SAFE SPORT
Our commitment
At the Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club, we believe everyone has the right to participate in athletics—at any level or position—in an environment that is safe, inclusive, and free of abuse, harassment, or discrimination.
This applies to athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and administrators in both training and competition.
What is discrimination?
iscrimination is an action or decision that treats a person or group unfairly based on characteristics such as race, age, or disability. These grounds are protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
What is harassment?
Harassment is a form of discrimination that involves unwanted physical or verbal behaviour that offends or humiliates someone.
- Often occurs repeatedly over time, but serious one-time incidents may also qualify.
- Examples include:
- Unwelcome remarks or jokes about someone’s race, religion, sex, age, disability, or other protected grounds.
- Threats or intimidation based on those grounds.
- Unwanted physical contact such as touching, patting, or pinching.
Inform yourself
To maintain a Safe Sport environment, the Ottawa Lions have a Harassment Policy and follow the Athletics Ontario Code of Conduct.
We expect all members to be aware of and follow these standards.
How to be an effective complainant
The following suggestions are provided by Athletics Canada and were generated by participants of the “How to Complain Effectively” workshops, part of Ombudsman Ontario’s Community Education Program.
- Let your anger motivate you, but express it constructively.
- Be calm, cool, and collected when making a complaint.
- Be clear and concise in describing the problem.
- Treat others with respect and courtesy.
- Listen carefully to the other person.
- Keep detailed records—names, dates, times, and responses—of people your spoke with.
- Ask questions and learn about the complaint and appeal process.
- If not satisfied, ask for a referral to the next administrative level.
- Put your complaint in writing and keep copies of all documentation.
- Decide what your want and what you’re willing to accept.
- Stay flexible and open-minded to finding a solution.
