Kenneth Brown
of The Clarion
A majority of Kindersley’s elected officials are not in favour of contributing resources to administer a certification program on behalf of minor sports.
The City of Swift Current adopted the Safe Places – Youth Certified program to add more layers to background checks for people who work with youth including coaches and music teachers among others. The program has been a topic for local officials on more than one occasion.
The program was introduced to local officials in 2015 during a previous council’s term. Deputy Mayor Shaun Henry, who was acting mayor at the time, introduced the program back in 2015 and he brought the item back to the table on Oct. 9 for further discussion.
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Henry reminded his colleagues that he brought the idea to council about a year ago and he asked them if they wanted to bring Safe Places back to the table for discussion. He mentioned previous concerns about the program.
The deputy mayor said he spoke to Kindersley Minor Sports (KMS), an organization that includes minor hockey, minor ball and a skating club, and KMS later sent him a message to let him know the organization supports the Safe Places program as long as there is no additional cost to the organization.
He noted that he suspects there would be a cost for the town to administer the program, but KMS supports the idea. He said a set of circumstances led Swift Current to develop the Safe Places program to protect the community’s children.
Council heard that a coach in Kindersley has to do a criminal record check and fill out an application, but Safe Places takes it a step further by requiring a vulnerable sector check. Henry said the check could be done by the RCMP.
He told his colleagues that he has to do a background check and complete applications every year to coach sports and to help on school field trips, but people who complete the program would only have to re-certify once every three years and it covers everything.
“It’s just trying to be proactive about it,” Henry said, recognizing that outdated criminal offences do not disqualify a person from coaching and he does not believe the extra step in the process will deter people from coaching.
Council members expressed their concerns with the program. Councillor Dean Galbraith said only KMS supports the program and there are other sports groups in the community that are not part of KMS. He said it is not a blanket program for all sports, so that is his main concern.
Councillor Elyse Moss suggested that the groups involved in minor sports could just add the additional vulnerable sector check to their constitutions, so it would become a requirement for all of the organization’s coaches.
She noted that a lot could change in three years, so she also had a concern with the frequency of the process. Henry said Swift Current set the three-year time frame, but other places could set different time parameters. Council heard that it is unknown if any other community has adopted a similar program.
Councillor Gary Becker said the Safe Places program might look good on paper, but the cost of administration is a concern. He said various bad things happened in Swift Current and the city responded with the program, but he does not believe Kindersley needs it.
Councillor Randy Ervine said he completed Speak Out!, a Hockey Canada program focused on bullying, and he is not sure Kindersley needs a more stringent program. He said he always felt comfortable when his children were involved in sports programs.
Ervine said he believes the town has to be careful because taxpayer dollars would be used to administer a program for one group. He said if KMS feels strongly enough about the program, the organization could administer it.
Council members suggested that the topic has been beaten to death, and it is a duty of parents to be aware of what is happening with their children. Henry recognized a lack of interest from his colleagues and he was the only council member to support moving forward with the program after a show of hands.
Other meeting highlights
• Town officials are taking steps to accommodate any future expansion at the Golf View Mobile Acres trailer court in Kindersley. Steps include a bylaw amendment.
Council members gave the final readings to Bylaw 11-18, a bylaw to amend the town’s Zoning Bylaw. The first reading was given to Bylaw 11-18 at a meeting in September, and then it was advertised. Council also held a public hearing at the council meeting on Oct. 9.
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