The WCL published the following on their website on July 27, 2018:
To ensure that WCL continues to foster a culture of excellence and ethical conduct in high performance, the BOD has fully endorsed an independent review of the high performance coaching environment to be conducted by David Bennett, an Ottawa lawyer who is also a SDRCC mediator/arbitrator and CAS mediator.
On December 03, 2018, the report prepared by Mr. Bennett was published. AAWA welcomes the implementation of the recommendations in the Bennett Report. As noted in the last paragraph on page 12 of the Bennett Report:
Some people believe that having a policy prohibiting relationships is unconstitutional and a violation of their “Charter” rights. However, many professions and workplaces do not permit these types of relationships. Other NSOs have policies prohibiting relationships, including Alpine Canada, which developed its policy as a result of its own sexual harassment issues. In wrestling, Alberta Amateur Wrestling Association has a prohibition on relationships.
The AAWA “Coaches Code of Conduct” states:
Coaches must;
- Ensure the safety of the athletes with whom they work
- At no time are they to become intimately and/or sexually involved with their athletes. This includes requests for sexual favours or threat of reprisal for the rejection of such requests.
- Respect athlete’s dignity; verbal or physical behaviors that constitute harassment or abuse are unacceptable.
AAWA currently requires that prospective coaches provide a clear enhanced police check or vulnerable sector check.
AAWA looks forward to working with stakeholders to ensure that a culture of excellence and ethical conduct in high-performance coaching continues to exist in Alberta.
Respectfully,
The AAWA Executive