Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport

[Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport @SAACS23]

The Canadian sport system must change. Athletes must be protected.

Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport is calling on the Government of Canada to initiate a national inquiry on maltreatment in sport.

[Rarely Wright @2Rarely]

Sport Canada shelves report-card system that gave high marks to troubled organizations

#NationalInquiryNow #AbuseInSport #AthleteSafety #SportsGov #ChildSafety #Safeguarding #Grooming

https://t.co/PMOEkfcBH2

[Kirsty Duncan @KirstyDuncanPhD]

A systemic inquiry into Canada’s sport system by an independent body must start with athletes, examine Sport Canada’s role in the system, and investigate how our sports bodies operate. This is an opportunity to create a safer sport system and start a global safe sport movement.

[WanderingLotus @bcjlotus]

As always, @seblemire holding the line and pushing for what was promised, he said the "only conceivable option at this stage" is for the government to launch a public inquiry.

[Amelia C (she/her) 🇨🇦🇺🇦 @ameliagrace1989]

@vankayak how can you say any of this with a straight face? Especially after this week of stories demonstrating the abject failure of OSIC?

This is a slap in the face to the brave survivor from volleyball whose coach is now under police investigation despite OSIC clearing him.

[Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport @SAACS23]

Solidarity with all the athletes, at all levels of sport, still struggling for justice within the 🇨🇦 sport system.

We hear you, we believe you, we support you✊🏻

[WanderingLotus @bcjlotus]

Um. What?!?

Read the room.

[Amelia C (she/her) 🇨🇦🇺🇦 @ameliagrace1989]

Yeah, the devil is really in the details here. “Weighing must always be a choice”?

There’s no choice when your coach is pressuring you to do something. And they will.

How about we just stop weighing child athletes, full stop? There’s absolutely no basis for it.

[Greg Gilhooly @GregGilhooly]

@rwesthead Having been on a coach’s bed while he did things with my feet under the guise of helping me, I can say that anybody who thinks that this was anything but grooming and breaking down physical barriers to prepare for what could follow doesn’t understand how these things work.

[Gymnastics Coaching 🤸🏾‍♂️ @GymCoaching]

Superior Court of Pennsylvania upheld Penn State's decision to fire Jeff Thompson, who served as the university’s women’s gymnastics coach from 2010 through 2017, and denied his defamation lawsuit.
https://t.co/lBzReBjON3

[Amelia C (she/her) 🇨🇦🇺🇦 @ameliagrace1989]

Coach brings boy into his *bedroom* and “Ragogna was cleared by the OSIC to return to coaching in early September after apologizing to the boy and his parents, and completing a course about appropriate boundaries.”

This is the program designed to solve our abuse crisis? Horrific

[Rick Westhead @rwesthead]

An investigator determined Ontario volleyball coach Matt Ragogna took a 16-year-old boy into the bedroom of his home, where the boy lay down on the bed while the coach practised wrapping his feet with athletic tape and tickled him.
During an investigation, which was kept secret, Ragogna continued coaching Brock University's men's volleyball team.
Ragogna, who also markets himself as a "life coach" to children, was cleared to return to coaching in Sept. after apologizing and completing a course about appropriate boundaries.
Now, at least three additional complainants have come forward and the Ontario Volleyball Association says police are investigating him. Ragogna is on leave from his position at Brock.

[Kim Shore @kimshore2022]

State-Sponsored Child Abuse to keep athletes compliant & obedient so they can own the podium.

Would it look similar to what's been reported weekly in 🇨🇦 for the past 2 yrs?

Essential reading below.
@GlobalAthleteHQ @Gym4ChangeCan @rwesthead @SAACS23

[Amelia C (she/her) 🇨🇦🇺🇦 @ameliagrace1989]

CEO of @CRDSC_SDRCC testifying at FEWO: “Yes, operationally, the Commissioner [of OSIC] reports to me”.

It is farcical to have the SDRCC overseeing an external review of OSIC. The buck stops with the CEO of the SDRCC in something like this. If OSIC has failed, so has the SDRCC.

[Rob Koehler @RobKoehler2]

OSIC is run by the @CRDSC_SDRCC. How can they be be overseeing an external review? The head of the SDRCC responds to complaints. For over a year athletes & advocates have said that OSIC/SDRCC are not fit for purpose. Conflicts of interests are everywhere.
Call a national inquiry.

[Cathy van Ingen @cathvi]

As a faculty member @BrockUniversity, its shocking to hear that a varsity v-ball coach that underwent an investigation for predatory & abusive acts with a 16 y/o was allowed to remain coaching (after apologizing & taking a course on boundaries) until additional complaints...

[Ornella Nzindukiyimana, same handle on Bluesky @OraRunsWild]

Excuse me?

[Kim Shore @kimshore2022]

1000%. The harm done over the past year by @PascaleStOnge_ and @CQualtro photo opping to drive a false narrative of good sport has been immense.

[Kristin Raworth 🇨🇦 @KristinRaworth]

Respectfully Minister. If you believed this than you would honour the requests of survivors and organizations like @Gym4ChangeCan and call an inquiry into abuse in sports

[Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport @SAACS23]

“University Authority and Undue Influence: Within the context of the Western Women’s Hockey Team, there are multiple power imbalances at play.”

[Senator Jane Cordy @SenatorCordy]

I met recently with former high achieving gymnasts who spoke of the abuse to them by coaches. This is happening to young people and should be investigated.