Sports Abuse in Canada

Hockey Canada needs to stop their blatant lying!

https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/woman-who-filed-lawsuit-against...

Where is the accountability?

When are we going to actually see resignations?

Hockey Canada scandal a national embarrassment

https://edmontonsun.com/opinion/columnists/tait-hockey-canada-scandal-a-...

What is Trudeau waiting for to charge Hockey Canada Officials!

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-hockey-canadas-str...

We need some different role models - who has the courage to belly up to the bar and do so.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_in_ice_hockey#:~:text=Violent%2....

Instead of all this stonewalling, when are we actually going to see some meaningful change at the top.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hockey-canada-st-onge-sport-minister-de...

On and on it goes!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/independent-investigator-hired-investig...

Oh, my!

https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2022/09/13/hockey-canada-told-ottawa-o...

This Hockey Canada mess kinda reminds me of the untouchable Roman Catholic Church. Isn't it time that those who are/were in charge, actually pay a price for their transgressions, eh!

Hockey Canada needs new leadership, treated sexual assault as 'insurance problem' says Minister of Sport

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hockey-canada-sexual-assa...

Skinner has destroyed all of Hockey Canada's credibility whatsoever with her testimony today, and needs to immediately step down.

How out of touch with reality can one be?

Hockey Violence - Ugh!

Hockey Canada is Sick! Sick! Sick!

https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/hockey-canada-stuns-mps-by-tellin...

Hockey Canada wants to be self-governing just like the Catholic Church, and we know how well that has worked out, eh!

Time for Hockey Canada head honchos to resign or close up shop. Everyone knows Hockey Canada is not going to close so board members and management its time to leave. Only a wholesale cleansing will get rid of this stench.

https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada-s-board-chairs-to-answer-to-feds-nichol...

Hockey Canada Does Not Appear To Be Alone, Not That That Exonerates Them

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/antarctic-research-stations-rife-wi...

Millions and millions of dollars paid out to try and compensate for sexual abuse?

WTF!

Finally!

What is the rest of Canada waiting for?

Hockey Quebec cuts ties with Hockey Canada in wake of new allegations against national body

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/hockey-quebec-confidence-vote-1....

Worse and worse it gets.

How low can Hockey Canada go!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hockey-canada-rape-allegations-tim-horton...

Feds say the move to reform Hockey Canada is on

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/hockey-quebec-confidence-vote-1....

Finally we have a Sports Minister who is prepared to kick some inappropriate primarily male butt. Long, long overdue!

We men should be ashamed that it took a woman to finally do it.

Time to nationalize Hockey Canada.

Hockey Canada executives need to leave before they 'burn' the organization 'to the ground,' minister says

Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge speaks with media before attending caucus on Parliament Hill on Wednesday. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

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The federal sport minister is ramping up her criticism of those leading Hockey Canada — an organization accused of mishandling allegations of gang rapes — by urging them to vacate their positions before the sports body is damaged beyond repair.

"I hope they understand the message and leave before they burn it to the ground," Pascale St-Onge said Thursday after a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill.

Her comments are just the latest salvo aimed at the national ice hockey body.

CBC News has confirmed that Hockey Canada's board and its provincial members had a conference call scheduled for 5 p.m. ET. Thursday ahead of an in-person meeting set for Oct 15.

The news of the meeting was first reported by TSN.

Earlier Thursday, Canadian Tire announced it is permanently ending its partnership with Hockey Canada.

WATCH | Minister hopes for leadership change:

Sport minister says she hopes Hockey Canada leaders leave before they 'burn' the organization 'to the ground'

7 hours ago

Duration0:47

Sport Minister Pascale St Onge weighs in on sponsors pulling out of Hockey Canada.

"In our view, Hockey Canada continues to resist meaningful change and we can no longer confidently move forward together," said Jessica Sims, a spokesperson for the Canadian Tire Corporation, Thursday.

"CTC is proud of our commitment to sport and will continue to invest in our beloved national game by redirecting support to hockey-related organizations that better align with our values."

Telus, which was considered a "premier" sponsor, pulled the plug earlier that morning, saying it no longer will be funding Hockey Canada's men's program for the upcoming season.

"We are deeply disheartened by the lack of action and commitment from Hockey Canada to drive necessary cultural change," the telecommunications company said in a statement.

"Telus will not be sponsoring Hockey Canada's men's hockey programs for the 2022-23 season, including the upcoming world juniors tournament. We remain passionate fans and supporters of the sport of hockey and stand committed to enabling systemic change to make hockey safe for all."

• Hockey Canada's response to scandal 'boggles the mind,' says Trudeau

• Tim Hortons pulls sponsorship of men's programming in wake of Hockey Canada scandal

Sobeys and Skip the Dishes, a food delivery app, also announced Thursday they are cutting ties. In a media statement, the grocery store chain said it was "disgusted by all of the allegations and, as importantly, Hockey Canada's unwillingness to make meaningful change."

Imperial Oil also said it will not support Hockey Canada men's programs through its Esso brand in the 2022-23 season.

Canadian Tire said it can no longer confidently move forward with Hockey Canada. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)

On Wednesday, Tim Hortons announced it would be pulling its sponsorship from all Hockey Canada men's hockey programming for the 2022-23 season, including the men's world junior championships.

Hockey Canada is planning to host the 2023 World Junior Championship in Halifax and Moncton, N.B., from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

Major sponsors paused funding ahead of the August 2022 world junior championships in Edmonton after TSN reported in May that Hockey Canada had paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight players, including members of Canada's 2018 world junior team.

Hockey Canada has since confirmed it has paid out $8.9 million in settlements to 21 complainants with sexual misconduct claims against its players since 1989.

• Hockey Canada 'absurd' in its continued resistance to leadership change, observers say

• THE FIFTH ESTATE

  Anatomy of a scandal

The organization also has admitted it drew on minor hockey membership fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including sexual abuse claims.

The CBC's The Fifth Estate identified at least 15 cases of alleged group sexual assault involving junior hockey players that have been investigated by police since 1989 — half of which surfaced in the past decade — through a review of public records.

Hockey Canada says no to management changes

The companies' decisions add corporate pressure to mounting calls for ice hockey's national governing body to undergo a change in its leadership after a widely panned appearance by one of its executives in front of a parliamentary committee this week.

On Tuesday, interim board chair Andrea Skinner defended Hockey Canada, saying it has an "excellent reputation" and suggesting its critics are scapegoating "hockey as a centrepiece for toxic culture."

Andrea Skinner, interim chair of the board of directors at Hockey Canada, appears virtually as a witness at a House of Commons committee on Canadian heritage, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Skinner has insisted that Hockey Canada won't be making any changes to its management despite a direct request from St-Onge, who has said she believes mass resignations at the governing body are necessary to restore public trust.

At one point, Skinner was asked to grade the performance of Hockey Canada's CEO Scott Smith, who has been widely condemned for his management of the organization.

"I'm a hard marker, and I think that the circumstances in which Mr. Smith has been working have been really extraordinary and difficult. I would say that he's conducting himself as an 'A' in the circumstances," she responded.

WATCH | Time for an overhaul, PM says:

'Hockey Canada has lost the confidence of Canadians': Trudeau

10 hours ago

Duration1:16

As Hockey Canada continues to lose sponsors, including Telus and Tim Hortons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it's time for an overhaul of the organization's leadership.

Skinner's comments led to something rare in Ottawa: united criticism from the main political parties.

Conservative MP Kevin Waugh, a former television sports journalist, called Hockey Canada's response to calls for a change in management "arrogant."

"They've doubled down and it's disgusting, really," he said Wednesday.

During Tuesday's committee meeting, Bloc Québécois MP Sébastien Lemire said Hockey Canada is "living in a bubble" and is "disconnected" from public opinion.

Those comments were echoed by NDP MP Peter Julian, who called Hockey Canada's refusal to disclose some information "disturbing."

Those frustrations are shared by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said Thursday it's time to think about starting a new organization to replace Hockey Canada.

"It is inconceivable that folks at Hockey Canada continue to dig in. It's not like there's something extraordinarily special about the people at Hockey Canada that means they are the only people in the country that can run an organization like this," he said.

"They need to realize that if we have to create an organization, get rid of Hockey Canada and create an organization called 'Canada Hockey' instead, people will look at doing that."

Trudeau said that while the federal government "isn't in the business" of starting new hockey organizations, he is sure "there will be a vacuum filled up."

In a statement Thursday morning, Chevrolet Canada reiterated its position from June, saying it has stepped back from its sponsorship activities with Hockey Canada "as we seek more clarity on what specific steps the organization has and will take following the alleged incidents of abuse."

"We at GM have no tolerance for abuse of any kind and wish to see Hockey Canada return to setting a positive example for all Canadians in all it does," spokesperson Jennifer Wright said in a statement.

WATCH | Skinner is a 'scapegoat,' sports minister says:

Hockey Canada's interim chair a 'scapegoat,' sports minister says

1 day ago

Duration9:17

Pascale St-Onge says she's saddened Andrea Skinner, interim chair of Hockey Canada's board of directors, is the face of its 'boys' club problem.'

Both Pepsi and Scotiabank have said their June decisions to pause its sponsorship remains in effect.

"In our open letter in June, we publicly called on Hockey Canada to hold the game to a higher standard and we are disappointed with the lack of progress to date," the bank said in a statement.

The federal government also has announced it will stop all funding for Hockey Canada until it shows signs of positive change. 

Three provincial hockey organizations also have made moves against the national body.

Hockey Nova Scotia said Thursday it would suspend the transfer of player fees to Hockey Canada. 

A statement released after an emergency meeting of the Hockey Nova Scotia board of directors said the provincial organization "has lost confidence in Hockey Canada's senior leadership," and that change is needed at the highest level of the governing body.

Earlier this week, Hockey Quebec said it, too, has lost confidence in Hockey Canada and will not transfer funds to the national organization.

The Ontario Hockey Federation, the largest of Canada's 13 provincial and territorial hockey associations, said it has asked Hockey Canada again to not collect the $3 participant assessment fee from its members for the 2022-23 season.

The executive director of the Ontario group said the organization is monitoring the situation.

Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey NL said they are waiting for the results of a review by former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell, who Hockey Canada hired to lead a review of the organization's governance structure.

The review is expected to provide interim recommendations before Hockey Canada's annual general meeting in November.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Catharine Tunney

Reporter

Catharine Tunney is a reporter with CBC's Parliament Hill bureau, where she covers national security and the RCMP. She worked previously for CBC in Nova Scotia. You can reach her at [email protected]

• Follow Cat on Twitter

With files from The Canadian Press

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No one wants to be tainted with Hockey Canada.

Is it game over for the Hockey Canada brand? Maybe, say ad experts

Marketers say the organization has a tiny window to act and save itself with sponsors

James Dunne · CBC News · Posted: Oct 07, 2022 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

With top sponsors dropping Hockey Canada and the organization this week resisting calls for a leadership change, marketing experts say quick, meaningful action is needed for the brand to ever recover. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

As company after company has cancelled sponsorships with Hockey Canada over its mishandling of gang-rape allegations and millions in payouts to complainants with sexual misconduct claims, communications experts are not sure the organization can ever recover with advertisers. 

"This is probably a textbook case of the worst brand crisis that an organization could be in," said Prof. Ann Pegoraro, the Lang Chair in Sport Management at the University of Guelph.   

On Thursday, after weeks of controversy during which sponsors temporarily paused support, Hockey Canada was battered by big-name brands fully backing out of deals with the organization.

Canadian Tire announced it is permanently ending its partnership, while the telecom giant Telus, grocery chain Sobeys and food delivery app Skip the Dishes also pulled the plug on elements of their support. 

In recent days, Tim Hortons, Scotiabank, and Esso parent company Imperial Oil have also cut ties with Hockey Canada.

Meanwhile, the federal government has ratcheted up criticism of the organization, while Hockey Quebec said it will no longer transfer funds to the national body.   

The damage to the brand is adding up so fast that Pegoraro wonders if the very name Hockey Canada could soon be too toxic to be rehabilitated with sponsors.

"I think they have limited time left that they could salvage it and by limited time I mean, days at best, if they don't make wholesale changes." 

WATCH | Canadians 'have lost faith' in Hockey Canada: Trudeau

Trudeau, sport minister call for Hockey Canada leadership change

2 days ago

Duration8:50

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge have thrown their support behind Hockey Québec's decision to cut ties with Hockey Canada following new allegations against the sporting body.

Ticking clock 

Pegoraro believes Hockey Canada's name could still be a positive association for sponsors if it acts fast. 

But, she says, because it hasn't installed new leadership and offered what she sees as a true apology, "they're still sliding down." 

Megan Matthews, a communications strategist and co-founder of Toronto based Instinct Brand Equity, says Hockey Canada 'digging their heels in' is adding to the reputational damage. (Submitted by Megan Matthews )

Megan Matthews, a communications strategist and co-founder of Instinct Brand Equity in Toronto says Hockey Canada can't rehab their brand by resisting change. 

"They're digging their heels in, in a way that's almost reinforcing the culture that is bubbling up here. Not looking at a leadership change, not looking at an internal review that they're going to publish the results of," she said.

"I think that they are missing their window of opportunity."

This week, interim board chair Andrea Skinner said Hockey Canada won't be making changes to its management, and told a parliamentary committee that the organization has an "excellent reputation."

• Hockey Canada executives need to leave before they 'burn' the organization 'to the ground,' minister says

• Hockey Canada 'absurd' in its continued resistance to leadership change, observers say

• VIDEO

  Anatomy of a Scandal

Brian Levine, the president of Envision Sports & Entertainment, a Toronto communications agency that works with elite athletes, companies, and charities, said the clock is ticking on a comeback for the Hockey Canada name. 

And not just with past sponsors but future supporters as well.

"I can't imagine anyone wanting to start a relationship with Hockey Canada. So that's where definitely there's been some serious damage done."   

Brian Levine of the communication firm Envision Sports & Entertainment works with elite athletes, companies, and charities. He says he 'can't imagine anyone wanting to start a relationship with Hockey Canada.' (Submitted by Brian Levine)

The values factor 

Levine, Matthews and Pegoraro all said that Hockey Canada's sponsors are  responding to consumer pressure as customers show an increasing interest in aligning themselves with companies they feel share or promote their values.

"Consumers nowadays are really interested in ethical brands in brands that are meaningful in their community and that resonate with them," explained Pegoraro.

• Hockey Canada facing backlash for survey on sexual assault allegations

• Feds renew call for change at Hockey Canada in wake of new allegations against organization

David Chong has worked with both Canadian Tire and Scotiabank on marketing projects in the past. 

The managing director of MKTG Canada, a Toronto company that specializes in sponsorship, says the big brands had practically no choice but to cut ties with Hockey Canada.     

"To do nothing in this regard is almost complicit," he said. "It's almost like saying we accept what they did is OK and we're going to continue to fund them.

Potential fallout for the whole sport 

Levine says that while companies that make hockey equipment or sports will stick with the game, the damage related to Hockey Canada could impact marketing for the whole sport. 

With banks or telcos or car companies he wonders: "Do they say, well, there's another sport in Canada that's on the rise called soccer, right?"

He says any company looking at an endorsement deal with a male hockey player will vet the athlete more carefully than ever.   

"That scrutiny is going to be challenging for agents representing male hockey players, for sure."

Pegoraro, however, believes the draw of hockey is too powerful for many advertisers to resist but agrees the landscape has changed for sponsorships and endorsements with male players.

"I would hope it's changed for the positive for women and for our para athletes so they are seen as the places to go." 

WATCH |Top sponsors cut ties with Hockey Canada:

Telus joins Tim Hortons, Scotiabank in cutting sponsorship of Hockey Canada

1 day ago

Duration6:17

Telus says it will no longer fund Hockey Canada's men's program for the upcoming season, including the world junior hockey championship in Halifax and Moncton. Sponsors Tim Hortons and Scotiabank have made similar announcements.

Sponsors will have new power

Pegoraro says Hockey Canada has made many mistakes in handling the allegations and complaints about junior hockey players and failing women. 

She also says they made a huge miscalculation in not protecting their sponsors.

"This is not what a partner does, when you have this kind of a relationship where we have millions of dollars, exchanging hands."

Matthews says whether Hockey Canada is overhauled and saves its name or a new body is created with a new name, sponsors will have a greater level of influence going forward then ever before.

"I think that if a brand was brave enough to put their hands up and say, 'Let us help you, let us help fix this,' then Hockey Canada would have to do everything they say.

"They're going to have a real trouble with sponsorship for many years to come." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Dunne

Producer, CBC News Business

James Dunne researches, produces and writes stories for the CBC News business unit. Based in Toronto, he's covered business for about 15 years starting with local news, before moving on to the show Venture and co-creating the series Fortune Hunters. His work for those programs won awards at the New York Festivals and Columbus International Film and Animation Festival. James has a master's degree in public policy and administration and has also worked on special projects as well as the World at Six on CBC Radio One. Contact James at [email protected]

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with files from Reid Southwick

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/hockey-canada-sponsors-marketers-1.6609330

N.L. and N.B. hockey associations address Hockey Canada scandal but don't cut ties

https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/n-l-and-n-b-hockey-associations...