Ottawa – October 16, 2024 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has released the first draft of the Canadian Safe Sport Program Rules for consultation and feedback. These rules set out how the CCES will independently administer the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) effective April 1, 2025, for national-level sport participants within federally funded sport organizations.
In the last few months, the CCES has conducted extensive consultations via survey and meetings with athlete groups, survivor and advocacy groups, subject matter experts, sport organizations and more. Through these consultations, the CCES heard the need for one document that clearly sets out the procedural rules for the independent administration of the UCCMS, including the importance of a trauma-informed approach, establishing standards of delivery, and transparent communication processes.
Your feedback is vital to the development of the Canadian Safe Sport Program Rules. We encourage stakeholders, particularly signatories and participants of the current Abuse-Free Sport program, to provide feedback on this draft.
There are three avenues to provide feedback on the draft program by November 22, 2024:
- Participate in one of the virtual or in-person consultations (details below).
- Email [email protected].
- Call 613-521-3340.
Download the draft Canadian Safe Sport Program Rules and explanatory document.
Consultations
Register for one of five program consultations taking place between November 6 and 14. Details about the virtual and in-person sessions are available here: www.cces.ca/safe-sport-transition.
CCES Executive Director of Safe Sport
To provide executive leadership in this space, the CCES hired Signy Arnason as the Executive Director of Safe Sport. Signy spent 23 years at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, where she guided their growth to a national and international leader in child protection as the Associate Executive Director. Her experience and leadership with establishing and overseeing a national reporting service focused on victim-centred processes and trauma-informed practices will contribute to the successful transition of the OSIC and Abuse-Free Sport into the CCES’s operations.
Next Steps
November 2024
The first draft of the Canadian Safe Sport Program Rules will be revised based on feedback from consultations.
December 2024
The final version of the Canadian Safe Sport Program Rules will be published.
January to March 2025
The adoption process will begin. CCES staff will help all federally funded sport organizations through the onboarding and implementation of the rules and associated requirements.
April 1, 2025
The new Canadian Safe Sport Program Rules will come into effect for national-level participants of all federally funded sport organizations. All matters related to the UCCMS will be reported through the CCES.
NOTE: Reports of maltreatment should continue to be directed to the SDRCC until March 31, 2025. Please visit the Abuse-Free Sport website for more information: www.abuse-free-sport.ca.
About the CCES
The CCES works collaboratively to ensure Canadians have a positive sport experience. Through its programs, the CCES manages unethical issues in sport, protects the integrity of Canadian sport, and promotes True Sport to activate values-based sport on and off the field of play. The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization that is responsible for the administration of the CADP. For more information, visit cces.ca, follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.