Safety in sport: Addressing toxic culture and abuse in Canadian athletics - Sarnia

Safety in Sport: Addressing Toxic Culture and Abuse in Canadian Athletics

Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

Location: Lambton College Events Centre

Cost: FREE

Awareness, Discussion, Support

An insightful event focused on addressing the current crisis of toxic culture and abuse within the Canadian sport system. This in-person gathering aims to shed light on the importance of safety in sport and to initiate discussions on creating a rich and meaningful environment for athletes.

The evening will commence with a condensed viewing of the documentary “Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics” followed by a discussion from panelists who will share their experiences, knowledge and suggestions to address abuse in sport. 

The support piece encompasses both empowering community members to support our relentless pursuit for change so we can build a safe and nurturing environment for athletes across Canada, as well as, informing the community that Athletes Empowered offers support to victim-survivors in the form of peer support and/or guidance with navigating a complaint process. 

Panelists

Melanie Hunt is a former national team gymnast and child abuse survivor. She experienced psychological, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of her coaches during her fifteen-year gymnastics career. At the height of the #metoo movement in 2017, a former Club teammate of hers came forward to the police about the abuse she witnessed during Melanie's career. 

Melanie's coach was arrested a few months later which resulted in a criminal trial; he was eventually acquitted of the charges against him. However, immediately following the verdict hearing, it was announced that multiple other gymnasts had brought forward allegations of abuse against him and his wife which forced Gymnastics Canada to initiate a disciplinary hearing. The hearing was a lengthy and re-traumatizing experience; however, it did eventually result in a five-year ban for her former female coach and a life-time ban for her former male coach. 

Melanie is honored to be a part of such a well-intentioned and resilient group of individuals committed to creating change in Canadian sport. She believes that excellence in sport can be achieved without the use of fear and intimidation. She believes that participation in sport at any level should build an athlete’s confidence and well being. And most of all, she believes that no matter how big an athlete's dream is, it is never worth more than their self worth as a human being.

Dr. Roy Cline, MD FRCS(c)Roy is a retired Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Clinical Professor in the UBC Department of Ophthalmology and Children's Hospital. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Fraser Valley Conservancy and is member of the Social and Ecological Justice Working Group of the Ecclesiastical Province of B.C., the Langley Field Naturalists, and the Association of Physicians for the Environment. He and his wife, Susan, live on an acreage in Langley, B.C., which they are developing into a nature preserve. Other hobbies include beekeeping and wildlife photography. Roy was featured in the Broken documentary for his experiences as a parent of an elite gymnast and attempts to seek justice for his daughter, Amelia, after she disclosed her abuse.

Dr. Krista Loughead, ND, has dedicated the past 24 years to the practice and advancement of naturopathic medicine, with a notable focus on women's and pediatric health. Her journey
began with an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa, followed by rigorous training at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. This
foundation provided her with a deep understanding of both the scientific and holistic aspects of health care and well being.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Loughead has made contributions to the academic world. For the past decade, she has served as a Sessional Instructor at the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Human Kinetics. In her role, she teaches courses that delve into Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Ethics in Sport and Physical Activity, and the Sociology of Sport. Her
passion for education and commitment to ethical practices in sport have earned her respect among students and colleagues alike.

Dr. Loughead’s dedication to teaching Ethics in Sport has allowed her to engage with first-year university students, offering them a foundational understanding of the complex ethical issues in sports. She embraces the opportunity to address the unique experiences, challenges, strengths, and aspirations of her students, fostering an environment where they can explore and critically assess the ethical dimensions of their future careers.

Residing in Windsor with her husband, Todd, and their son, Travis, Dr. Loughead balances her professional life with a fulfilling family life. Her experiences in practice, civic life and in the classroom reflect her commitment to nurturing a holistic understanding of health and ethics, aiming to inspire the next generation of practitioners and thinkers in the field of sports and health.

Abby Spadafora was a Women’s Artistic Gymnast for 19 years, six of which she competed on behalf of Canada. During her years as a club gymnast, she experienced psychological, verbal, physical and sexual abuse.

After being failed by the legal system, in 2019 Abby wrote a complaint letter to Gymnastics Canada which led to three years of re-victimization. Her male abuser was banned from the sport for life, and her female abuser was suspended for five years, which ended January 2024. As she navigated this process, Abby realized that nothing had changed since her days in the gym. In 2022, with the support of the Athletes Empowered committee and her family, Abby went public with her story of abuse.

Today she is honoured to work with Athletes Empowered, support victim-survivors and push for all sports to be safe and healthy for all those involved. 

Amelia Cline is a lawyer and a former elite gymnast with lived experience of psychological and physical abuse from her competitive career. After watching the Athlete A documentary, and hearing the stories of other brave gymnasts, she shared her own story in 2020, which set her on the path to survivor advocacy.

She is the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Gymnastics Canada and six provincial federations, aimed at demanding accountability from sport institutions and achieving justice for survivors. She has made numerous media appearances, advocating for change to the sport system, and has testified before the Parliamentary Status of Women Committee in Ottawa.

As the Managing Director of Athletes Empowered, Amelia provides support and guidance to our programming, as well as direct support to survivors engaged in our Case Support program. Drawing on her professional experience as a lawyer, she continues to advocate for policy change, and a safe and abuse-free sport for the next generation.

Dr. Mac Ross is an award winning scholar, currently serving as an instructor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Windsor, specializing in the intersection of sport and human rights. He was a leader of Scholars Against Abuse in Canadian Sport, mobilizing professors and students from across the nation to echo and amplify the voices of sport survivors. He and the other Scholars Against Abuse wrote letters, testified before House of Commons committees, and submitted a brief highlighting the toxicity evident in the Canadian sport system. In 2024, he helped found the Canadian Collective for Human Rights in Sport, serving as their inaugural chair.

Dr. Ross was educated at Mount Allison University (BA), St. Mary's University (MA), and Western University (PhD). In addition to the University of Windsor, he has taught at St. Francis Xavier University, Keystone College, and Western University. When the Western Mustangs women's hockey team publically issued allegations of abuse in 2023, Dr. Ross and dozens of other Western professors wrote a letter to the school's administration, calling for an expansive and transparent investigation into sport on campus. Although such an investigation was never initiated, nine former players ultimately disclosed their own stories to Rick Westhead of TSN, underscoring the toxic culture they experienced.
In 2024, Dr. Ross received the Sport History and Social Justice Award from the North American Society for Sport History, alongside CBC journalist Shireen Ahmed. He has also been named a top "change maker" by The Hockey News for his commitment to improving the sport's culture. 

Master of Ceremonies:

Alexandra Wiseman, MHK, MSW

Alexandra is a registered social worker providing virtual therapy to individuals, in particular athletes of all levels, across Ontario. As a former competitive athlete, 3x Provincial and National Champion coach, she is able to provide sport-informed in her private practice. She is a proud member of the Mental Health Network through Game Plan Canada as well as a Wen-Do self-defence instructor for women and girls.

Questions? 

Emailinfo@athletesempowered.ca 

Event Sponsors

• George, Murray, Shipley, Bell LLP
• Mr and Mrs Rocca
• The Insignia Hotel
• Dr V Curran Family Dentistry
• Darren Allison, Financial Advisor, Slater Wealth Management
• Liuna Local 1089

Door Prize Sponsors

• Alta Health & Performance
• ISH Nutrition & Wellness