Appointment follows recent calls from athletes to address abuse, harassment
Canadian Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge, seen last December, said last week that a new mechanism for reporting maltreatment in sport would be implemented soon. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Former artistic swimmer Sarah-Eve Pelletier has been tasked with overseeing the central hub of Canada's new safe sport program.
The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada announced Tuesday that Pelletier will serve as the country's first sport integrity commissioner, leading the office that will receive complaints about alleged maltreatment in sport.
The office will also launch independent investigations and recommend sanctions against individuals who are found to have committed violations.
Pelletier is a former member of Canada's artistic swim team and previously worked for the Canadian Olympic Committee. She is also a member of the Quebec Bar and an accredited civil mediator.
"There is simply no place in sport for maltreatment of any kind," Pelletier said in a statement. "Through concerted efforts on all fronts, using a people-centred approach, we can make sport a safe and welcoming place for everyone involved."
The appointment follows recent calls from athletes across the country for more to be done to address abuse and harassment in sports.
More than 300 current and former gymnasts have signed an open letter to Sport Canada calling for an independent investigation into the toxic culture of their sport.
A similar letter signed by more than 90 athletes called for the resignation of Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton's acting CEO and high performance director.
Canada's Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge said last week that a new mechanism for reporting maltreatment in sport would be implemented soon.
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