Latest news with #UniversalCodeofConducttoPreventandAddressMaltreatmentinSport
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Arbitrator overturns suspension of Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Sorensen
An arbitrator has overturned Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Sorensen's suspension of at least six years for sexual maltreatment. Skate Canada said in a statement that it has lifted its sanctions against Sorensen after receiving Thursday's decision by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. The governing body suspended Sorensen in October 2024 after the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner investigated an allegation that he sexually assaulted an American figure skating coach and former skater in Hartford, Conn., in 2012. He appealed, and in the decision from SDRCC, arbitrator Carol Roberts ruled that the Director of Sanctions and Outcomes incorrectly concluded that OSIC had jurisdiction to investigate the allegations when deciding Sorensen's punishment. In a copy of the decision obtained by The Canadian Press, Roberts said Sorensen did not expressly consent to be retroactively bound to the UCCMS (Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport), the national abuse policy that governs conduct in Canadian sport. Sorensen was not a Canadian citizen and was not competing for Skate Canada at the time of the alleged incident. He has also denied the allegation, which has not been tested in court. The 35-year-old Sorensen competed for Denmark, his country of birth, before switching to Canada when former ice dance partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry, of Montreal, was unable to obtain Danish citizenship ahead of the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Fournier Beaudry announced earlier this year that she's forming a new partnership with Guillaume Cizeron that will represent France this season. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025.
Toronto Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Future of Sport in Canada Commission opens public survey ahead of summit
The Future of Sport in Canada Commission launched its public survey Monday to gather opinions on safe sport and improving the sport system ahead of its fall summit. Among the first questions posed: have you witnessed or experienced maltreatment in sport, and how big of a problem do you think maltreatment is in organized sport in Canada? Former Olympic skier Allison Forsyth, a founder of Generation Safe and now safe sport officer for Canada Soccer, says while she believes the commission is doing important work, some survey questions assume a level of experience with the national sport system. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Forsyth also asks if the person taking the survey knows the definition of maltreatment under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport. 'When I'm out here doing my work, there's many people in this country at the grassroots level that don't even know what safe sport means,' Forsyth said. 'The questions in the survey are very good, but very specific. 'If it was sent to the public as their opportunity to contribute to the future of sport in Canada . . . it doesn't do enough to explain to people the foundation of safe sport, what maltreatment is, and what the universal code of conduct is.' The survey is open until August and can be accessed through the website or the commission's social media posts. Forsyth, an survivor of sexual abuse in sport herself, recently completed her International Olympic Committee certification as a Safeguarding Officer in Sport. She's also worked with provincial, university and club sport organizations in Canada, and wanted those levels to be more represented in the survey questions. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'My education and work is the people that matter the most, which is the children in sport at a grassroots level whose parents are entrusting their club to keep their child safe from maltreatment,' Forsyth said. 'If I was a parent, and I am one of high-level hockey players in the youth programs, would I know any of this? The answer, in my opinion, is no because the universal code of conduct to address maltreatment in sport points back to the federal level of sport.' The commission was the among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes spoke to parliamentary committees about mental, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and their of retribution for reporting it. So the commission's two-part questionnaire released Monday 'invites Canadians to share their experiences and perspectives to help shape a safer, more inclusive and accountable sport environment across the country,' the commission said in a statement. 'Participation in the survey offers another opportunity for individuals to contribute to the national dialogue on improving safe sport in Canada and enhancing the overall sport system.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The public survey follows the commission's cross-country consultations in a dozen cities from October to January, when athletes, coaches, officials and sport organizations were invited to participate in writing, or via online submissions and surveys, if they couldn't in person. The options of speaking or writing to the commission closed Monday when the public survey was introduced. The commission headed by Lise Maisonneuve, a former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, is expected to produce a preliminary report in August ahead of a two-session national summit Sept. 8-9 and Sept. 11-12 in Ottawa. Former sports minister Carla Qualtrough announced the commission in December, 2023, and the 2024 federal budget earmarked $10.6 million over two years for it to do its work. When Maisonneuve was appointed the commission's head May 9, 2024, the clock began ticking on its stated 18-month mandate to gather information, produce an initial report, hold a summit and provide final recommendations. Maisonneuve was granted an extension to March 31, 2026, for her final report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Future of Sport in Canada Commission opens public survey ahead of summit
The Future of Sport in Canada Commission launched its public survey Monday to gather opinions on safe sport and improving the sport system ahead of its fall summit. Among the first questions posed: have you witnessed or experienced maltreatment in sport, and how big of a problem do you think maltreatment is in organized sport in Canada? Former Olympic skier Allison Forsyth, a founder of Generation Safe and now safe sport officer for Canada Soccer, says while she believes the commission is doing important work, some survey questions assume a level of experience with the national sport system. Forsyth also asks if the person taking the survey knows the definition of maltreatment under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport. 'When I'm out here doing my work, there's many people in this country at the grassroots level that don't even know what safe sport means,' Forsyth said. 'The questions in the survey are very good, but very specific. 'If it was sent to the public as their opportunity to contribute to the future of sport in Canada . . . it doesn't do enough to explain to people the foundation of safe sport, what maltreatment is, and what the universal code of conduct is.' The survey is open until August and can be accessed through the website or the commission's social media posts. Forsyth, an survivor of sexual abuse in sport herself, recently completed her International Olympic Committee certification as a Safeguarding Officer in Sport. She's also worked with provincial, university and club sport organizations in Canada, and wanted those levels to be more represented in the survey questions. 'My education and work is the people that matter the most, which is the children in sport at a grassroots level whose parents are entrusting their club to keep their child safe from maltreatment,' Forsyth said. 'If I was a parent, and I am one of high-level hockey players in the youth programs, would I know any of this? The answer, in my opinion, is no because the universal code of conduct to address maltreatment in sport points back to the federal level of sport.' The commission was the among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes spoke to parliamentary committees about mental, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and their of retribution for reporting it. So the commission's two-part questionnaire released Monday 'invites Canadians to share their experiences and perspectives to help shape a safer, more inclusive and accountable sport environment across the country,' the commission said in a statement. 'Participation in the survey offers another opportunity for individuals to contribute to the national dialogue on improving safe sport in Canada and enhancing the overall sport system.' The public survey follows the commission's cross-country consultations in a dozen cities from October to January, when athletes, coaches, officials and sport organizations were invited to participate in writing, or via online submissions and surveys, if they couldn't in person. The options of speaking or writing to the commission closed Monday when the public survey was introduced. The commission headed by Lise Maisonneuve, a former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, is expected to produce a preliminary report in August ahead of a two-session national summit Sept. 8-9 and Sept. 11-12 in Ottawa. Former sports minister Carla Qualtrough announced the commission in December, 2023, and the 2024 federal budget earmarked $10.6 million over two years for it to do its work. When Maisonneuve was appointed the commission's head May 9, 2024, the clock began ticking on its stated 18-month mandate to gather information, produce an initial report, hold a summit and provide final recommendations. Maisonneuve was granted an extension to March 31, 2026, for her final report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Future of Sport in Canada Commission opens public survey ahead of summit
The Future of Sport in Canada Commission launched its public survey Monday to gather opinions on safe sport and improving the sport system ahead of its fall summit. Among the first questions posed: have you witnessed or experienced maltreatment in sport, and how big of a problem do you think maltreatment is in organized sport in Canada? Former Olympic skier Allison Forsyth, a founder of Generation Safe and now safe sport officer for Canada Soccer, says while she believes the commission is doing important work, some survey questions assume a level of experience with the national sport system. Forsyth also asks if the person taking the survey knows the definition of maltreatment under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport. 'When I'm out here doing my work, there's many people in this country at the grassroots level that don't even know what safe sport means,' Forsyth said. 'The questions in the survey are very good, but very specific. 'If it was sent to the public as their opportunity to contribute to the future of sport in Canada . . . it doesn't do enough to explain to people the foundation of safe sport, what maltreatment is, and what the universal code of conduct is.' The survey is open until August and can be accessed through the website or the commission's social media posts. Forsyth, an survivor of sexual abuse in sport herself, recently completed her International Olympic Committee certification as a Safeguarding Officer in Sport. She's also worked with provincial, university and club sport organizations in Canada, and wanted those levels to be more represented in the survey questions. 'My education and work is the people that matter the most, which is the children in sport at a grassroots level whose parents are entrusting their club to keep their child safe from maltreatment,' Forsyth said. 'If I was a parent, and I am one of high-level hockey players in the youth programs, would I know any of this? The answer, in my opinion, is no because the universal code of conduct to address maltreatment in sport points back to the federal level of sport.' The commission was the among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes spoke to parliamentary committees about mental, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and their of retribution for reporting it. So the commission's two-part questionnaire released Monday 'invites Canadians to share their experiences and perspectives to help shape a safer, more inclusive and accountable sport environment across the country,' the commission said in a statement. 'Participation in the survey offers another opportunity for individuals to contribute to the national dialogue on improving safe sport in Canada and enhancing the overall sport system.' The public survey follows the commission's cross-country consultations in a dozen cities from October to January, when athletes, coaches, officials and sport organizations were invited to participate in writing, or via online submissions and surveys, if they couldn't in person. The options of speaking or writing to the commission closed Monday when the public survey was introduced. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The commission headed by Lise Maisonneuve, a former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, is expected to produce a preliminary report in August ahead of a two-session national summit Sept. 8-9 and Sept. 11-12 in Ottawa. Former sports minister Carla Qualtrough announced the commission in December, 2023, and the 2024 federal budget earmarked $10.6 million over two years for it to do its work. When Maisonneuve was appointed the commission's head May 9, 2024, the clock began ticking on its stated 18-month mandate to gather information, produce an initial report, hold a summit and provide final recommendations. Maisonneuve was granted an extension to March 31, 2026, for her final report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
