Call for Cultural Change in Hockey Canada Inspires Sports Counting Period

With sponsors staying away from Hockey Canada in the past few weeks, it became clear they wanted to see more than just a leadership change.

The need for a drastic overhaul with phrases like “necessary cultural change” [Telus]”improve culture” [Scotiabank]and “meaningful change” [Canadian Tire] — This was a common thread in many accounts from companies pulling out of Hockey Canada after months of scandals over mishandling of alleged sexual assaults.

Even after the entire board resigned on Tuesday along with the CEO, corporate partners stressed the need for additional steps before they return.

But changing deep-rooted beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors—some say the invisible and implicit forces that govern an organization—is not easy. Experts say we need a complete restructuring from the top down and a transparent restructuring of governance, policies and mandates.

Jeffrey Leonadelli, professor of organizational behavior at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, said organizations need to honestly consider the issue before they can rebuild and change their culture.

“Changing an organization’s culture starts with dissatisfaction with the status quo,” says Leonardelli, who is also the academic director of the school’s Executive Program on Negotiation and Leading Change.

“Change needs motivation.”

voices calling for change

The demand for these changes has grown over the past week. The prime minister made the remarks on Tuesday, as well as some of the major sponsors and hockey provincial memberships in his Canada.

Justin Trudeau said the board’s resignation was taking too long to materialize and was just the “first step” on the road to transforming the sport.

“There is a culture to change,” Trudeau said. “There is tremendous work to be done to ensure that the structures and systems that Hockey Canada has in place protect our employees, protect Canadians, and protect the children playing hockey.”

Also in a 103-page interim report and memo released Thursday by Hockey Canada, the former Supreme Court judge said Hockey Canada’s leadership had lost the trust of its stakeholders and required a major demolition. “There can be no serious discussion,” he said.

See l Hockey Canada Board CEO Resigns:

Hockey Canada board, CEO resigns amid widespread criticism

Hockey Canada has announced that its CEO and entire board of directors are stepping down after growing backlash over the handling of sexual assault allegations.

Judge Thomas Cromwell is in the middle of a full governance review of Hockey Canada. He was appointed earlier this year after it emerged that the organization had reached an undisclosed settlement with a woman who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by eight of his players, including members. of the country’s 2018 World Junior Team. Neither claim has been proven in court.

For Hockey Canada to be successful, Leonardelli said, it needs to clarify its mission and values.

“You need to develop a vision of where your organization needs to go and identify how to get there,” says Leonardelli.

Aside from the headline-grabbing claims, some observers pointed to the more insidious ways hockey culture kept kids off the ice.

“Canadian minor hockey has become a bit of a beast,” said Charlene Weaving, professor of human kinematics at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, New South Wales.

“It’s very expensive to join and it excludes a lot of people,” she said. may discourage young children from participating.

Necessity of “great reform”

Indeed, Bauer Hockey earlier this week highlighted declining participation as a major concern. He called on Hockey Canada to shift its focus from elite performances and national team victories to game growth.

Weaving said the board’s new leadership has an opportunity to bring in new voices and build equity, diversity and inclusion into the organization, calling for a “reality check and overhaul.” Stated.

“Hockey Canada needs a big change, and the answer isn’t just to flood the board with women,” Weaving said.

“We need more diverse voices on the board, not just more women, but people of color and new Canadians,” Weaving said.

Canada’s women’s team, winners of both the 2022 Olympic and World Championships, said in a statement that while Hockey Canada’s resignation is a positive first step, a board “that truly represents the diversity of our country” is essential. said it was.

“We will continue to promote and grow the women’s game globally, bringing our perspective and input to ensure that our sport’s national governing body is truly representative of all Canadians. We ask that you sit at the table and be equally represented so that we can evolve. We protect our participants,” they wrote.

Going forward, Hockey Canada will need to conduct a cultural audit, said Jennifer Waringa, a two-time Olympian and professor of communications and culture at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.

“It starts with the people we invite to take on roles and responsibilities as board members and management,” she said. “It starts with them learning how to actually build an effective culture.”

See l Funds used to pay for sexual assault allegations, report reveals:

Hockey Canada’s use of funds to pay sexual assault allegations is flawed: report

A report commissioned by Hockey Canada found serious flaws in the way the organization handled funds used to pay for sexual assault allegations.

Rugby Canada recently requested an independent review of its high performance program after receiving complaints. Warringa said the organization’s response shows a potential path forward for Hockey Canada.

“Rugby just went through a big revolution and now it is evolving. They have great leadership on the Board. They are doing the right thing. They see themselves authentically and honestly. They held up that mirror and it’s a very poignant report that they’ve released transparently to all of their members.”

Culture is important because it exists in every part of an organization, she said.

“It’s the rules of engagement, manifested in governance, policy, behavior, language, interactions and even architecture. It manifests in the aura of the arena.”