Safe Sport

When you Click the Speak Up Button:

You will be linked immediately to an independent third-party service, called ALIAS where you will fill out the online complaint form. They will respond to you within 48 hours.

The staff of ALIAS are:· Experienced in helping victims of abuse and maltreatment.· Professionally and personally independent of Ringette Alberta.· They know and understand Ringette Alberta Safe Sport policies.· They are qualified and experienced in navigating complaints of ABUSE and MALTREATMENT.

ALIAS does not handle association level complaints or concerns involving procedure, team selection, suspensions, match or misconduct reports, ice-time/ice allotments, or other complaint/concerns of this nature. These complaints should be sent to your local association according to their policies.

If you are unsure if your complaint constitutes ABUSE or MALTREATMENT, please review the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) and the Ringette Alberta Code of Conduct and Ringette Alberta Discipline and Complaints Policy.

Ringette Alberta abides by the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) and the True Sport principles to guide the organization, our members, and our organizational participants in ensuring the safety and well-being of those associated with the sport of Ringette.

Each person has a responsibility to help keep the sport safe.Reports of ABUSE or MALTREATMENT that come to the attention of any Ringette Alberta Staff will be directed to contact ALIAS using the “Speak Up” button.

CREATING A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

Ringette Alberta, in alignment with Ringette Canada, is fully committed to fostering a Safe Sport environment. Practicing Safe Sport ensures all participants are provided with safe, welcoming, and accessible sport environments, free from all forms of maltreatment.

The first step in creating a safe and healthy environment for all is following the True Sport Principles.

UNIVERSAL CODE OF CONDUCT

Ringette Canada, is one of many national sport organizations that has implemented the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sports.

Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS).

“The UCCMS is the core document that sets harmonized rules to be adopted by sport organizations that receive funding from the Government of Canada to advance a respectful sport culture that delivers quality, inclusive, accessible, welcoming and safe sport experiences.” (sirc.ca)

Ringette Alberta, in alignment with Ringette Canada, has identified 3 pillars of Safe Sport, click on each of the pillars below to access additional resources and information.

RESPECT IN SPORT

For Parents:

One of the most common reasons coaches, managers, officials, and athletes cite for leaving sport is unacceptable parent behaviour. The Respect in Sport Parent Program will help define a standard of behaviour for all parents and create a more rewarding, safe and respectful environment for everyone involved.

Some associations require all registrants to complete this course upon registration. Contact your local association to find out more.

For Coaches:

The Respect in Sport Activity Leader/Coach Program educates youth leaders, coaches, officials, and participants (14 years and up) to recognize, understand, and respond to issues of bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination.

This course is worth 3 PD points for coaches looking to maintain their NCCP certification.

Some associations require their coaches to complete this course as part of their certification process outside of the NCCP courses. Please contact your local association for more information.

Discipline and Suspension Information

RAB believes that everyone participating in athletics is entitled to participate in an environment that is free of maltreatment. In accordance with Ringette Canada’s Code of Conduct and ethics and Athletics Canada’s Code of Conduct (AC Code) to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport, everyone has an obligation to report actual or suspected behaviours or actions of misconduct. Beginning January 1, 2023, all RAB disciplinary decisions of public record will be listed below. We are committed to operating within the National Safe Sport reporting and resolution framework in a timely manner that is compassionate, fair and transparent.

File Name	Decision Date	Decision Summary/Sanctions	Document Links
RAB v. Niro	Feb. 16, 2023	Vince Niro’s suspension will continue until May, 17, 2023. He is explicitly prohibited from entering any venue where ringette activities are taking place. There shall be no family exclusion from this suspension, except specifically with regard to any of his daughter registered to play ringette whom he may drive to but not accompany at, any ringette activities. He may not participate in any team White communications including team chat channels.	Click Here
RAB v Niro	October 1 2023	97a. Niro will be suspended for two (2) years from any participation in RAB activities, including but not limited to coaching, managing, volunteering, or otherwise administrating any RAB sanctioned team, in RAB’s jurisdiction, or in the jurisdiction of any other sanctioned ringette authority in Canada. 97b. Prior to his reinstatement at the conclusion of two (2) years, Niro shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of RAB, that he has completed Keeping Girls in Sport, unless such satisfactory demonstration was made during the three (3) month Peel Decision suspension. 98. This suspension will be retroactive to the final date of the Peel Decision suspension; that is, May 17, 2023. For absolute clarity, this two (2) year suspension will be completed on May 17, 2025. 99. The prohibition on volunteering includes all on-ice activities, as well as off-ice activities involving administration or team management-type participation, but is limited to RAB sanctioned teams and events. This volunteering prohibition does not apply to fundraising in the community or activities such as driving other RAB players to the arena. 100. The prohibition on coaching applies to on-ice, off-ice, virtual, or any other form of coaching as it relates to RAB sanctioned teams. 101. As Team White no longer exists in the form that it did when he was coaching, there is no longer any reason or justification to prohibit Niro from entering an arena where ringette is being played. For clarity, Niro is not prohibited from attending games, practices, tournaments, or any other ringette activity, in or out of the arena.	Click Here
Ryan Devlin, on behalf of the Board of Directors of Ringette Alberta versus Whiteley	January 9 2024	112. Effective August 2023, the Respondent is suspended from participating in all Ringette Alberta activities until the close of the 2025 Ringette Season. There shall be no family exclusion from this suspension, except specifically with regard to his daughter registered to play ringette whom he may drive to, but not accompany at any ringette activities. He is explicitly prohibited from entering any venue at which ringette activities are taking place. In addition, he may not participate in any Team White communications, including the team chat channels. 113. Mr. Whiteley is to work with RAB to determine a Governance in Sport program to enrol in and complete at his own expense prior to any return to Ringette activities. Proof of completion of the program must be provided to the Executive Director of RAB and/or the President of the Board of Directors prior to his return to Ringette activities. 114. Mr. Whiteley is to complete a Keeping Girl in Sport program by April 1, 2024, and will provide proof of completion to the Executive Director of RAB and/or the President of the Board of Directors. 115. Mr. Whiteley will complete Safe Sport Training for 2024 and 2025 Ringette seasons and will provide proof of competition to the Executive Director of RAB and/or the President of the Board of Directors before the end of each season. 116. Mr. Whiteley will issue a statement of apology to Mr. Myers, including an apology for the frivolous Conflict of Interest Complaint by 5pm on February 1, 2024. He will provide this statement to Ryan Devlin; and 117. Mr. Whiteley will issue a statement of apology to Ryan Devlin and the RAB Board of Directors for his conduct, content of correspondence, tone and behaviour during the Coach Niro Complaint. This statement of apology will be delivered to Ryan Devlin by 5pm on February 1, 2024	Click Here