There are many people who want to coach or referee for their child’s hockey, soccer or other sports team. Having a criminal record, no matter how small can prevent you from doing this.
There is currently a Bill in process that when passed will ensure that no one with a criminal record will be able to volunteer for amateur sports. Thankfully, getting a Canada Pardon will remove the old criminal record so that a person can engage in this activity without worry.
Here is a recent excerpt from the Minister who is pushing forward with Bill 30 PROTECTION OF MINORS
IN AMATEUR SPORTS ACT, 2009:
I’m coaching kids’ hockey, novice, where I’ve got five-, six-, seven- and eight-year-olds on the team, and it’s rep hockey. After a game, a parent came up to me and said, “See that referee out there? That person should not be around kids.” I said, “Why do you say that?” He said, “I can’t tell you why.” I said, “Well, why would you say that?” “I’m telling you that that referee out there should not be around kids.”
I listened and I tried to find out some details. First of all I found out that the individual worked as an emergency room nurse. I found out the individual’s name and did a background check, as we would all expect our MPPs to do to check into these things. Lo and behold, I found out that this particular referee had multiple sex convictions, some of them very violent, from my understanding of it. The police told me at the time that that individual would never be around their kids.
So I started to check with Hockey Canada and the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. I said, ” Well, how can this referee be out there?” You see, most people don’t realize that you can start refereeing hockey at age 14, which effectively would mean this individual, who’s a convicted sex offender, would be in the same change room as a 14-year-old and there would be no way to check or find out any background at all.
If you have any questions regarding this topic or about Pardons and US Entry Waivers email us at info@pardons.org or call 1-877-929-6011.
