BC Hockey looks to change culture amid Hockey Canada controversy

After refusing to publicly call out Hockey Canada for its handling of sexual assault allegations, BC Hockey is asking for some help to change the culture of the sport in the province.

It’s creating two public committees aimed at improving the hockey experience.

The Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion workgroup will work on addressing racism and other issues while the Safe Sport workgroup will focus on ensuring players, coaches, officials and others involved in the game will have the resources they need to educate themselves and call out those who refuse to act with respect.

While other provincial hockey entities announced in early October they would no longer send player fees to Hockey Canada, BC Hockey said it would “review” its relationship.

Read More: BC Hockey reviewing Hockey Canada controversy

On Oct. 5, Hockey Quebec announced it would stop transferring funds to Hockey Canada, citing a lack of confidence the organization’s structure at the time couldn’t change the sport’s culture. Other provincial hockey entities that followed suit include Hockey New Brunswick and Hockey Newfoundland/Labrador.

Corporate sponsors also began to pull funding from Hockey Canada around that time, including Tim Horton’s, Chevrolet, Telus, and Bauer Hockey.

That culminated in an announcement on Oct. 11 in which Hockey Canada’s CEO and board of directors said they would all be stepping down, saying there was an “urgent need for new leadership and perspectives.”

The national governing body for the sport has been entangled in controversy, including the revelation Hockey Canada had paid out $7.6 million to settle nine sexual assault and abuse claims since 1989. It was also found some of that money came from minor hockey membership fees to pay for “uninsured liabilities.”

Hockey Canada is also involved in investigations for an alleged group sexual assault involving members of the 2003 men’s world junior team and a separate investigation for similar allegations involving members of the 2018 team.

With files from Charlie Carey, Hana Mae Nassar, and The Canadian Press.