As of today, April 1, 2025, the new Canadian Safe Sport Program (CSSP) will replace the Abuse-Free Sport program. Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has adopted this new program committed to advancing a respectful sport culture, delivering quality, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming experiences. CKC participants affected by these changes can be found here. The CKC Independent Third-Party (ITP) mechanism remains in effect for all other participants and any other matters with jurisdiction outside of the CSSP.

The CSSP Rules set out how the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) will administer the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) for all identified participants within federally funded, national-level sport organizations.

The CCES is committed to providing a safe, timely, reliable, and procedurally fair environment for anyone involved in a report of maltreatment. Everyone connecting with the CCES team will be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion.

CKC will notify participants who are subject to the CSSP and will provide access information for the mandatory e-learning course and consent forms. For participants falling under CKC jurisdiction for national events there will be a consent form as part of the registration process. For all other participants, the current ITP reporting structure remains in effect.

Effective today, CKC has updated our Safe Sport policies to reflect these changes. For more information about CKC’s Safe Sport initiatives, click here.

For more information about the CSSP, including education and reporting, go to https://cces.ca/canadian-safe-sport-program.

Following an independent disciplinary process, Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) announces that Angus Mortimer has been found in violation of CKC’s 2015 Discrimination and Harassment Policy after it was found that he engaged in harassment and sexual harassment while a national team athlete.

Mr. Mortimer is permanently ineligible to participate in any capacity in any program, activity, event or competition sponsored by, organized by, or under the auspices of Canoe Kayak Canada and its members, and he has been ordered to provide letters of apology to the complainants.

CKC commends the courage of the complainants who have come forward and will continue to offer support to them in relation to this matter. CKC has a fundamental obligation and responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the organization, its members, and its participants, and CKC takes this responsibility and any situation involving misconduct very seriously.

CKC also strongly supports all participants’ rights to compete in an environment that is safe and free from harassment, maltreatment, and abuse. We’ve been a strong leader in the Canadian sport system, and we’re pleased to be a supporter and signatory to the newly established Abuse Free Sport program. We’re also committed to working with Abuse Free Sport and our members to continue to strive to be better.

Any cases of alleged violations of CKC’s Safe Sport policies are dealt with thoroughly and objectively through the Independent Third-Party process. Once a decision is made, CKC fully supports the principle of openness and transparency (through public disclosure) to the extent we are able, in accordance with any final decision of a discipline panel.

We continue to respect the confidentiality of this case in accordance with our policies and out of respect for all individuals involved. Accordingly, we are unable to provide further comment and we thank you for respecting the privacy of all individuals involved.

Memo circulated to Sprint membership on November 7, 2023

CKC is committed to protecting the health, safety, and physical and mental well-being of every individual that is involved in the Canadian paddling community.  CKC takes any situation involving misconduct, maltreatment, and prohibited behaviour very seriously.  As part of our programming, we are offering to our community a series of workshops.

These sessions will be led by Allison Forsyth, COO, Partner ITP Sport & Recreation, Olympian, and World Championship bronze medalist skier.  Allison is a survivor of abuse in the Canadian sport system and is passionate about providing audience relevant education in a real, conversational, and interactive ways. These sessions will provide you with real life scenarios and help all participant groups work through the realities and challenges of Safe Sport implementation, behaviour shifts, and identifying potential predatorial abuse. If you have taken online training before, rest assured that training is considered and these sessions will elevate your knowledge, your duty to protect and be protected, and how to navigate the nuances from commonly seen micro-aggressions and when and how to report maltreatment.

Allison does not take sides. She believes in Safe Sport for all, and whether you are a parent, athlete, coach, official, or administrator, she leads with empathy for your position in this movement and is positive and supportive in her approach.

Safe Sport is a critical component of the future of sport in our country and in every sport organization. These sessions will also support you in your understanding of the why behind that and how you can contribute to this new, safer era of sport.

We look forward to welcoming you to learn more!  Please share with all your members to encourage participation in the session that best speaks to the role you/they play in our community!

* Note that the sessions will be run in English but slides will be sent in both languages.  Simultaneous interpretation will be offered for the sessions as indicated above (please note that this will only be for anything offered in the main discussion and presentation and not in any potential breakout rooms).  Should this change, participants will be notified.

CKC Ramping up the season to win!

What is it?

This is a campaign to encourage all individuals (please see “Who?” below) to complete their CKC Safe Sport Screening in the beginning of 2023, well in advance of the 2023 competitive season, so that nothing will impact participation in any CKC activity.

There are a few steps involved in completing the screening process.  Please see the section “How?” to review those steps.

Who needs to complete the Safe Sport Screening?

1. All individuals who are members of CKC Staff, Board, Councils, and Committees.
2. All CKC Officials.
3. Any individual from a CKC member club or organization (PTSO, Division)
   • that has adopted CKC Policies, and/or
   • who will participate in a CKC sanctioned event in 2023 (including but not limited to: Nationals, Trials, Canada Cup, Time trial event, Training Camp, Project Coach position, International CKC team event), and/or
   • will be a member of an HOC for a CKC event

Why?

To ensure all participants have completed their CKC Safe Sport Screening in advance of the 2023 season. Please note, that if you’ve completed the screening in 2022 and it is still valid, you will fall under the “renewal” process below.
When?

Target completion date for all individuals (for this campaign): March 31, 2023.
Prizes will only be available to those who complete their screening by March 31, 2023.
(But note that the screening process can be completed at any time during the year!)

How to Enter?

How to enter:

1. Contact your club or organization registrar for your RAMP login page
   • (Note for clubs/organizations: Instructions for RAMP setup can be found here)
2. Once signed in, complete your Safe Sport Screening!
   • (All instructions for individuals can also be found on our website here.)

How to get set up in RAMP?

Setup  >>>  Clubs/Organizations: Instructions for Ramp setup for Clubs and organizations can be found here.

Step 1-3: INDIVIDUALS: All instructions for individuals can also be found on our website here.

* for the components of a CRC or where to get one, please see the website under Step 2

PRIZES!

Yes, individuals having completed their safe sport screening for 2023 in RAMP will be entered into a draw for a prize. A total of 50 prizes will be given out.

To be eligible, you must have completed the full screening process prior to March 31, 2023.

If you have any questions please reach out to: development@canoekayak.ca

Good luck everyone and let’s get ready to WIN!!

Effective today, Friday, December 16, 2022, Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC) has access to services provided by the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC), which serves as the central hub of Abuse-Free Sport, the new independent program to prevent and address maltreatment in sport

Complaints will now be filed with either Abuse-Free Sport or the Independent Third Party for CKC. A complete overview on how to file a complaint to either Abuse-Free Sport or The ITP is outlined in this section of the CKC website.

CKC has also adopted the most recent version (6.0) of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). Member organizations who have already adopted the CKC Policy Suite are not required to make any updates to their Safe Sport Policies at this time.

Safe Sport Policy

There is more information about the Abuse-Free Sport program HERE, on the OSIC HERE, and on CKC’s page HERE.

For questions related to CKC Safe Sport, contact Kenna Robins.