Weekly Rights Digest (June 23-June 29)

25 June 2024

Appeal rejected, hazing abuse class-action lawsuit against QMJHL to go ahead

Pierre Saint-Arnaud, Canadian Press

Keywords: Hazing, Hockey, QMJHL, Major Junior Hockey

"The Quebec Court of Appeal has rejected a challenge to the authorization of a class-action lawsuit that alleges hazing abuse in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. In a decision Tuesday, Justice Sophie Lavallée said the appeal by the QMJHL, the league’s 18 teams and its umbrella organization — the Canadian Hockey League — did not meet the strict criteria needed to end the lawsuit"...Read More

25 June 2024

‘Fans need to take a step back’: Nova Scotia sports organizations unite with green armband initiative to support new, young officials

Jeremy Fraser, Cape Breton Post

Keywords: Referee, Verbal Abuse, Physical Abuse

"Wendell MacGibbon has officiated sports across the province for more than 50 years and during that time he’s witnessed a lot. From verbal abuse to physical violence, the New Waterford native has dealt with it all. One of the more memorable moments, and not for the right reasons, came several years ago when MacGibbon suffered broken ribs from a player after a soccer game"...Read More

26 June 2024

Ex-coach takes stand in sex abuse trial, denies molesting boys on Edmonton track team decades ago

Johnny Wakefield, Edmonton Journal

Keywords: Sexual Abuse, Track and Field, Alberta

"An ex-track coach has taken the witness stand to defend himself against claims he molested teen athletes in Edmonton more than 40 years ago. Thomas Kenneth Porter, a former sprinting coach with the Edmonton Olympic Club, began a Court of King’s Bench trial last week on charges he molested five boys in the late ’70s and early ’80s. He now faces counts involving just four complainants, after the Crown declined to call evidence relating to one of the alleged victims"...Read More

27 June 2024

NHL asks Ontario court to force Ken Dryden to hand over materials related to his book about Steve Montador

Gilbert Ngabo, Toronto Star

Keywords: Hockey, Head Injuries, CTE

"The NHL is urging the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to force Hockey Hall of Famer and author Ken Dryden to hand over “critically important” information related to the death of former defenceman Steve Montador. In an application filed last month, the league and its Board of Governors want Dryden to make available all the documents, audio or video recordings and other important material in his possession connected to the book he wrote on Montador"...Read More

28 June 2024

Nelson Soccer says players were racially abused at Idaho tournament

Tyler Harper, Nelson Star

Keywords: Soccer, British Columbia, Racism

"Nelson Soccer Association (NSA) says a person in a truck shouted racist threats at a team with players of colour during a game May 12. Multiple Nelson teams were visiting Coeur d'Alene at the time for an annual tournament. A detective with Coeur d'Alene Police Department told the Nelson Star that it had opened an investigation and has since sent the case to a local prosecutor for review, but did not offer any further details"...Read More

28 June 2024

R. c. Echevarria Perez, 2024 QCCQ 2986 (CanLII)

Cour du Québec

Mot clés: Leurre, soccer, Quebec

« Au moment des événements, en août 2020, la victime avait 16 ans, l’accusé en avait 53. Il occupait le poste de directeur technique du club de soccer d’une municipalité à l’extérieur de Montréal. La victime avait fait sa connaissance alors qu’elle pratiquait le soccer à ce club. Elle avait 10-11 ans. Elle l’a côtoyé davantage par la suite quand elle s’est impliquée à titre de « staff technique » et d’arbitre. Elle ne relevait toutefois pas de lui. Il n’avait pas de lien d’autorité sur elle. À l’été 2020, elle occupait un emploi d’étudiante à temps plein. Elle n’était pas impliquée dans le club de soccer ou très peu. Elle était toutefois en contact avec l’accusé via l’application de messagerie Messenger ».

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