A former member of the Vancouver Canucks coaching staff filed a lawsuit with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal on Sunday night alleging she was fired because of her gender, mental illness and his physical disability.
Rachel Doerrie, the team’s former video analyst and assistant video coach, posted a copy of the complaint on Twitter on Sunday, saying she was “mentally and emotionally destroyed” and “done in hiding.”
The six-page document states that Doerrie disclosed to the Canucks that she suffered from a heart condition and post-traumatic stress disorder and that she believed these issues would be “dealt with appropriately by the Canucks” before to be hired in January 2022.
The complaint, which was filed with the court on November 22, alleges that the team’s assistant general manager, Émilie Castonguay, questioned Ms.me Doerrie to do her job, that she treated her differently from male employees in the organization, and that Ms.me Doerrie played a role in his termination on September 27, 2022.
Castonguay said in a statement that the allegations are “absolutely false” and that Doerrie was never “treated differently because of her gender, mental disability or physical condition.”
“I take great pride in my work with the Vancouver Canucks, being a good leader, a person of high character, and always respecting and putting my colleagues first,” Castonguay said.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment also released a statement saying it opposes the allegations, which have not been tested by the courts.
“Our organization provided Mr.me Doerrie all the resources, support and opportunities necessary to succeed in his role. We acted in good faith and complied with our contractual obligations, both during and after Mr.me Doerrie within the organization,” the team said.