B.C., Viasport Take Steps To Make Amateur Sport Safer

The Province is beefing up safety in sports with cash to provide education about safe sport, and by taking steps toward an independent complaints process for B.C.’s amateur sport sector.

“Everyone deserves to have positive experiences in sport so they can benefit from the incredible power of active living, and improve physical and mental well-being,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.

“Since 2019, we have been working with viaSport to advance the safe sport culture in B.C. The sector has asked for more support, and we are now ready to take this important step to increase protection, accountability, and awareness for all participants.”

BC will spend $7.8 million in response to commitments made to federal and provincial partners to address safe-sport challenges.

The province says the independent process will help create an effective, fair and consistent mechanism to report and respond to complaints.

It will also allow sport organizations to focus on programs, instead of managing their own complaints systems. 

Implemented by a third-party service provider, it will also make it easier for people to know where to seek help when they need it.

The new process will benefit participants connected to sport organizations that receive provincial funding and are accredited by viaSport.

The safe-sports agency will engage with the sector to determine the breadth of services needed and a timeline for implementation.

ViaSport will also continue to bolster the PlaySafe BC program to increase awareness of accepted and expected behaviours, promote the importance of safe sport and increase protection for all participants.

To see the full release, visit Government of British Columbia.