Following yesterday’s release of the preliminary report of the Commission on the Future of Sport in Canada, Sport’Aide welcomes the report and its 71 recommendations aimed at strengthening safety in sport and improving the sport system in Canada. “Having participated in this consultation last November, we believe that our vision of healthy and safe sport for our country has been heard,” said Sylvain Croteau, Executive Director of Sport’Aide.
When the report claims to have found problems “as profound as they are numerous” across the country, ranging from a culture of silence that has led to abuse and mistreatment, to underfunding and a lack of diversity, “Sport’Aide can only corroborate this and now hopes that the Canadian government will take note of this observation and ensure that it follows up. Its credibility depends on it, because healthy and safe sport is not only a priority in times of crisis or scandal. It must be at all times and every day of the year, because it is our collective responsibility,” adds Mr. Croteau.
Pan-Canadian Collaboration and Vision
Furthermore, the lack of leadership and vision, the focus on high-performance sport, the lack of harmonization and the importance of a national prevention strategy, among other things, come as no surprise to Sport’Aide. “That is why, guided by our global, positive, sustainable, and responsible approach, we have undertaken to collaborate with the other provinces and territories, as well as with the Canadian Olympic Committee, to structure an approach and vision to propose to our Secretary of State for Sport, Mr. Adam van Koeverden.”
For Sport’Aide, there is an urgent need to act, and we must seize the opportunity. “During an initial working meeting last June in Quebec City, our group had already identified and prioritized these same issues and concerns in order to determine the societal project we wish to propose to the Canadian government regarding healthy and safe sport. With these recommendations, which reinforce our vision, we are already eager to participate in the next phase of this commission next September in Ottawa,” concludes Mr. Croteau.
It should be noted that Sport’Aide primarily offers a listening and support service dedicated to sports, leisure, and outdoor activities. In addition, it collaborates with organizations that it equips and supports through educational workshops and awareness programs. Finally, the team works to raise public awareness of this issue, which is recognized by the scientific community, sports organizations, government agencies and child protection authorities.
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Media Contact
Sylvain Croteau
Executive Director
Sport’Aide
581-994-4816
s.croteau@sportaide.ca