OTTAWA, ON – Archery Canada is pleased to announce that as of January 16, 2023, the organization has access to services provided by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.
OSIC is the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport and operates independently to receive complaints about alleged violations of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS).
Effective immediately, the OSIC will administer any complaints about admissible allegations of abuse, harassment or discrimination against Archery Canada designated antional level participants. This includes staff, board of directors, carded athletes and coaches, identified national officials, master coach developers, Centre of Excellence athletes and staff, participants at national Championships and Canada Cups, and a variety of contractors who work with athletes.
Complaints will now be filed with either Abuse-Free Sport or the Independent Third Party (ITP) for Archery Canada. A complete overview on how to file a complaint to either Abuse-Free Sport or our ITP is outlined in this section of the Archery Canada website.
“Archery Canada has been committed to promoting a safe sport environment and recognizes it 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,” Aaron Bull, Archery Canada President said. “The sport community has been asking for just this kind of consistent national program. It’s an important step forward for everyone involved in sport in Canada.”
As one of the steps towards becoming part of the program, Archery Canada has made significant changes to our policies, including the adoption of the Canadian Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) as the core document that sets harmonized rules to advance a respectful sport culture that delivers quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming and safe sport experiences.
Archery Canada’s participation in the Abuse-Free Sport program will be in addition to the independent Safe Sport mechanism the organization already has in place. That program will remain in place for any complaints not covered by the UCCMS, or against a non-designated participant. Those complaints can continue to be directed to the Archery Canada Independent Third Party by email at safesport_wwdrs@primus.ca for national level complaints, or the appropriate Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization for provincial and club related complaints.
There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and Archery Canada’s full suite of policies, including a new Code of Conduct and Ethics and Complaints policy, can be found on the organization’s website https://archerycanada.ca/about-us/policies/.
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For more information, please contact:
Zoe Meil, Communications & Safe Sport Coordinator
(613) 260-2113 ext. 3