STATEMENT FROM CYCLING CANADA REGARDING SAFE SPORT

Ottawa, Ontario, June 6, 2018 – Cycling Canada wishes to join the sport community in expressing its support of the courageous statements given this week by the victims of Bertrand Charest. We applaud the courage of these women in stepping forward to challenge and change the sport system and we are confident that their acts of bravery will protect youth for generations to come in sport.

The organization fully supports the movement for a universal commitment to ensure that all sport is free of abuse. As a signatory of the Responsible Coaching Movement pledge, we recognize and support the need for mechanisms such as online training and education platforms, enhanced policies and compliance procedures, independent safety officers, and the rule of two.

We encourage all those connected with our sport – athletes, parents, coaches, staff and volunteers – to speak their minds and maintain an open dialogue on these issues. Athletes and parents need to have faith that the entire sport system is committed to their safety. It should not matter what sport an athlete chooses, safety should be universally understood, expected and applied with no exceptions.

Cycling Canada presently maintains a Whistleblower Policy that provides guidelines for athletes, staff and other members to make complaints related to perceived inappropriate, unethical, illegal or fraudulent conduct associated with Cycling Canada activities. Details on the policy can be found here: https://cyclingcanada.ca/governance/