Hockey Canada sexual assault allegations timeline

A timeline of Hockey Canada’s response to an alleged sexual assault involving eight gamers in London, Ont., in 2018:

Jan. 5, 2018 – Canada’s world junior hockey staff defeats Sweden within the gold-medal last in Buffalo, N.Y.

June 18, 2018 – Hockey Canada Basis Gala & Golf occasion begins in London.

June 19, 2018 – A girl’s stepfather informs Hockey Canada she alleges she was sexually assaulted by eight gamers, together with members of the world junior staff, whereas intoxicated the earlier evening following the occasion. Hockey Canada says it spoke with its insurance coverage supplier after which knowledgeable London police, which opened an investigation. Hockey Canada subsequently opened its personal third-party investigation utilizing a Toronto regulation agency.

June 2018 – Hockey Canada says it knowledgeable Sport Canada of the alleged incident.

February 2019 – Hockey Canada says London police knowledgeable the federation its prison investigation was closed. Hockey Canada says the lady declined to talk with authorities or its personal investigators.

September 2020 – Hockey Canada says it closed its investigation.

April 2022 – The lady information a press release of declare looking for $3.55 million in damages from Hockey Canada, the Canadian Hockey League and the eight unnamed gamers.

Could 2022 – Hockey Canada settles the lawsuit with the lady for an undisclosed quantity out of courtroom.

Could 2022 – Hockey Canada CEO Tom Renney calls Minister of Sport Pascale St-Onge, whose file contains Hockey Canada, to inform her TSN might be breaking the story within the coming days. St-Onge says the dialog is the primary time she’s heard of the alleged incident or settlement.

Could 26, 2022 – TSN studies the small print of the alleged assault and settlement.

June 2, 2022 – St-Onge orders a forensic audit of Hockey Canada to make sure no public funds had been used as a part of the settlement.

June 20, 2022 – Renney and Hockey Canada president Scott Smith are grilled by MPs throughout a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage assembly concerning the group’s response to the state of affairs. Smith and Renney testify the 19 gamers current in London had been “strongly inspired” to talk with third-party investigators, however not mandated to take action. Hockey Canada provides it doesn’t know the identities of the eight gamers in query. Smith testifies Hockey Canada has reported three sexual assault complaints in recent times, together with the London incident, however will not focus on the opposite two in entrance of the committee.

June 22, 2022 – St-Onge proclaims a freeze to Hockey Canada’s federal funding till the group discloses suggestions made by the third-party regulation agency and turns into a signatory to the Workplace of the Integrity Commissioner, a brand new authorities company with the ability to research abuse complaints and levy sanctions.

June 22, 2002 – The Home of Commons unanimously approves a Bloc Quebecois movement to pursue an unbiased investigation that may look into how Hockey Canada handled the allegations.

June 28, 2022 – Scotiabank proclaims it’s pausing sponsorship of Hockey Canada till the monetary establishment is assured the precise steps are taken to enhance the tradition inside the sport. Retail big Canadian Tire and telecommunications firm Telus observe swimsuit later within the day, withdrawing help from the pandemic-delayed world junior hockey championship in August.

June 29, 2022 – Tim Hortons and Imperial Oil, below its Esso model, be part of a rising record of corporations to tug sponsorship {dollars}.

June 30, 2022 – NHL defenceman Victor Mete, a member of the 2018 world junior staff, says he was not concerned within the alleged assault, including in a social media publish he was on trip together with his household on the time. Mete says he is “deeply troubled by studies of this incident” and can absolutely co-operate with investigators if requested.

June 30, 2022 – Renney retires as CEO of Hockey Canada after asserting a succession plan in April that tabbed Smith take over on July 1.

July 1, 2022 – Smith takes over as CEO of Hockey Canada. He additionally stays president of the federation.

July 14, 2022 – Hockey Canada says in an open letter to Canadians it’s reopening a third-party investigation into the alleged 2018 assault. The game’s nationwide federation provides participation by the gamers in query might be obligatory, and that anybody who declines might be banned from all actions and applications. Hockey Canada says it now requires gamers, coaches, staff workers and volunteers related to its high-performance program to take part in obligatory sexual violence and consent coaching. It is going to additionally conduct a third-party assessment of the group’s governance, and commits to develop into a full signatory to the Workplace of the Integrity Commissioner. Hockey Canada provides it should additionally create an “unbiased and confidential criticism mechanism” to supply victims and survivors instruments and help to return ahead.

July 18, 2022 – The Canadian Press is first to report Hockey Canada has maintained a fund that attracts on minor hockey membership charges to pay for uninsured liabilities, together with sexual abuse claims. The element is included in a July 2021 affidavit sworn by Glen McCurdie, who was then Hockey Canada’s vice-president of insurance coverage and threat administration, as a part of a lawsuit launched by an injured participant in Ontario.

July 19, 2022 – Hockey Canada confirms the existence of the “Nationwide Fairness Fund” in a press release, including it covers a “broad vary of bills associated to security, wellness and fairness initiatives” throughout the group. “The fund can also be used to pay for the group’s insurance coverage premiums and to cowl any claims not in any other case coated by insurance coverage insurance policies, together with these associated to bodily harm, harassment, and sexual misconduct,” the assertion learn. Hockey Canada says the fund was “established in a fashion in step with reserve funds maintained by different giant nationwide organizations.”

July 19, 2022 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blasts Hockey Canada’s management over the “Nationwide Fairness Fund” getting used to settle sexual abuse claims. “I feel proper now it is laborious for anybody in Canada to have religion or belief in anybody at Hockey Canada,” Trudeau tells reporters on Bowen Island, B.C. “What we’re studying is totally unacceptable.”

July 19, 2022 – St. Louis Blues ahead Robert Thomas, a member of the 2018 world junior staff, joins a rising record of gamers from the roster to disclaim involvement within the alleged assault.

July 20, 2022 – Hockey Canada says it should not use its “Nationwide Fairness Fund” to settle sexual assault claims.

July 20, 2022 – Police in London order an inside assessment of their investigation into the alleged 2018 sexual assault. Chief Steve Williams says in a press release his division’s assessment will decide if any “further investigative avenues might exist.” He provides the unique investigation, which concluded with out expenses, was “prolonged and detailed.”

July 21, 2022 – Trudeau says there must be a “actual reckoning” at Hockey Canada. Chatting with reporters in Elmsdale, N.S., Trudeau provides the federation “has to do an terrible lot” to regain the belief of Canadians.

July 22, 2022 – Hockey Canada says members of its 2003 males’s world junior hockey championship staff are being investigated for a gaggle sexual assault. Hockey Canada says it has contacted RisePEI Regional Police concerning the allegations as a result of RisePEI was the co-host metropolis of the 2003 world junior hockey championship.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 22, 2022.