Athletics Ontario has a fundamental obligation and responsibility to promote the health, safety and physical and mental well-being of every individual who is involved in the sport of Athletics in Ontario.
Athletics Ontario takes very seriously all situations involving discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or breaches of its Code of Conduct or other forms of misconduct. For this reason, Athletics Ontario is committed to enacting and enforcing strong, clear, and effective policies and procedures for preventing and addressing all forms of misconduct. Athletics Ontario also has a role in providing education concerning matters relating to Safe Sport.
To foster and maintain a Safe Sport environment, Athletics Ontario has developed the Safe Sport Policy Manual. The Board of Directors feel very strongly about Safe Sport and stand firmly behind the policy manual.
This Safe Sport Policy Manual outlines expected standards of behavior that are designed to create a safe sport environment by preventing, as much as possible, inappropriate behavior from occurring in the first place, and it contains policies and procedures to provide for consistent, timely, appropriate and meaningful action should any issues arise.
We strongly encourage all members, coaches, athletes, parents, volunteers and officials, to read the FULL policies regarding safe sport. We want our members and volunteers to feel safe and trust the sport system. It is crucial that safety in sport is understood and applied across all sports, with no exceptions.
Safe Sport Policy Manual
The Safe Sport Policy Manual gathers together nine policies that form an important part of the initiatives we have been taking to foster and maintain a safe sport environment.
The Safe Sport Policy Manual includes the following components:
- Code of Conduct
- Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy
- Complaints, Dispute Resolution and Discipline Policy
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy
- Appeal Policy
- Event Discipline Procedure
- Screening Policy
- Whistleblower Policy
- Concussion Management
CLICK HERE to view the full Safe Sport Policy Manual.
Revised May, 2021.
Click here for a summary of revisions.
Submitting a Complaint
You can fill out and submit the AO Complaint Form.
Or, if you have a potential case you’d like to discuss, please contact one of our Safe Sport Officers listed below.
Safe Sport Officers
Athletics Ontario has appointed volunteer Safe Sport Officers. Please see below for the current list of Safe Sport Officers and their contact information:
Bruce Simpson – [email protected]
Bruce Simpson has been practicing law for the past 38 years, predominantly in the area of insolvency. Bruce is a former pole vaulter and Canadian record holder. He placed 5th at the 1972 Olympic Games and won gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the 1979 Pan Am Games. Bruce also picked up a bronze medal the 1971 Pan Am Games and a silver medal at the World Student Games.
Additional Safe Sport Resources:
Athletics Ontario Safety Videos
Complaint Resolution Outcomes:
Termination of Membership – Randy Brookes – September 19, 2022
Temporary Suspension – Edward Larocque – September 14, 2022
Appeal Decision – Karl Layne – January 17, 2021
Complainant v. Barry – Final Decision of the Panel – March 3, 2020
Warwick-Fletcher v. Layne – Decision, February-24-2020
Appeal Decision – Randy Brookes – January 02 2020
AO Panel Report Suspension of Randy Brookes – October 9, 2019
Rowan’s Law Concussion Resources
Rowans Law Concussion Resource – Ages 10 and Under
