We want to begin by acknowledging that this has been a difficult and challenging week for our hockey community.

The safety and well-being of our members and our community remains our top priority. We are firmly committed to ensuring that hockey rinks and programs across our province are safe, respectful, and welcoming environments for everyone.

We want to be clear: there is no place in our game for maltreatment, abuse, bullying, harassment, or discrimination of any kind.

We encourage all members to take this opportunity to review Hockey Nova Scotia’s Code of Conduct, which was introduced in June 2024. The Code is compliant with the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) and was adopted following a recommendation from the Hockey Nova Scotia Diversity & Inclusion Task Force in its 2021 final report.

The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to ensure a safe and positive environment within Hockey Nova Scotia’s programs, activities, and events by clearly outlining the expectation of appropriate behaviour at all times, both on and off the ice, and consistent with our organization’s values.

The Code of Conduct applies to all individuals involved with Hockey Nova Scotia, including:

• Players

• Coaches

• Referees

• Team volunteers

• Administrators

• Parents

• Any other registered or affiliated individuals

We encourage members to review the Code of Conduct with their families: https://hockeynovascotia.ca/admin-member/resources/the-code/ 

Hockey Nova Scotia maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward all forms of maltreatment, including bullying, harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. You can find our Maltreatment Policy here: https://5647e90c-cdn.agilitycms.cloud/Maltreatment%20Policy%202022%20July%204.pdf

Our dedicated volunteers, who work closely with young players, are in a unique position to recognize potential concerns and have a heightened responsibility to report incidents of maltreatment to help ensure the safety of minors.

All allegations of maltreatment must be reported through Hockey Canada’s Independent Third Party: https://sportcomplaints.ca/ 

Hockey Canada established the Independent Third Party in 2022 to administer all maltreatment complaints. We want to assure you that anyone who chooses to file a complaint with the Independent Third Party (ITP) is fully protected by confidentiality. All complaints made to the ITP are confidential, and individuals who come forward may remain anonymous throughout the entire process

If you or someone you know has been affected by maltreatment in hockey, we urge you to report it. Together, we can continue working to ensure hockey is as safe and supportive for everyone in the game.

Sincerely,

Mike Field

Executive Director

Hockey Nova Scotia