FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

46th Canadian Sport Awards: Nominees unveiled, Respect Group named Presenting Sponsor for Most Trending Moment of Year Award 

December 4, 2023 

TORONTO – AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is proud to announce that Respect Group, a headversity company, has been named the Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 People’s Choice Award for Most Trending Moment of the Year.  

A dedicated partner since 2019, Respect Group has been working for nearly 20 years to eliminate bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination by inspiring a global culture of respect. Expanding its relationship with AthletesCAN, Respect Group’s name and brand will featured across a national digital campaign running from Dec. 4-19, highlighting 10 unforgettable Team Canada moments from 2023, culminating in the winner reveal on Wednesday, Dec. 20.  

Respect Group will also continue to offer all AthletesCAN members complimentary access to its Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders training course, which will be promoted throughout the campaign.  

“When AthletesCAN came to us with the opportunity to work together on their Most Trending Moment Award, we knew right away this was a great way to inspire Canadians to live our shared values,” said Respect Group co-founder and former professional hockey player Sheldon Kennedy. “The 10 moments nominated by our sport partners are about more than just success on the field of play – some of them are tied to victories and defeats, but what makes them stand out is their power to make us laugh, cry, and stand up and cheer. Most importantly, these moments are the moments that inspire us to be better people.” 

Created in 2020, the People’s Choice Award for Most Trending Moment of the Year Presented by Respect Group, is the final honour to be bestowed as part of the 46th Canadian Sport Awards, which were recognized at the 2023 AthletesCAN Forum in Vancouver.  

The award honours a current or retired national team athlete who has captured the virtual world by storm. It highlights the magic that lives within sport to inspire and motivate all Canadians through innovative use of a digital platform, captivating athletic performance, or who’s digital actions have been a force for good.  

The year’s campaign was deferred until the conclusion of the 2023 Pan and Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in order to have the opportunity the celebrate these moments from the entire year, including those captured on the Multisport Games stage. The 10 finalists were selected in consultation with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, as well as CBC Sports.  

“We appreciate the support of Respect Group for helping us elevate and amplify the amazing achievements of our national team athletes,” said CSA Committee Chair Celina Toth. “These 10 moments exemplify the best of what AthletesCAN, Respect Group, and Team Canada stand for and we’re looking forward to seeing which moment comes out on top.” 

Previous winners of the Most Trending Moment Award include Paralympian swimmer Danielle Kisser, with the creation of her do-it-yourself swimming pool that she used to train for the Tokyo 2020 Games; the Canadian women’s soccer team’s Olympic gold medal, and the medal performances of the 3×3 men’s and women’s basketball and wheelchair basketball teams at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.  

Voting for this year’s competition is now open until 11:59 p.m. PT on Saturday, Dec. 16.  

About Respect Group 

 Respect Group, a headversity company, was incorporated in 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). As Canada’s leading online provider of prevention education related to BAHD, Respect Group has certified over 2.3 Million people involved in sport, schools and the workplace. Respect Group is a Certified B Corporation (bcorporation.net) 

About the Canadian Sport Awards  

 The Canadian Sport Awards were established in 1972 by modern day co-founders True Sport, Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport, Canada Games Council, Commonwealth Sport Canada, and AthletesCAN to recognize and showcase excellence in Canadian sport. Since then, the CSA evolved over time to become the premier recognition event for national sporting excellence. After the 40th anniversary, the awards experienced a five-year hiatus. In 2017, AthletesCAN successfully acquired the rights to revive this staple event to once again bring together members of the sport community to honour the spirit, drive, and commitment of Canada’s international level athletes, coaches, volunteers, and sport leaders. 

About AthletesCAN 

AthletesCAN, the association of Canada’s national team athletes, is the only fully independent and most inclusive athlete organization in the country and the first organization of its kind in the world.  As the voice of over 6,000 current and recently retired Canadian national team athletes, AthletesCAN membership spans 68 sports across the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan/Parapan American, and Commonwealth Games, and those currently funded by Sport Canada competing at Senior World Championships. AthletesCAN ensures an athlete-centered sport system by developing athlete leaders who influence sport policy and, as role models, inspire a strong sport culture, through educational resources, support, training and professional development.   

Follow us on social @AthletesCAN and Join #TheCollective today. 

For more information, please contact: 

Alan Hudes 
Manager, Communications & Sport Partnerships 
AthletesCAN 
613-526-4025 Ext. 224 
ahudes@athletescan.ca  

Junior League Launches Anti-Bullying, Abuse, Harassment and Discrimination Initiative

CALGARY, AB, Oct. 20, 2023 /CNW/ – The United States Hockey League (USHL) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the National Hockey League and Respect Group Inc., a leading provider of interactive training courses aimed at preventing bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.

In December of 2021, the National Hockey League announced the Respect Hockey initiative – an intentional focus on building a culture that is safe, inclusive and free from abuse, harassment and all forms of unethical behavior or misconduct.

Respect Hockey provides focus on four pillars – Prevention, Reporting, Counseling, and Accountability. The partnership is underway with programs that create a mutual understanding of culture and inclusion concepts; advance independent tools to disclose misconduct or abuse; strengthen the suite of available resources for victims or those in need; and provide executive staff learning opportunities to improve behaviors and competencies in this area.

“Psychological safety is important for all staff and players, perhaps now more than ever,” said Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder, Respect Group. “I applaud the USHL leadership for making this training a priority. Organizations and teams perform better when they feel safe and respected.“

“The USHL is proud to partner with Respect Group and expand our collective efforts to create safe, respectful and positive environments for our players and teams,” said Glenn Hefferan, President and Commissioner of the USHL. “The Respect Group’s offerings provide a foundation for enhancing the health and well-being for all members of our 16 organizations.“

Respect Group, a headversity company, was incorporated on April 5th, 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD).

For further information: media@respectgroupinc.com

Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre Names Centre of Excellence After Sheldon Kennedy

Sept 15, 2023, 3:30 ET

RED DEER, ALBERTA – SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 – On September 15th, Sheldon Kennedy, former NHL player and CEO of Respect Group, joined with the board and staff of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre (CACAC) and other dignitaries to announce the new Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence in Red Deer, Alberta.

In addition to being the cornerstone of our work at Respect Group, co-founder Sheldon Kennedy has forever been a strong and passionate advocate for youth. His vision has always been to support ALL youth Child Advocacy Centres locally, nationally and beyond. With strong data, teaching and integrated learning opportunities, this one-of-a-kind Child Advocacy Centre will continue to teach and lead the way in building capacity in our communities.

“This honor bestowed to me strongly supports my vision to help ALL youth Child Advocacy Centres not only in Alberta, but throughout Canada and beyond. I am so proud to be part of this journey with the Centre of Excellence and feel incredibly honored that this one-of-a-kind facility will bear my name”, says Kennedy.

“Among those who were instrumental in creating the Centre of Excellence, none stand out more than Sheldon Kennedy,” said Mark Jones, CEO of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre. “His vision for what Central Alberta – and indeed all of Canada – needs is exactly what we have built the Centre of Excellence on. Without Sheldon’s bravery and vision, the Centre of Excellence would not be what it is.”

The new Sheldon Kennedy Centre of Excellence sits on the main campus of Red Deer Polytechnic in Red Deer, Alberta, and is slated to open in late October. The strategic placement of the structure allows for all the partners within the building to work in a fully integrated way to serve their respective clients. It also allows for research and integrated learning opportunities for students and faculty at Red Deer Polytechnic. Other Partners in the Centre include the CACAC, the Central Alberta Sexual Assault Support Centre, RCMP Child Forensic Interviewers, and Alberta Health Services: Red Deer Child and Youth Addiction and Mental Health Outpatient Clinic; Move your Mood Studio; and the Step Up Step Down live-in youth mental health program.

About Respect Group:

Respect Group, a headversity company, was incorporated in 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). As Canada’s leading online provider of prevention education related to BAHD, Respect Group has certified over 2.2 Million people involved in sport, schools and the workplace. Respect Group is a Certified B Corporation (bcorporation.net).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Respect Group Announces Strategic Partnership with REES Technology Group Inc.

April 13, 2023 Calgary – AB – Respect Group, is pleased to announce a new partnership with REES Technology Group Inc., Canada’s leading provider of trauma-informed online reporting for bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination. REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors) reduces barriers to reporting and gathers critical data and insights that can be used by sports organizations, schools, higher education, and corporate sector partners to inform prevention efforts and mitigate risk.

Reducing harm and creating safer organizations, including workplaces, schools, and sports, is a shared mission for both Respect Group and REES. This strategic partnership aligns our mutual values and commitment to shifting organizational culture with a focus on inclusion, respect, and safety.

“This collaboration leverages our collective service offerings and allows our partners to benefit from a comprehensive, end to end solution. Ultimately, it will further our common pursuit of creating and ensuring psychologically safe sport, school and workplace environments” said Wayne McNeil, Co-Founder of Respect Group.

“REES is proud to partner with Respect Group and expand our collective efforts to create safer, more respectful organizations. The Respect Group programs combined with the REES centralized reporting and information platform provide a foundation for enhancing the health, well-being and good governance of any organization.” said Mary Lobson, Founder & CEO of REES.

____________________________________________________

About Respect Group

Respect Group was incorporated in 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). Respect Group is made up of a team of over 30 talented individuals whose passion is to create a global culture of Respect. As Canada’s leading on-line provider of prevention education related to BAHD, Respect Group has certified over 2 Million people involved in sport, schools and the workplace. Respect Group is a Certified B Corporation (bcorporation.net).

Contact Respect Group : media@respectgroupinc.com

About REES Technology Group Inc.

REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors) is a centralized online reporting and information platform for bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination. It can be adapted for use in any sector or industry and can include ethics and compliance-related reporting. REES was developed by Mary Lobson using a trauma-informed approach with a key focus on privacy and data security. REES has offices in Winnipeg, MB and Tampa, FL.

Contact REES: hello@reescommunity.com

The company will offer employers comprehensive solutions that combine mental health and resilience upskilling with interactive certification courses.

April 11, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CALGARY, Alberta-headversity, a leading provider of preventative mental health training technology for employers, today announced it has acquired Respect Group Incorporated (Respect), which offers interactive training courses aimed at preventing bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). The two organizations will provide comprehensive tools and training needed to create psychologically safe work environments and ultimately establish a more resilient, inclusive workforce.

Respect joins headversity as a market leader in building an inclusive, safe and respectful work culture, offering online certification training solutions that have upskilled more than 2.1 million leaders across North America. By adding Respect’s solutions to headversity’s preventative assistance platform (PRE.A.P.), the combined brand will provide employers with a comprehensive solution that blends mental health and resilience upskilling with interactive certification courses – empowering them to build and maintain cultures of mental wellbeing and respect.

“We founded Respect almost 20 years ago to eliminate BAHD by inspiring a global culture of respect,” said Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder of Respect and former NHL hockey player. “We are proud of the company we have built and the customers we have served, and look forward to this next chapter in our story with headversity.”

According to an AllVoices survey, 44% of employees have experienced harassment at work, which has a direct impact on their mental wellbeing. Mental health issues not only take a toll on the employee, but their employer: the World Health Organization estimates that anxiety and depression cost the global economy $1 trillion each year in lost productivity.

headversity’s PRE.A.P. tackles this problem head on. The platform offers micro-training experiences and daily practices that can be utilized at work with colleagues or at home with family. The training focuses on preventing employees from reaching the stage of crisis and has been proven to be effective when used as little as five minutes per week. headversity has impacted the lives of more than three million employees across organizations of all sizes, including the Denver Broncos, Shell, the Detroit Pistons and London Drugs. This customer base will expand with Respect’s network, which includes various organizations such as the NHL and Hockey Canada.

“Poor mental health is plaguing our workforce – creating problems for our people that in turn create problems for the businesses they work for,” said Dr. Ryan Todd, CEO of headversity. “Respect and headversity share an aligned mission and culture, and we are thrilled to come together to accelerate the path toward a more resilient and inclusive workforce.”

“On behalf of the full Respect team, we’re excited to bring the power of our collective offering to even more people to create more impact and culture change,” said Wayne McNeil, co-founder of Respect. “Sheldon and I look forward to joining headversity to help more organizations create psychologically safe, resilient and respectful environments.”

To learn more, visit https://headversity.com/.

About headversity

With a focus on prevention, headversity offers skill-based training to help workforces improve their mental wellbeing by addressing three persistent challenges: mental health, workplace safety and operational excellence. With an industry re-defining preventative assistance platform (PRE.A.P.) that provides proactive and digital mental health upskilling experiences for the entire workforce, we have helped more than 1 million employees around the world upskill resilience and get ahead of adversity.

About Respect Group

Respect Group was incorporated in 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). Respect Group is made up of a team of over 30 talented individuals whose passion is to create a global culture of Respect. As Canada’s leading on-line provider of prevention education related to BAHD, Respect Group has certified over 2.1 million people involved in sport, schools and the workplace.

Contacts
V2 Communications on behalf of headversity
headversity@v2comms.com

February 22, 2023

HOCKEY CANADA ENHANCES COMMITMENT TO SAFE SPORT AND CULTURAL CHANGE IN HOCKEY
Multi-year partnership extension announced with Respect Group

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada is pleased to announce a renewed and expanded commitment to preventative education in safe sport through a multi-year partnership extension with Respect Group, continuing a longstanding relationship between the organizations to make hockey safer at all levels of the game.

Through this investment, Hockey Canada will work with Respect Group to collaborate and develop new, age-appropriate player programs, while optimizing the ongoing delivery of existing Respect Group online training courses with the Hockey Canada Member Branches.

“Age-appropriate, player-centric education is the next logical step in the enhancement of our Respect in Sport curriculum, and we are very excited to be partnering with Hockey Canada as a contributor in the development of these tools,” said Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder of Respect Group, child advocate and former NHL player. “This demonstrates how committed both of our organizations are to creating change in hockey.”

Hockey Canada recognizes there is still work to be done to drive cultural change in the game, and the partnership extension with Respect Group reflects an organizational commitment to create safe and respectful environments for participants to enjoy the sport from grassroots to high performance.

“Hockey Canada is thrilled to be working with Respect Group in pursuit of our common desire to effect meaningful change in hockey by advancing a safe, respectful and inclusive experience for all participants,” said the Hon. Hugh L. Fraser, chair of the Hockey Canada Board of Directors. “We were one of the first organizations to become a full signatory to Abuse-Free Sport and the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, and also established the Independent Third Party, an additional confidential reporting mechanism for hockey-related maltreatment complaints of someone affiliated with Hockey Canada beyond the national level.

The investment in preventative education announced today represents another component of Hockey Canada’s duty to change the culture in sport, including through enhanced sport safety initiatives. Our efforts in this area will continue and further announcements will be forthcoming in the not-too-distant future.”

In its first two months, the Hockey Canada Board of Directors has met for over 80 hours and continues to work extensively with stakeholders to restore confidence and trust in the organization.

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For more information or to be removed from the media contact list, please contact:
Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada
416-451-3343
jknight@hockeycanada.ca

February 21, 2023 – Today, Respect Group is proud to announce that with the support of Canadian Tire Corporation, hockey parents, players, coaches, and officials will have access to educational resources from now until the end of April, free of charge. By providing open access to these select training modules on safety and respect in the game Respect Group with CTC’s support aims to help drive positive change in Canada’s hockey culture.

“Driving positive change within hockey culture starts with education; ensuring all members of the hockey community have access to information on how to make the game safer and more respectful to all participants is key,” said Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder of the Respect Group and former NHL player and child advocate. “Canadian Tire Corporation’s partnership and corporate leadership in sport have helped advance the national discussion about the need for education and change within hockey culture.”

Through this collaboration, everyone involved in hockey – from Hockey Branches and Member Partner organizations across Canada – will be granted free access HERE to the following Respect Group online training courses:

• Respect in Sport for Parents: Provides family members with the tools to support their child’s positive hockey experience
• Respect in Sport for Officials: Gives sport officials insights to help uphold their ‘duty of care’ during the game
• Keeping Girls in Sport: Helps coaches and parents understand how to keep girls enrolled and engaged in sport
• Stay in the Game: Teaches players aged 10-12 how to find their voice, have fun, and stay safe in sport

“We’re so proud to provide the Canadian grassroots hockey community with access to the Respect Group’s training resources,” said Kim Saunders, Vice President, ESG Strategy and Community Impact at Canadian Tire Corporation. “This partnership and these tools will help foster positive change within hockey culture, creating a more respectful and safer environment for all participants to enjoy this great game.”

Founded in 2004, Respect Group aims to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination (BAHD) in sport and has grown to become the country’s leading online provider of prevention education. Respect Group is a Certified B Corporation. 

Media Inquiries:

Media@RespectGroupinc.com

June 28, 2022

To further enhance the safety of students, Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning is mandating that coaches who work in the kindergarten to Grade 12 school system, as well as all school staff, complete online training from Respect Group, an organization that aims to empower people to recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination, said Ewasko.

“Manitoba schools have many safeguards in place to protect students and provide a safe learning environment, but we can always improve our policies,” said Ewasko. “We know that school staff are often among the first to hear from students experiencing maltreatment, so it is critical they are well-equipped to respond appropriately.”

Coaches in the kindergarten to Grade 12 school system will now be required to complete the Respect in Sport program. The minister noted the Respect in Sport program has been mandated for all other coaches in the province since 2007 and this new requirement will close that gap.

In addition, all school staff are expected to complete a newly updated version of the Respect in School program by Feb. 28, 2023.

“Sport Manitoba was the first organization in Canada to mandate the Respect in Sport program for community coaches over 15 years ago,” said Sheldon Kennedy, co-founder, Respect Group. “I applaud the Manitoba government for their proactive approach to further expand child protection education for all school coaches and school-based personnel across the province. We know that those interacting with students each day are trusted adults in a child/student’s life and they need the tools to know how to listen and to step up and step in when required.”

“Our government is committed to working with community partners to promote safe sport environments for all Manitoba athletes,” said Smith. “These initiatives respond to the immediate need to create awareness, implement prevention measures and provide support to victims.”

If there are concerns about abuse, harassment, bullying or hazing in sport, call the toll-free Safe Sport Line at 1-833-656-7233 or email help@safesportline.ca.

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For more information:

• Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744.
• Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom@gov.mb.ca.
• Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Communications and Stakeholder Relations: 204-451-7109.
• Media requests for Respect Group, contact media@respectgroupinc.com

June 15, 2022 – Sport Law, a team of leaders devoted to elevating sport, and Respect Group, a company committed to educating all participants in sport through their Respect in Sport Learning platform, have been collaborating for over 12 years to advance a vision of a safe, welcoming and thriving sport environment. The company leaders have known each other since the early 2000s and have been mutually supportive of each other’s contributions to supporting sport leaders in addressing the risks in a manner that aligns with their values. Over the past few years, with a renewed sense of urgency to tackle issues related to maltreatment, the company leaders have met several times to both synergize and look for more proactive ways to support sport leaders in their pursuit of holistic organizational excellence.

Both companies are committed to supporting values-based education and consulting services that provides participants and leaders with the knowledge they need to make better decisions, and to know what to do when they experience maltreatment. Shared Dina Bell-Laroche, one of Sport Law’s Partners: “We are entering into a new era in sport that will make values the new currency. For decades Sport Law has been collaborating with like-hearted company leaders that believe in a better way, and we are inspired by the ongoing efforts of Sheldon, Wayne and the team at Respect Group who have pioneered a world-leading educational experience that empowers all participants to behave in accordance with stated values. To move beyond a focus on safety issues in sport requires empowered and educated leaders who believe in a better way. Our team at Sport Law want to do our part to promote exceptional organizations like Respect Group for their ongoing efforts to prevent maltreatment and to encourage values-driven sport.”

Sheldon Kennedy, one of the co-founders of Respect Group couldn’t agree more. Sheldon has spent the past 25 years advocating for proactive and values-based training that empowers all participants to speak out when they see evidence of maltreatment and as importantly, to model respect in all interactions. “I am proud of the work Respect Group has done to empower sport leaders to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). I am also grateful to be able to collaborate with Sport Law who amplify our efforts through their work with sport leaders to ensure their culture is a healthy one. To me, monitoring and measuring culture through the Sport Culture Index, is an important “tool in the toolbox” to fuel true accountability. In addition, having the Sport Law Culture Coaches available to support leaders in their commitment to lead, compete, and coach by values further supports meaningful change.”

Powered by innerlogic’s innovative culture analytics and research base, Sport Law has launched the Sport Culture Index, an evidence-based assessment platform that quantifies culture in sport environments in the areas of safety, well-being, cohesion, empowerment, personalization, belonging, vision, values, environment, accountability, adaptability, and communication. The survey includes 60 quantitative questions, takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and provides a rigorous report of the sport’s culture across multiple levels and participants. The Sport Culture Index is supported by a comprehensive platform that allows for the most detailed analytics and visualizations of culture metrics available in the sport landscape today.

Respect Group has become Canada’s defacto standard for on-line “safe sport” training. The education is focused on preventing all forms of maltreatment, empowering stakeholders to “step up and step in” when necessary and giving good people involved in sport the tools to be even better. Respect Group has taken a holistic approach to certification by offering unique programs for each sport stakeholder group including Respect in Sport for Activity leaders (coaches), Respect in Sport for Parents, Respect in Sport for Officials, Stay in the Game (for 10-12 year old youth participants), Keeping Girls in Sport (for coaches and parents) and Respect in the Workplace (for Staff, Board and volunteers). Respect Group believes that to improve culture, programing needs to be a requirement to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Sport Law has served the sport sector for over three decades, providing unparalleled legal and leadership support to meet the growing demands of the sport sector. The organization provides exceptional consulting services including a growing number of leadership training and integral coaching support that serve to develop heightened levels of emotional intelligence, empathy, and high trust communications among participants. The Sport Law Culture Coaches are trained in the use of psychometric tools, strategic planning, risk management, complex system transformation, and group dynamics, among other skills.

Beyond putting out fires and dealing with declining values apparent in the sport sector today, Respect Group and Sport Law are working together to provide proactive, prevention-based solutions that addresses systemic risks, leverages existing strengths and restores high levels of trust.

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About Sport Law
Sport Law has been providing strategic insight to the Canadian sport community since 1992. We offer a full range of consulting, leadership and legal services to the Canadian sport community. We are accessible, affordable, highly skilled, and bring experience and common sense to every project. Our vision is to help you achieve yours. To learn more about us please visit sportlaw.ca. For more information, please contact Dina Bell-Laroche at dblaroche@sportlaw.ca.

About Respect Group
Respect Group was incorporated in 2004 by co-founders, Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, to pursue their common passion: the prevention of bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination (BAHD). Respect Group is made up of a team of over 30 talented individuals whose passion is to create a global culture of Respect. As Canada’s leading on-line provider of prevention education related to BAHD, Respect Group has certified over 1.8 Million people involved in sport, schools and the workplace. Respect Group is a Certified B Corporation (bcorporation.net). For more information, please contact Wayne McNeil at wmcneil@respectgroupinc.com.

­FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On behalf of Respect Group and myself, personally, I would like to applaud Sport Canada for their commitment and funding of an Independent Safe Sport Mechanism and the awarding of that contract to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC). I am honoured to have been part of this national movement to improve sport and ensure that athletes that do come forward have a safe, unbiased place to report and be heard without repercussion. This announcement has also given me the opportunity to reflect on the past 25 years;

• When I first came forward with my story, in 1996, many did not believe me or claimed it was an isolated incident, today we know that IS NOT the case
• When Hockey Canada introduced the Speak Out program for coaches in 1997, it was the first of its kind and, in spite of the naysayers, it was successfully implemented for the benefit of all those kids playing hockey
• In 2004, when Respect Group introduced RESPECT IN SPORT on-line to prevent abuse, bullying, harassment and discrimination (BAHD) many leaders within sport were still in denial of the magnitude of this problem including the impact left in its wake for not only the individual but also the organization as a whole.  I am very grateful for those brave leaders that made prevention education their priority early on to help give confidence to the many others that followed.
• Leadership has been the key behind mandatory RESPECT training which I am proud to say has now reached over 1.6 Million Canadians and spans the full range of sport stakeholders; not just coaches but officials, parents, athletes, staff and volunteers.

Culture change takes time but today, with this announcement, it further reminds me that, with leadership, it is indeed possible.

Sheldon Kennedy CM AOE OM

Member Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

Member Order of Hockey in Canada

Co-Founder Respect Group

Respect Group, established in 2004 by Co-Founders Sheldon Kennedy and Wayne McNeil, is Canada’s leading on-line training provider focused exclusively on the prevention of abuse, bullying and harassment and discrimination. Offering certification programs for community/sport organizations, schools and the workplace, Respect Group has certified over 1.6 Million Canadians.

For more information on Respect Group, please visit www.respectgroupinc.com

For more information, please contact:
Nicole Heisler

Marketing Manager

media@respectgroupinc.com

To see the Government of Canada Press Releases Please visit:

English : https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2021/07/minister-guilbeault-announces-new-independent-safe-sport-mechanism.html

French : https://www.canada.ca/fr/patrimoine-canadien/nouvelles/2021/07/le-ministreguilbeault-annonce-un-nouveau-mecanisme-independant-pour-le-sport-securitaire.html