Safe Sport
Quality sport experiences provide countless benefits, like boosting physical and mental health, bringing people together to be part of a community, developing invaluable life skills, and much more. By maintaining secure and supportive sport environments, we can ensure that everyone enjoys the many advantages of participating. Athletes, coaches, officials, parents and volunteers should always experience the positive benefits of sport without worrying about their well-being.
Building Safer Environments
Safe sport is more than staying out of harm’s way in the field of play, it also means supporting the social and emotional welfare of everyone involved, and encompasses a range of practices aimed at preventing abuse, harassment, and discrimination in sport. It safeguards the physical and emotional security of athletes while fostering a culture of safety and respect within sports organizations. Inclusive environments where all individuals, regardless of age, gender, or background, feel valued and empowered to participate are vital to building a safer sport system.
Learn more about how you can lend a hand in contributing to safer sport culture in Nova Scotia:
Taking Action Against Maltreatment
We all have a role to play in making sport safer. Sport organizations across the province are working to ensure safer and more respectful environments for all participants. If you are experiencing or have witnessed maltreatment in Nova Scotia’s sport system, there is an accessible and confidential complaint process now available to you.
Please be advised that provincial sport organizations are currently being onboarded to the complaint process. As a result, your provincial sport organization may not yet appear in the drop-down menu when filing a complaint. If your PSO is not in the drop-down menu, they are either still going through the onboarding process or the PSO has opted for an alternate process to deal with maltreatment complaints. If your PSO is not listed in the drop-down menu, please contact them directly to file a complaint.
What types of complaints can I make?
Individuals are able to make complaints of maltreatment as identified in the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). This includes instances such as physical maltreatment, neglect, psychological maltreatment, sexual maltreatment, grooming, boundary transgressions and discrimination. Administrative concerns (like coach assignments, player selections, or facility bookings for example) should be directly communicated to respective Provincial Sport Organizations.
How do I make a complaint?
Complaints can be made confidentially to qualified professionals through an independent third-party who are experienced in helping victims of abuse and maltreatment. Outcomes determined by this process are independent of Sport Nova Scotia or provincial sport organizations. Complaints can be made through the online platform below or by calling 1-833-834-1031. It is understood that these incidents can be difficult to report and contain sensitive information. They will be handled with the utmost care and will be responded to within 48 working hours. To understand the steps that occur after you submit a complaint, view the flowchart here.
Who can make a complaint?
Anyone can make a complaint who has experienced or has witnessed abuse, harassment, neglect or violence in the Nova Scotia sport system, however, the process addresses incidents for all participants (e.g., coaches, board members, staff, athletes, etc.) over 19 years of age. This means anyone can make a complaint (including those under the age of 19), however, the third-party process will not address complaints made against minors unless they hold a position of authority within their provincial sport organization such as a coach. Work remains underway to develop a restorative justice process for those under the age of 19, aimed at promoting a healthier, more respectful sporting culture for Nova Scotian athletes. For now, complaints against minors will continue to be handled through current policies and procedures of respective provincial sport organizations.