June 4, 2018
SPORT CALGARY SUPPORTS WOMEN’S DEMAND FOR BETTER SAFETY MEASURES IN CANADIAN SPORT
Sport Calgary – CALGARY, Alberta — Sport Calgary supports the demand from former female athletes at Alpine Canada to improve safety measures in sport, while recognizing the important bravery they have shown in taking their public stance.
The four women who stepped forward to share their stories of abuse as former competitive athletes are courageous. Their specific recommendations for improving athlete safety – including dedicated programs, training, policies, procedures, and staff – should be seriously considered by the appropriate legislative and governing bodies.
“We admire the courage of the brave women that publicly spoke out on the abuse they encountered during their years as competitive skiers,” said Catriona Le May Doan, Senior Director, Community & Sport Engagement.
“Sport should be a place where young athletes build confidence, meet new people, and learn to dream of achieving greatness. Instead, these victims were robbed of their childhoods, their trust, and their dreams. We continue to work closely with The Respect Group and believe that all sport organizations should work to protect their members from any sort of abuse or isolation.”
Sport Calgary supports in the strongest possible terms a zero-tolerance stance towards any and all sexual harassment, abuse, violence, discrimination, and other injustice.
Sport Calgary stands with Amélie-Frédérique Gagnon, Gail Kelly, Anna Prchal and Geneviève Simard, and commends them for their strength and commitment to improving the safety of Canadian sport.
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For more information, please contact:
Catriona Le May Doan (Senior Director, Community & Sport Engagement)
cldoan@sportcalgary.ca
Catriona Le May Doan (Senior Director, Community & Sport Engagement)
cldoan@sportcalgary.ca
403-984-0975
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About Sport Calgary
Sport Calgary is a volunteer non-profit society, representing sport in the city of Calgary. Sport Calgary is a full Civic Partner of the City of Calgary. As an advocate of sport, we strive to assist, support and influence the growth of sport in Calgary by:
• Playing a lead role in the implementation of the Calgary Civic Sport Policy, and ensuring it continues to create a vision for sport in Calgary from introductory to high performance levels
• Continually identifying and assessing the needs of the sport community and facility stakeholders
• Encouraging development and enhancement of appropriate facilities and the efficient utilization of current facilities
• Fostering collaboration within the sport community and coordination of resources amongst stakeholders to develop and enhance facilities
• Increasing the profile of sport in Calgary, and advocating the values and benefits of sport
• Facilitating education and training opportunities for athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, parents and volunteers
• Acting as a resource for sport organizations
• Encouraging the hosting of sport events and sport tourism in Calgary