Safe Sport
What is Safe Sport?
Safe Sport is a movement to enact positive quality sport and recreation for all. Safe Sport’s aim is to eliminate negative experiences that can be harmful to individuals physically, mentally, and emotionally. Safe Sport is a National movement in Canada. All sports in Canada are required to implement a Safe Sport Program. Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is currently a leader Nationally and one of the first to implement a full-scale Safe Sport Program with the intent to make sport a better place.
Why Safe Sport?
As leaders in the sport of Canoe and Kayak in Canada, both CKC and CKBC have a fundamental obligation and responsibility to protect the health, safety and physical and mental well-being of everyone involved in the paddling community and our sport. This responsibility is also a mandate of our Local Sport Organizations (Clubs). Any situation involving misconduct or maltreatment will be taken seriously. CKBC is committed to working Nationally with CKC our NSO, and Provincially with our Funding Partners to enact, and enforce strong, clear effective policies and procedures that consider National and Provincial requirements to Safe Sport.
What is Required by our Club?
The most up to date Safe Sport information can be viewed on Canoe Kayak BC’s Website. For further information and/or a practical application please visit CKBC’s Safe Sport Requirements Specific to BC and the Safe Sport Checklist.
BC Specific Safe Sport Screening Process
Detailed description on how to fulfill SafeSport Requirements
Safe Sport Reporting (Reporting a Complaint)
Through our NSO's Safe Sport Policy, CKC has appointed 'Independent Safe Sport Officers who any person within the CKC or CKBC community, at any level, can contact to report or discuss incidents of abuse or harassment of any kind. These officers are available to communicate in English/French. Officers identifying as male or female are always available based upon the preference of the complainant.
CKC has contracted W&W Dispute Resolution Services for this Role. They may be reached directly and independently through the email address below. This is a confidential email address which will only be accessed by one of the Independent Safe Sport Officers.
Reports should be made within fourteen days of an incident, however all incidents of concern occurring within the CKC/CKBC community from any time frame should be brought ot the independent third party for review and follow up.
Reporting Abuse or Harassment is often a difficult process. To this end, a person can expect the following when contacting the Independent Safe Sport Officer:
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All reports will be kept entirely confidential, in line with the wishes of the person making the complaint. This includes confidentiality from CKC/CKBC Staff.
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Complaints will be followed up on in a timely manner.
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The Independent Safe Sport officers are available to support persons making the complaint through the process and will provide advice and guidance on steps as and if a complaint proceeds.
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Your complaint will be taken seriously, and rigorously examined.
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Complaint will be managed by an Officer of the gender identity of your choice.
Should any complaint or concern come to the attention of the CKC/CKBC staff, it will be forwarded to one of the Safe Sport Officers.
Safe Sport Hotline
An independent Helpline has been set up with the support of Sport Canada and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada.
Anyone with a concern should feel comfortable reaching out to this free and confidential service as well. Information on their services and how to contact them can be found at; abuse-free-sport.ca. The abuse free sport phone and texting line is accesble at 1-888-83-SPORT, and is monitored from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time.
Training and Screening Process (Specific to BC)
Training and screening are essential elements of ensuring our CKC/CKBC community is safe and free from harassment and abuse for all participants. In British Columbia there are some regional specific considerations included here:
Training:
There are two options for training. CAC Safe Sport Training and/or Respect in Sport - Activity Leaders Training for level 2 and 3 risk levels, and the recommended completion of this training for level 1 risk levels. All coaches are also required to complete Making Ethical Decisions.
Screening:
The Screening Matrix outlines screening requirements for risk levels, 1, 2, and 3 and are included in the CKC SafeSport Policy. Due some regional variability in British Columbia the Screening Process more specifically for BC includes the following steps:
1. Member Club follows their outlined screening process.
- Clubs should keep Codes of Conduct, and hiring documentation in your club's records.
2. Employee/Volunteer/Person in a Position of Authority completes a CRC/VSS application using the Province of BC's CRC portal. Using the CKBC code will share the results with CKBC and there will is no charge to the person to use this service. There are provisions provided by this website if the CRC/VSS cannot be completed through the online system. This involves a specific form to be printed from the portal.
3. Club Enters "said person" into CKBC Central Registration System with any/all applicable accreditations (i.e. RIS, CAC SafeSport, Locker #, etc.).
4. CKBC upon receipt of the CRC, updates "said person" in Central Registration System.
5. CKBC &/or Club responsible for sharing appropriate info with CKC as required.
Criminal Record Checks and Vulnerable Search Section Check
All individuals with direct interaction with athletes have completed a criminal record check and vulnerable search sector check using the Province of BC's Criminal Record Check online system. Using the CKBC code will share the results with CKBC and there will be no charge to the person to use this service.
Who needs a Criminal Record Check - All Coaches, Volunteers, Board Members, and Staff. It is important to note that CRC's are important for Recreational clubs that may not be solely focussed on Minors to ensure ensure your Board meets provisions of the BC Societies Act.
Safe Sport Policies
CKC Discrimination and Harassment Policy
CKC Approved Safe Sport Policy
CKBC Safe Sport Policy Operational Guidelines (Addendum to CKBC Policy 2 (P2) outlining differences between our NSO Policy and Provincial Regulations.
Other Training for Coaches, Officials, Board Members, Staff and Volunteers
Canoe Kayak Canada Concussion Protocol
For more on specific details for Club Personnel Requirements
