The system designed to protect amateur athletes in Nova Scotia is broken, and the current governance structure is actively prioritizing institutional public relations over participant safety.

Recent events within provincial sport leadership have exposed a deeply concerning lack of accountability. When a serious safeguarding and maltreatment issue was reported, it should have been handled with full transparency and strict adherence to the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS). Instead, there was a concerted effort by board leadership to sweep the issue under the rug to avoid reputational damage to the organization.

When the Executive Director refused to compromise on the safety of the athletes and insisted on following the mandated safety frameworks, they faced immediate resistance and were subsequently dismissed without cause.

This is unacceptable. We entrust provincial sports organizations with the safety and well-being of our children, athletes, officials, and operational staff. When a governing board actively works to silence those who prioritize safety over PR, they violate that trust. We cannot fix a broken system from inside a boardroom that refuses to look at the reality on the ground.

By signing this petition, we, the athletes, parents, officials, and community members of Nova Scotia, demand:

Full Transparency: The immediate and public release of the handling procedures regarding recent maltreatment case files within the provincial organization, detailing why institutional protection was prioritized over the UCCMS mandate.

Independent Review: A fully independent, third-party investigation into the board’s decision to dismiss the Executive Director without cause following their refusal to ignore maltreatment reports.
Governance Accountability: A commitment that all board members involved in attempting to suppress safeguarding reports will be held accountable for their administrative negligence.
Silence protects the institution. Speaking up protects the athletes. We demand a sports culture where safety is an objective reality, not just a policy on paper. Sign the petition to demand that our sports organizations are held to the highest standard of accountability.

We don't need another committee. We need direct action.