations, sanctions, policies and education.
Prior to April 1st, 2023 Canada Skateboard participants who have experienced or witnessed abuse will continue to have access to independent third-party services through Norton Rose Fullbright, Ombudsman (Piers Bibiger) piers.fibiger@nortonrosefullbright.com There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on www.canadaskateboard.ca.