Safe Sport Statement of Commitment
Sport organizations in British Columbia are committed to creating a sport environment that is accessible, inclusive, respects their participants’ personal goals, and is free from all forms of maltreatment. Rowing BC is firmly committed to the principles of Safe Sport, and fostering a culture where everyone can thrive, and where sport is safe for everyone. Rowing BC was an early-adopter of the Responsible Coaching Movement, and our Staff and Board have completed Commit to Kids training.
For more information about fostering a culture of safety check out PlaySafeBC from viaSport. On this page is information about sport safety of all types, including a handy tool for bystanders: the Flag Tool. If you see something you are not sure about, use this tool to help you make an appropriate decision and provide appropriate help.
How to Report Maltreatment
As required by Sport Canada, RCA has enlisted the services of an Independent Third Party. Up-to-date information for how to contact the ITP is available on the RCA Safe Sport page. The ITP will be able to review, advise and refer issues for further action independently of RCA, Rowing BC, and your club.
Safe Sport Roles
Safe Sport Leads
- Within each organization
- Main point of contact for Rowing Canada and Rowing BC
- Oversees implementation and adoption of Safe Sport Policy Manual
- Provides training and communication within organization
- DOES NOT have involvement in Complaint Management process
- Qualities: passionate about Safe Sport, good understanding of governance concepts, comfortable leading discussions
- Supported by Rowing BC to answer questions and implement policies
Complaint Resolution Officer
- One of a pool of CROs around the province
- Receives training from Rowing Canada in Complaint Management
- Manages decision making process for club-level complaints
- Qualities: impartial, able to understand and apply policies, maintains confidentiality, able to write clear and reasoned responses
Independent Third Party – Lise MacLean of Wiser Workplaces
- Contact to make a complaint
- Completely independent from the rowing community
- Makes a determination about the admissibility of a complaint based on policies
- Determines the appropriate policy pathway based on severity and environment of a complaint
Rowing BC Safe Sport Policies
- Rowing BC Safe Sport Policy Manual (.pdf) – approved Oct. 5, 2021
- BC Universal Code of Conduct (.pdf)
- Rowing BC Privacy Policy (.pdf) – approved Oct. 5, 2021
Additional Safe Sport Resources
National Safe Sport Helpline
Are you a victim or witness of harassment, abuse or discrimination in sport? Contact the Canadian Sport Helpline to share your concerns and be referred to the appropriate resources. Open from 8 am to 8 pm (ET) 7 days a week, it is anonymous, confidential, independent and bilingual.
KidsHelpPhone
The KidsHelpPhone service now includes text and web services as well as services for adults.
Other sport safety helplines are listed here.
As part of Safe Sport, all coaches across Canada are required by March 31, 2021 to abide by the RCA Every Coach Certified initiative.
More information is available HERE.
Note that as of March 2020 all coaches and Board members are required to complete a Criminal Record Check/Vulnerable Sector Screen. This requirement needs to be renewed every 3 years. Clubs will be required to ensure this has been completed for all active coaches. There are four ways to complete a Criminal Record Check/Vulnerable Sector Screen:
- Complete it in-person at your local Police or RCMP detachment, then deliver the hardcopy to your rowing organization. This option is Free for volunteers, $ for paid staff.
- Complete it online through justice.gov.bc.ca using a passcode set up by your rowing organization to enable the completed CRC to be sent directly to your rowing organization electronically. Note: If you are the main representative of a rowing organization and need to set up online access, contact memberservices@rowingbc.ca for support. Your organization can set up an account here. This option is Free for volunteers, $ for paid staff.
- Utilize CRC services provided by Sterling BackCheck, as endorsed by their partnership with Rowing Canada Aviron. More information available here. This option is $25.
The goal of Safe Sport is to create a culture where everyone can thrive, and where sport is safe for everyone. To accomplish this, everyone involved in sport has associated responsibilities. The resources specific to parents, coaches and sport organizations are provided below.
Sport Safety for parents, click here.
Sport Safety for coaches, click here.
Sport Safety for Sport Organizations, click here.
viaSport has made The Flag Tool available through their website. If you see something that makes you uncomfortable, you can use the tool to decide if the situation was appropriate or not. The tool also suggests ways to address the issue.
We all have responsibilities to ensure the safety of our environments, but sometimes it is hard to know what you can do to help. Check out these bystander resources from viaSport.
Training Resources
The Coaching Association of Canada provides Safe Sport Training information.
More information is available here.
The Commit to Kids (C2K) for Coaches online training empowers coaches and any other sport leaders with information and tools to help them enhance child and youth safety in sport. This training highlights the importance of understanding boundaries, sexual misconduct and reporting inappropriate behaviour.
More information is available here.
Respect in Sport advocates for the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.
More information is available here.
Questions, or need more information?
Please contact Rowing BC’s Safe Sport Lead, Lisa Tschannen at lisa.tschannen@rowingbc.ca