Swimming Canada – Minister of Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan announced Wednesday an independent investigation unit for national sport organizations, and a national toll-free confidential helpline for victims and witnesses of abuse in sport.
This professional listening and referral service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week, by phone or text at 1-888-83SPORT (77678), and by email at info@abuse-free-sport.ca.
Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi, co-chair of the Minister’s Safe Sport Working Group, attended the announcement in Toronto and had this to say:
“We applaud the Government of Canada and Minister Duncan in taking the initiatives to address these difficult topics. Minister Duncan is dedicated to improving safe sport and is making serious, deliberate investments, not just words but actions. These are impressive initiatives and the whole sport system will be safer as a result of her efforts.
We are confident that the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada will speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. They will provide a safe place for people to go and they will be impartial and fair to all parties.
Swimming Canada is proud to be a contributing participant in helping to develop these programs and we encourage our members and registrants to access these services. The SDRCC is a safe place. We encourage any current or past victim to contact them, or our own external harassment officer at harassmentofficer@swimming.ca.”