Ottawa – July 18, 2024 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) would like to provide the sport community with a brief update on its preparations in relation to the transition of the Abuse-Free Sport Program.
The CCES will assume responsibility for administering the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) as of April 1, 2025. For more information, consult the May 31 advisory note.
We have been engaged in regular meetings with Sport Canada and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) to review the current Abuse-Free Sport Program and the operations of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC).
The CCES administered a survey in June to gather information from existing Abuse-Free Sport signatories and participants on their experiences with the program. This feedback will help us build upon early successes of the program and inform potential changes. Common themes from the 58 survey responses included the importance of a trauma-informed approach, standards of delivery, and transparent communication processes.
We have met with more than 40 participants and groups on their experiences with the program, including athletes, sport organizations, advocacy groups, and subject matter experts.
The information and experiences gathered from the survey and initial consultations are being used to inform a draft of the next version of the program. This work is well underway and we'll share this draft with the sport community.
A series of in-person and virtual consultations will take place across Canada in mid-October and early November 2024 to seek feedback on the program draft. The CCES will provide dates and registration details for the sessions in early September, along with the topics for discussion.
The search for an Executive Director, Safe Sport is underway, and we anticipate announcing the successful candidate in the coming weeks.
We’re committed to keeping the community informed and up to date and we welcome your thoughts about, or experiences with, the program. If you have ideas to share, please write to [email protected].
Note: The administration of the UCCMS through the Abuse-Free Sport Program remains under the authority of the SDRCC until March 31, 2025. For more, go to 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 Canadian Anti-Doping Program. The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. For more information, visit cces.ca, and follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.