Coaches working with students in kindergarten to Grade 12 will now have to take an online course to prevent harassment.

The Manitoba government is investing $250,000 to develop and implement the Pathway to Safer Sport program and is expanding training requirements for coaches and staff who work in the kindergarten to Grade 12 school system. That announcement was made Tuesday by Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Andrew Smith and Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko.

"Our government recognizes that mistreated athletes, as well as their families and friends, experience significant emotional, psychological and physical health impacts," says Smith. "We are committed to building on existing safe sport resources, policies and practices to further enhance the safety of Manitoba athletes."

The Pathway to Safer Sport, developed collaboratively with Sport Manitoba, focuses on three pillars:

  • communication to build awareness;
  • prevention strategies; and
  • responsive maltreatment support services.

The Pathway to Safer Sport includes plans for a public awareness campaign to communicate the resources available for athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and caregivers. Additionally, as part of its prevention strategies, the framework will introduce an enhanced mandatory safe sports policy and governance program for provincial sport organizations. These organizations will participate in comprehensive training sessions that support the development of safe sport environments. Other resources and training modules will empower athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and caregivers to identify unacceptable behaviour and to take action to prevent, recognize, address and report maltreatment.

The Pathway to Safer Sport will also launch enhanced services that respond effectively when maltreatment has occurred. 

To ensure the Pathway to Safer Sport is effective across the province, Sport Manitoba will consult with rural, northern and marginalized communities to identify their specific needs and adapt the framework's tools and resources as needed. Sport Manitoba will also subscribe to the Sport Culture Index, an innovative online tool that will help leaders measure and monitor the wellness and effectiveness of their organization's culture.

Ewasko says to further enhance the safety of students, Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning is mandating that coaches who work in the kindergarten to Grade 12 school system, as well as all school staff, complete online training from Respect Group, an organization that aims to empower people to recognize and prevent bullying, abuse, harassment and discrimination.