Montréal (Québec) – The Office of Canada’s Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) will launch its first phase of operations on June 20, 2022.
Developed by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) with funding from the Government of Canada, the OSIC serves as the central hub for Canada’s new, independent safe sport program.
The OSIC operates independently to receive complaints about alleged violations of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). The UCCMS is the core document that sets a harmonized approach to defining maltreatment and prohibited behavior as well as a framework for determining appropriate sanctions.
As part of its Phase 1 operations, the OSIC will offer the following services:
- Receive reports about violations of the UCCMS alleged against a registered participant of an OSIC program signatory organization, and initiate the complaint management process, including investigations where relevant. Complaints will be received through a dedicated and confidential online platform. Operators with the Canadian Sport Helpline will be available to help users through the complaint process;
- Initiate scoping for Sport Environment Assessments which are intended to address systemic and cultural issues linked to the UCCMS within specific sport environments. The focus of these Assessments will be to improve the sport environment for current and future participants; and
- Offer education, prevention tools and resources, and other ancillary services, including mental health and legal aid referrals.
“This marks a major milestone in the collective efforts to achieve abuse-free sport in Canada,” said Sarah-Ève Pelletier, Canada’s Sport Integrity Commissioner. “Our office is committed to doing everything within its mandate to advance a respectful sport culture that delivers quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming and safe sport experiences.”
The Commissioner referenced other important developments tied to the launch of Phase 1 operations that include the release of an updated version of the UCCMS on May 31, 2022, and the unveiling of an expanded website for Canada’s independent safe sport mechanism on June 20, 2022.
Over the next few weeks, the OSIC will also be hosting a series of information sessions with national-level athletes and sport community stakeholders to outline the Phase 1 services. Email invitations will be distributed soon.
The phased roll-out of service offerings will continue over the coming months as the OSIC expands its capacity, and as more organizations sign on to the program.
About SDRCC
The SDRCC is a not-for-profit corporation created by federal legislation and funded by the Government of Canada. The mission of the SDRCC is to provide the sport community with a national alternative dispute resolution service and strengthen the culture of fairness in Canadian sport by resolving disputes quickly and efficiently and to provide expertise and assistance regarding alternative dispute resolution. The SDRCC is also mandated by the Government of Canada to implement an independent safe sport mechanism at the national level.
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For more information, contact:
Marie-Claude Asselin
Chief Executive Officer
(514) 465-7339
mcasselin@crdsc-sdrcc.ca
For media enquiries, contact:
Derek Johnston
(613) 794-1876
media@osic-bcis.ca