Participants at every level of the sport can now submit Safe Sport complaints through a confidential, third-party website and hotline
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – As part of our continued commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive sport environment, Speed Skating Canada is excited to officially launch its Safe Sport Speak Up Line, a new independent reporting mechanism that supports the intake and management of complaints from all participants within the Canadian speed skating community.
The implementation of the new Speak Up Line is one of a handful of important safe sport updates announced by Speed Skating Canada in recent months that will help our sport successfully create and maintain a culture within our training and competition environments that ensures positive, healthy and fulfilling experiences for all participants.
The Safe Sport Speak Up Line is an independent reporting mechanism that supports intake and management of complaints from participants of speed skating in Canada, including those involved at the national, provincial, territorial and club levels. The service can be used by all past and present participants, including athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers, as indicated in Speed Skating Canada’s updated Complaints and Discipline Policy.
The Speak Up Line accepts complaints online or by telephone, and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Items that can be reported include governance disputes, non-compliance with organizational policies, and conduct or behaviour that results or has the potential to result in physical or psychological harm, including but not limited to, maltreatment, abuse of authority, bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- How can a report be submitted to the Speak Up Line?
- The speed skating Safe Sport Speak Up Line is accessible online and by telephone. Complaints can be raised through the third-party hotline – on a confidential basis, with or without anonymity – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including weekends and holidays).
- Website: https://app.integritycounts.ca/org/speedskating
- Email: speedskating@integritycounts.ca
- Phone: 1-888-889-1203
- Who can use the Speak Up Line?
- The speed skating Safe Sport Speak Up Line can be used by all past and present participants within the Canadian speed skating community (athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators, directors, employees, parents, guardians, etc.), as well as by persons employed by, or engaged in activities with, a speed skating organization at the national, provincial/territorial or club level.
- How is the Speak Up Line independent?
- The speed skating Safe Sport Speak Up Line is operated independently by a third-party hotline provider (WhistleBlower Security Inc.). Reports received through the platform are submitted to an external Case Manager – unaffiliated with Speed Skating Canada and its Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations – to ensure an independent review.
In addition to launching the Safe Sport Speak Up Line, Speed Skating Canada’s transition to join the national Abuse-Free Sport Program through the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) also came to an end on March 1, 2023. Designated OSIC participants – including National and NextGen team athletes and training partners; National Program coaches; and Speed Skating Canada staff and Board members – have now been fully onboarded and are subject to the UCCMS and OSIC policies and processes.
To support the launch of these new Safe Sport reporting mechanisms, Speed Skating Canada has released updated versions of its Code of Conduct and Complaints & Discipline Policy, which are now in effect. We have also officially adopted the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) as a standalone policy.
To learn more about Speed Skating Canada’s Safe Sport policy framework and reporting mechanisms, or to access additional training and education resources, please visit: www.speedskating.ca/discover/safe-sport.
If you have any questions about Safe Sport, please reach out to safesport@speedskating.ca.