Safe Sport

Safe Sport Call or Text Line - 1-888-83-SPORT

The Alberta Whitewater Association is committed to the safety and well being of our members and participants. We therefore adopt fully the recommendations of Canoe Kayak Canada's SAFE SPORT POLICY:

"Canoe Kayak Canada has a fundamental obligation and responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the organization, its members and its participants. CKC takes any situation involving misconduct very seriously. CKC and its Members (defined as Divisions, Provincial/Territorial Sport Organizations, Discipline-Specific Provincial/Territorial Organizations, and Clubs) are collectively committed to enacting and enforcing strong, clear, and consistent policies and processes for addressing misconduct.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) is proud to inform you that a new Safe Sport Policy Manual has been approved by the CKC Board of Directors. The Safe Sport Policy Manual, including a new Safe Sport Member Declaration, comes into effect at the national level on March 1, 2020, after which members will be asked to formally adopt the policies by June 1, 2020."

Should any complaint or concern come to the attention of an AWA or CKC representative, it will be forwarded to one of our safe sport officers. CKC has contracted W&W Dispute Resolution Services for this role. They may be reached directly and independently through the email address safesport_wwdrs@primus.ca. This is a confidential email address which will only be accessed by one of the independent Safe Sport Officers.

 

 

3 STEPS

Training – Screening – Disclosing

 

#1. TRAINING - Who should take the training?

The FREE online Safe Sport Training equips coaches, administrators, parents, club volunteers and others to make decisions that promote participants' physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. It empowers organizations to foster a culture that contributes to positive experiences for everyone involved. 

All volunteers, coaches and board members must take one of these training programs

   Safe Sport Training

   or 

   Respect in Sport – Activity Leaders Training Portal

We redo one of these trainings every 3 years as they evolve and improve. It takes between 45 mins and 1.5 hours to do. It can be done in as many sittings as needed (it saves your progress as you go) and can be done on a mobile device.

 

#2. SCREENING - See Screening Matrix 

Police Checks (EPICs) and Vulnerable Sector Checks (VSC) are done every 3 years. Please contact AWA if you require assistance or clarity around obtaining one these:   coordinator@albertawhitewater.ca   OR    admin@albertawhitewater.ca

    Safe Sport Screening Matrix

       #3. Disclosing - please complete the Self Disclosure Form

    AWA Disclosure Form 

    This is about a 2 minute process. Everyone who has ever had a Police Check OR Vulnerable Sector Check completed needs to do the Self Disclosure Form EACH YEAR they volunteer for their club or organization. At the beginning of each year OR immediately following an org's AGM are the best times to complete the AWA's Self Disclosure Form.

     

    Summary

    Everyone Involved - #1 and #3     

    • Volunteers, Instructors, Coaches & Board Members need to do BOTH the Safe Sport Training (SST)  and complete the Self Disclosure Form. Ideally, all paddlers and parents take the quick, free, easy online training as well.  

    Occasional Volunteers and Leaders - #1,  #2 (EPIC) and #3

    • Volunteers who are NOT working with vulnerable peoples need to take the Safe Sport Training (SST), complete an EPIC and complete the Self Disclosure Form

    Instructors, Coaches working Directly with Vulnerable Participants (volunteer or paid) - #1, #2 (VSC) and #3

     

    EPICs or VSCs can be done at your local RCMP Detachment or through the City Police. In most locations in Alberta it costs $15 if you have a local address to that detachment or station. Many can assist you through email and online payment, some require you to go in person to their office.

    One alternative to using your local detachment or police station is the online Sterling Backcheck which gives you next day results for $25. However, the Sterling Backcheck is only does EPICs, not VSCs.  

    *NOTE: Police Vulnerable Sector Check - For Senior Instructors & Coaches working directly with Youth, Team Managers or other Volunteers travelling with youth, the AWA has a Vulnerable Sector Number through Volunteer Alberta that will waive fees for Volunteer Coaches & Team Managers. Please contact admin@albertawhitewater.ca to request number.

     

     

    REPORTING

    CKC has appointed independent Safe Sport officers who any person can contact to report or discuss incidents of abuse or harassment of any kind.

    CKC has contracted W&W Dispute Resolution Services for this role. They may be reached directly and independently through the email address safesport@canoekayak.ca. This is a confidential email address which will only be accessed by the Independent Safe Sport Officer. 

    AWA has a SafeSport Officer designated on the board to contact: safesport@albertawhitewater.ca

     

    SAFE SPORT HOTLINE

    Safe Sport Call or Text Line - 1-888-83-SPORT

    An independent Helpline has been set up with the support of Sport Canada and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. 

    Anyone with a concern should feel comfortable reaching out to this free and confidential service as well. Information on their services and how to contact them can be found at; abuse-free-sport.ca. The abuse free sport phone and texting line is accessible at 1-888-83-SPORT, and is monitored from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern time.

     

    AWA SafeSport Targets:

    Safe Sport Training - https://safesport.coach.ca/

    September 31, 2020   All AWA Board Members & Staff - Completed Safe Sport training

    October - December   Develop AWA specific sport Guidelines and milestones with partners and clubs – Action: summary document

    January 1st                 Announce Club executives have till May 1st to take Safe Sport training

    With CKC                    All new NCCP coaches, instructors and leaders must take Safe Sport  training in order to be certified

    AWA AGM                   Safe Sport Presentation

    April 1st 2021              All Club executives and club coaches have completed Safe Sport training

    Recommended training for all coaches and volunteers working with vulnerable populations:

    • Government of Alberta
    • Coach Canada
    • La Farge
    • AQ Outdoors Logo
    • Jumpstart Badge Logo
    • DeLauretis Wealth Management
    • InMotion Logo
    • Canoe Kayak Canada