SDRCC – Montreal, QC – Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) in B.C. will have access to an affordable resource that connects them with individuals who are trained in alternative dispute resolution practices, are free from conflict of interest and can lead a professional and timely process.

Created by the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), the Sport Law Connect Program is the first of its kind in Canada. This program is being piloted in partnership with viaSport BC, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of B.C. (ADRBC), and students from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria.

Law students from participating universities as well as members of ADRBC assist amateur sport organizations with disputes by informally facilitating the resolution of such disputes or by acting as members on disciplinary or internal appeal panels. Additionally, they are offered training by the SDRCC to complement their education, allowing them to handle a wide variety of sport-related cases, including disciplinary issues, team selection, resource allocation, governance, policy application and field-of-play protests.

A sport dispute can occur when a sport organization takes an action that an individual disagrees with, after which they ask for the action to be reviewed. Many amateur sport organizations have limited resources, may lack the capacity to handle internal appeals, or cannot afford to outsource dispute resolution processes. viaSport is designated as the provincial administrator for this pilot program and will serve as the clearinghouse for all requests in B.C.  The SDRCC hopes to eventually deploy the program in other Canadian provinces and territories.

For more information about the Sport Law Connect Program, visit www.viasport.ca/submit-dispute and www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/eng/sport-law-connect-program

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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. Learn more about the SDRCC at www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca

About viaSport British Columbia

Founded in 2011, viaSport British Columbia envisions a society where people and communities are truly healthy, vibrant and connected because they value and participate in sport experiences that are safe, inclusive and meaningful. With the support of the Province of British Columbia, viaSport manages approximately $16 M in sport, oversees more than 70 B.C. sport organizations, provides support for coach education and policy, and leads key initiatives to create more equitable opportunities in sport. Learn more on how viaSport transforms and scales the impact of sport at www.viasport.ca

Media Contacts:

Marie-Claude Asselin
Chief Executive Officer, SDRCC

Tel: 1-866-733-7767 

mcasselin@crdsc-sdrcc.ca

 

Ninu Gill
viaSport
Director, Communications & Engagement
Tel: 778-655-1742
ninug@viasport.ca