Athletics Alberta and Athletics Canada today announced that Athletics Alberta has become the third provincial branch to adopt a new complaints and discipline policy, administered by Athletics Canada’s Commissioner’s Office.
Alberta joins Ontario and British Columbia to take this step to provide a better, safer sport experience and to protect those who participate in the sport.
“Safe Sport is of paramount importance to our organization and sport. We educate our members about Safe Sport through promotion of training and more. Along with creating a Safe Sport culture in our sport is the need to provide a safe, unbiased platform for reporting,” said Athletics Alberta Executive Director Jef Bailey. “Working alongside Athletics Canada to provide access for our members and organization to an independent third party like the Commissioner’s Office is one way we can demonstrate our commitment to Safe Sport.”
“Athletics Canada’s independent Commissioner’s Office plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of everyone in our sport. With this agreement, we can now extend this protection to all members of Athletics Alberta,” said Athletics Canada’s CEO, Mathieu Gentès. “Everyone has the right to participate in a safe and inclusive training and competitive environment free from abuse, harassment, or discrimination. Athletics Alberta’s athletes, coaches, officials, staff, and volunteers should be able to participate, compete, coach, and officiate safely.”
About Athletics Canada’s Commissioner’s Office
The Athletics Canada Commissioner’s Office was the first office in a National Sports Organization (NSO) dedicated to resolving complaints within the NSO as an independent office. The Athletics Canada Commissioners are not employees of Athletics Canada. Athletics Canada selected them to act as independent officers whose sole function relates to complaints resolution.
There can be between one and three Athletics Canada Commissioners. They are selected based on their knowledge of sport, experience in law or dispute resolution, and sport-specific dispute resolution, mediation, or arbitration, as well as geographic, gender, and language balance considerations.
“The Commissioners have a great deal of discretion in the way they conduct an appeal, or complaint review and resolution process,” Gentès said. “They are independent and empowered to use any tools at their disposal to work with the parties towards a resolution.”
“Access to an independent, third party reporting mechanism will allow our membership and stakeholders to bring forward any concerns or complaints and know that they will be reviewed and adjudicated in a fair, unbiased, timely and professional manner,” Bailey said. “We truly want to remove any barriers that may prevent anyone from coming forward to share their experiences. The ability to have access to a specialized resource and skill set, such as the AC Commissioner’s Office, will be a significant support to our community.”
Athletics Alberta’s Safe Sport Journey
Athletics Alberta has a fundamental obligation and responsibility to promote the health, safety, and physical and mental well-being of every individual involved in the sport of Athletics in Alberta. The organization’s new agreement with Athletics Canada’s Commissioner’s Office is the latest demonstration of how seriously they take that responsibility.
“Everyone from the Athletics community in Alberta, whether they are an athlete, coach, official, volunteer, administrator, or anyone else that participates and supports our sport, has the right to be treated with dignity and respect,” Bailey said. “We all share in this responsibility to provide our community with a safe, inclusive training and competitive environment that is free from abuse, harassment, and discrimination.”
