Warning: This story contains graphic details that may disturb some readers
As a former gymnast who has seen the dark side of the sport, it was Kirsty Duncan’s mission to try to eradicate abuse in Canadian sport.
Duncan, who was Canada’s sports minister from 2015-19, is furious that neither Hockey Canada nor Sport Canada briefed her on the allegations of assault against the world junior team in 2018.
She said she has no faith in Hockey Canada to clean up the sport now, especially when the same people are in charge.
“If we look at hockey, they failed for 30 years,” Duncan said. “We hear about initiatives. We hear a lot afterwards. The turning point should have been after Sheldon Kennedy [who was abused by then-coach Graham James in junior hockey].
“Has Hockey Canada changed? The answer is no. I think they’ve played on the fringes. I think they’ve done little things. But I think they haven’t managed to change the culture over 30 years. And why different this time if it’s the same lead?”
CLOCK | The committee hears that Sport Canada knew of an alleged attack 4 years ago:
Sport Canada was aware of the allegations against Hockey Canada back in 2018
Sport Canada, a federal agency, was aware of allegations of sexual misconduct at Hockey Canada in 2018 but did not investigate, an official told a House of Commons committee. Meanwhile, the Federal Sports Minister says she was only informed last year.
Duncan spoke to The Canadian Press about ice hockey and Canada’s safe sport crisis the day after the Globe and Mail published an op-ed. The emotion was evident in her voice.
She wrote about growing up in gymnastics, which also took the spotlight recently when more than 500 Canadian gymnasts called for an independent investigation into their sport.
“I personally know what it feels like to eat jello, laxatives, toilet paper and water pills to ‘gain weight’ and be repeatedly berated by other coaches, judges and parents,” Duncan wrote.
“I’m telling you about a judge,” she said in a phone interview on Friday. “I’m at a local competition. It’s LOCAL. It’s club level. The judge came up to my mom in front of the whole crowd and said, ‘Your daughter is good, but she has a fat ass.’ I would have been 11 or 12.”
CLOCK | Sport minister says culture needs to change:
Sports Secretary says culture needs to change at Hockey Canada
Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge says she has asked the organization to report any allegations of abuse to her office and wants a change in culture within the organisation.
Duncan, who is MP for Etobicoke North, said she has devoted most of her life to sport, becoming a coach and judge after her days as an athlete.
“[Kids] have a childhood,” she said. “I didn’t think of anything more important than becoming a coach, I couldn’t wait to become a coach, and you have young athletes, you have these little boys, the four-year-olds and they see you with those big trusting eyes. How can you not do everything you can to protect her?”
Top athletes, coaches and judges often see cases of abuse. That’s why Duncan, after “being angry for 30 years,” has made safe sport her mandate.
“When I got the chance to do something, I took it and had one goal: to protect athletes and children. I have done everything in my power to introduce protective measures in sport,” she said.
Pushback to safe sport initiatives
Duncan said she received a major setback trying to introduce safe sport initiatives, including 13 safe sport summits across the country, the creation of a universal code of conduct, a telephone tip line, an advisory group of safe sport experts Sport and a research center for gender equality.
Duncan believes there needs to be sport-by-sport reckoning in Canada now, and the unwieldy prospect of overseeing sport at the grassroots, provincial and national levels will hit “everyone”.
CLOCK | Hockey Canada admits to paying 21 sexual assault settlements:
Hockey Canada has paid 21 sexual misconduct settlements since 1989
Hockey Canada officials said the organization has paid nearly $9 million in settlements to 21 people alleging sexual misconduct since 1989.
“Everyone has a piece of it. Everyone has to step up,” she said.
“It’s overwhelming,” Duncan added. “But there is a duty of care in the school system. If you see something, you must report it. That doesn’t exist in sports. So every time I spoke to the sports community, I was like, ‘You have one.’ duty of care.’ That means there’s no turning away, no saying, “I didn’t see, I didn’t hear.” Are you saying Hockey Canada couldn’t see the patterns?”
Duncan, who was secretary for sport and science, said the federal government must make sport a priority, with a large dedicated department and the necessary funding.
“Because we are dealing with young people. It is the future of our country. Let’s give them the best start we can.”
The Hockey Canada controversy began when the national sporting body reached a settlement in May with a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by members of Canada’s junior world team in 2018.
Since then, Sport Canada has frozen Hockey Canada funding, sponsors have withdrawn their support, and then news circulated of allegations of another group sexual assault involving young Canadian players in 2003.
There is support for anyone who has been sexually abused. You can access hotlines and local support services through this Government of Canada website or the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. If you are in imminent danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.
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