October 21, 2022 – Gymnastics Canada is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement to join Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.

Gymnastics Canada, and participants in its national level programming, 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 December 2^nd, 2022.

“We believe that offering a safe environment is everyone’s responsibility. Gymnastics Canada is fully committed to doing our part to support a growing national movement that is changing the culture of sport in this country and to support the development and implementation of an independent safe sport complaint mechanism. As part of this commitment, we are pleased to sign on to Abuse-Free Sport and to soon have the OSIC administer our safe sport complaints,” said Ian Moss, CEO of Gymnastics Canada; “Managing maltreatment complaints through the OSIC provides an independent, responsible and positive step forward for the sport community. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for their continued commitment to this proactive and much needed service.”

During the transition period, Gymnastics Canada is completing full adoption of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS), which includes the alignment of existing Gymnastics Canada policies with the UCCMS in order for the organization to be fully compliant with the Abuse-Free Sport policies and procedures.

Prior to December 2^nd, Gymnastics Canada participants who have experienced or witnessed abuse will continue to have access to independent third-party services already in place through the Gymnastics Canada independent reporting and complaint management process: http://gymcan.org/programs/safe-sport/reporting.

There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on Gymnastics Canada HERE.