Fencing for Change

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[Global Athlete @GlobalAthleteHQ]

While today’s announcement from 🇨🇦 Minister of Sport to establish a ‘Future of Sport in Canada Commission’ isn’t the national inquiry athletes have been calling for, it shows that the gov. has recognized that the sport system is broken & needs repair.
https://t.co/zotL8b9vHD

[Fencing for Change @Fencing4Change]

Today we are sharing an important athlete story - often, amateur athletes end up working as coaches within their training centers to help support themselves. This can leave them in a VERY vulnerable position when their livelihoods and futures as athletes are so linked.

[Fencing for Change @Fencing4Change]

Luis Patterson, Paris 2024 hopeful hailing from Cuba, came to Canada in 2019. He has since been training and working as a coach in BC, where he has experienced significant abuse/exploitation at his workplace. He feared that his employer would revoke his work permit if he spoke up

[Fencing for Change @Fencing4Change]

This is his statement - more details to come as we progress through provincial and federal investigations. We stand with Luis and his story

[TSN Hockey @TSNHockey]

From @rwesthead - Western University women’s hockey team players wrote to school president Alan Shepard that they’ll boycott all practices/games if coach Candice Moxley continues in her role after a third-party investigation into allegations of misconduct: https://t.co/zZ6OUbX7R8

[Kirsty Duncan @KirstyDuncanPhD]

Still no commitment to a national public inquiry into sport.

Abuse in sport is not a new problem, but one that was ignored for decades.

How many more athletes and how many more stories before Canada does the right thing and calls an inquiry? #safesport https://t.co/kRQo8mlS01

[Athletes Empowered @athletes_empwrd]

“The national inquiry is purposeful for ensuring every child, every athlete, including all marginalized participants, have an absolute right to access sport in safety.” — Judge Rosemarie Aquilina @AquiRosemarie
@_karaeaker

[Declan Hill @declan_hill]

2023 Ignoble Awards - Nominee

The Canadian Government - this well-resourced, rich country has turned a blind eye to countless incidents of abuse & harassment in their national sports. Thousands of athletes have appealed for an inquiry the politicians have refused.

[Fencing for Change @Fencing4Change]

Forced kiss claim leads to 'helplessness' for accuser who turned to Olympics abuse-fighting agency https://t.co/v72mw2pfq0

[Fencing for Change @Fencing4Change]

We are proud to continue using our voices for this message. The time for change is now 💪

[Global Athlete @GlobalAthleteHQ]

Today's joint statement reiterates the unanswered demands for a national inquiry into the toxic culture of abuse that exists across all levels of Canadian sport.

Read https://t.co/u4mKC0eIPg
@JustinTrudeau @CQualtro 2/2

@Gym4ChangeCan @Fencing4Change @FSforChangeCan @SAACS23

[Global Athlete @GlobalAthleteHQ]

The #AthleteVoice began the call for a national inquiry but as evidence of Canada's toxic sport system mounted, prominent organisations joined: @TeamCanada @ownthepodium @EthicsInSPORT @CdnHumanRights @WomenandSportCA @CAC_ACE

📣 @JustinTrudeau @CQualtro we are wating 1/2

[Kim Shore @kimshore2022]

As @ameliagrace1989 & I say in the article, @Gym4ChangeCan team is very optimistic about a Minister who has lived experience with both the positive & negative aspects of the 🇨🇦sport system and who believes in the gravity of what survivors have been saying. We won’t have to start over bc no doubt, @CQualtro will hit the ground running. Collaboration, inclusion and truth will lead us to a much needed solution.

[Rob Koehler @RobKoehler2]

Dear @PascaleStOnge_ this is the system Canada and the @CRDSC_SDRCC has replicated.
The Canadian system does not work. The primary reason athletes and advocates are calling for an inquiry.
@GlobalAthleteHQ @Gym4ChangeCan @Fencing4Change @SportCanada_EN
https://t.co/zwLwiz0GME

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

This is *one* youth centre and allegedly *one* perpetrator… and 200 kids.

Collectively @Gym4ChangeCan @GlobalAthleteHQ @Fencing4Change @FSforChangeCan have received thousands of stories too.

Just imagine the scale of this problem. It’s almost unfathomable. It can’t continue.

[CBC Olympics @CBCOlympics]

Madison Payette said her "stomach dropped" when she heard her former coach had been given a three-year ban after she filed an assault complaint, rather than the lifetime ban she'd been hoping for https://t.co/bsNZcpjreh

[Kim Shore @kimshore2022]

Spending time last week with @AquiRosemarie & listening to her address 🇨🇦Parliament was an honour. But to be repeatedly asked by her, “What more can I do to help?” caught me by surprise each time. I wish @PascaleStOnge_ or @SportCanada_EN would ask us that. Once.

@Gym4ChangeCan @GlobalAthleteHQ

[Lori Ward @LoriRWard]

Former wrestler 'shocked' by disciplinary decision after filing sexual assault complaint against coach https://t.co/Q9XuIC4UD0

[The Vassy Kapelos Show @VassKapelosShow]

ICYMI: Judge @AquiRosemarie, who sentenced disgraced US Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, is calling for an independent judicial inquiry into sport in Canada.

She speaks with guest host @grahamctv. https://t.co/MULVIjHAYC