Member Updates
August 9, 2022
Update to Members - Hockey Canada’s National Equity Fund
The past few weeks have been challenging times for the hockey community across Canada, with intense attention from the federal government, the media, and participants in our sport.
Hockey Canada’s use of the National Equity Fund in the settlement of 2018 sexual misconduct allegations has been a key component of the ongoing public discussion. The media has reported some member organizations and participants are questioning whether their fees should go to Hockey Canada in the future.
Hockey Alberta has been working with the other 12 Member Branch partners across Canada to gain clarity for our member organizations and participants when it comes to the National Equity Fund.
Linked in this message is a Memo from Brian Cairo, Chief Financial Officer for Hockey Canada. Mr. Cairo put together this Memo at the request of the 13 Member Branches to answer questions on the National Equity Fund, how the dollars within that fund are collected, and how it will be used going forward.
HOCKEY CANADA MEMO - NATIONAL EQUITY FUND >
Also linked in this email is the Action Plan that Hockey Canada published recently, outlining the steps that will be undertaken by Hockey Canada to drive culture change within our sport.
Please review both documents. They can be used internally and when speaking with your participants.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Hockey Alberta Office so that we can work to obtain the clarity your organization is seeking.
update to Members - Statements from Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada has posted two Statements to its website this week.
The first document is a Statement to Stakeholders that provides updates on its Action Plan, as well as additional information on Hockey Canada’s approach to sexual misconduct, the National Equity Fund, and the 2018 and 2003 incident allegations.
The second document is a Statement from Andrea Skinner, the interim chair of Hockey Canada.
The documents can be found on the Hockey Canada website at the following links:
Update to Members - Hockey alberta and Hockey Canada
Hockey Alberta is committed to making our game safer and more inclusive for participants in Alberta and across the country.
Hockey Alberta has identified that allegations of maltreatment, regardless of where or when they occur in our sport, need to be investigated and adjudicated by individuals with specialized skills. As a result, for the 2022-23 season, we have appointed a new Maltreatment Officer, and four new Maltreatment Investigators.
Hockey Alberta has also identified that Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives require leaders with special skills and experience. An EDI Task Force was created in October 2021 to help improve the experience of everyone in our sport. That Task Force has been shifted to full Committee status, with its members helping set a new and improved direction for our sport across Alberta.
Hockey Alberta has requested that Hockey Canada take certain actions and provide answers by specific deadlines. We have outlined that a lack of action may lead to Hockey Alberta taking other actions which include, but are not limited to, withholding participant fees.
We believe it is important to establish a set of actions within a national framework to improve the overall culture of our sport. We have provided input for Justice Cromwell’s governance review, and we are awaiting the report’s final recommendations. Our participation will continue during review sessions this month, and other processes moving forward.
Hockey Alberta continues to meet with Hockey Canada and our Branch partners across the country. We continue to ask the questions for which our Members and stakeholders are seeking answers. That is our commitment – to continue working towards an improved and stronger hockey system for Albertans and participants across the country.
Finally, to the entire hockey community in Alberta – hockey is being played across the province. That is not going to stop regardless of what is happening at the national level. Thank you to the tens of thousands of individuals – Members, volunteers, and parents – who continue to work hard every day to ensure that games and practices occur for our players.
