132. Hockey Canada: What the f*ck? (TW Sexual Assault)

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

Background Resources:

Hockey Canada Mission & Mandate https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/about/mandate-mission

Wikipedia "Hockey Canada Sexual Assault Scandal": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_Canada_sexual_assault_scandal

Globe & Mail "Hockey Canada used player fees to build a second fund for sexual assault claims": https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hockey-canada-created-a-fund-for-sexual-assault-claims-documents/

Globe & Mail "Hockey Canada’s interim chair Andrea Skinner resigns": https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hockey-canada-andrea-skinner-resigns/

 

SCRIPT:

OK so this episode isn’t going to have vibe, the audio quality, or the polish that you’re used to by now. It’s Thanksgiving Sunday in 2022 here in Canada and I’ve got covid, feeling pretty sh**ty and am isolated from family and, y’know, not my usual accommodating open-minded self. Any of my fellow Canadians will be intimately familiar with what’s going on with Hockey Canada right now. If you’re listening and you don’t know, go to the “Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal” Wikipedia page. It’s even worse than it sounds. This is a podcast about corporate governance, so let’s acknowledge the vile, unforgivable behaviour of the players involved, and the immeasurable harm and trauma they’ve caused for their victims, but then let’s bring it back to the boardroom. And honestly, the only conceivable reaction is “what the f*ck???” Bad enough that your organization is sufficiently aware of the sexual assault perpetrated by your members that you secretly created at least one, and possibly two funds using public and membership money to settle sexual misconduct cases – 21 of them over the past 33 years. Let me read you Hockey Canada’s mission statement: “To Lead, Develop and Promote Positive Hockey Experiences.” Seriously, go look at the mission and mandate page on their website filled with words like “fair,” and “respect,” and “hockey opportunities for all people regardless of age, gender, colour, race, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status.” Not one statement from the board or management has acknowledged that THEY, as leaders of this organization, deliberately created an environment that enables, covers up, and perpetuates sexual violence. If you don’t agree… Well, take 2 minutes to write down other paths Hockey Canada could have taken than setting aside stakeholder money to pay to conceal these crimes. See what you just did in 2 minutes. Hockey Canada failed to do that in 33 years. They can f*ck right off.