Sports
Everyone deserves to be safe from abuse when playing sports.
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BC takes steps for safer amateur sports
Published 12:02 PDT, Fri July 7, 2023
Last Updated: 2:54 PDT, Fri August 11, 2023
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The Sport Branch is part of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport that develops policies, strategies, and opportunities for sport in British Columbia. The Sport Branch also works with other levels of government and ministries to ensure that B.C.’s sport interests and government resources are brought to sport. viaSport, a non-profit organization, is a government lead delivery agency for sports programs. It distributes ministry funding to provincial and multi-sport organizations for programs and services for British Columbians involved in sport.
As of recently, news.gov.bc.ca announced that the province and viaSport are improving safety in sports by continuing to take steps toward an independent complaint process for BC’s amateur sport sector.
“Everyone deserves to have a positive experience in sport so they can benefit from the incredible power of active living and improve physical and mental well-being” said Lana Popham, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport. “Since 2019, we have been working with viaSport to advance the safe sport culture in BC. The sector has asked for more support, and we are now ready to take this important step to increase protection, accountability and awareness for all participants.’
“viaSport British Columbia is committed to developing long-term solutions to address maltreatment in sport” said Charlene Krepiakevich, chief executive officer of viaSport.
The province is providing $7.8 million in response to commitments made to federal and provincial partners to address safe-sport challenges. The intent is to provide an independent process that will help create an effective, fair and consistent mechanism to respond to complaints. The program will be implemented by a third-party service provider that will provide an easier access for athletes to seek help when they need it.
“This investment enables us to build on the success of our PlaySafeBC program and to advance the prevention of maltreatment. It also enables us to continue to work with the amateur sport sector on the creation of an independent third-party mechanism to help everyone respond and report more easily, upholding safety in sport” said Krepiakevich.
“It’s exciting to know this new reporting tool is being developed. This independent process will help keep everyone safer as it will provide a vital link for athletes to raise their voice when they experience or witness a safe-sport violation,”said Evan Dunfee, a Richmond-based Olympian.
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