Courteau must resign
I would ask the minister to demand the resignation of Gilles Courteau immediately. He no longer has any credibility following the revelations of last week. If he knew, he didn’t do anything drastic to correct the situation. I have been involved for 15 years in minor hockey and I confirm that there are several types of abuse. In addition, changes would be needed in the league’s statutes, among other things for the term of office of the president of the QMJHL. Is it conceivable that someone stays in office for 35-40 years? I do not believe. Two terms and then go.
Gaston Boily
Open your eyes
It is up to the leaders of each team to keep an eye on the actions of their players. They are glued to them and know them well. The commissioner’s role is to ensure that these team leaders do their supervisory work.
Pierre Bellemare
formative initiations
Instead of totally eliminating initiations, why not redefine what an initiation should be? Perhaps asking new players, for example, to be in charge of an awareness campaign on a subject dear to them, to promote hockey among young people, to attend hockey schools, to officiating novice hockey games might be a good idea. It would be formative for the recruit and the community.
Simon Rheaume
The law of silence
The first problem to attack is that of the law of silence. Specialists are the best at laying out solutions. I am retired from teaching. During school outings, an adult was always seated in the back of the bus. And in the swimming pool locker rooms, the adults were present until the last one left the premises. It’s a little more embarrassing to do bullshit. All that remains is to make the adults who hide in the sand responsible and to adopt sanctions. If you can’t protect your players, you’re out of place. It’s part of the mandate.
Lucie Turmel
Fines and lawsuits
We must fine all those who have allowed this culture to settle in hockey, and even prosecute all those who were aware of these initiations and who preferred to keep quiet. We must act, it is urgent. This organization is destroying the lives of our young people.
Liliane Clement
The law must apply
A crime is a crime! Whether it is committed within a sports team, a religious community, a corporation, an association or others, the law must apply.
Michel Chicoine, Varennes
Consequences for coaches
I think that we should have a clear discourse prohibiting these initiations, with consequences for the coaches who have a responsibility in the face of these reprehensible acts.
Helene Cote
Prevention is key
Obviously, this is completely unacceptable, even criminal. Physical abuse is often buried in a locked drawer in individuals. I understand the difficulty of obtaining facts for proof. Therefore, prevention is essential. Protect our young people and prohibit any form of initiation. The consequence would be automatic expulsion from the club. I do not believe in nuance towards this type of behavior. The manager must be unequivocal.
Louiselle St-Pierre, retired manager of a CIUSSS
An outdated and unacceptable practice
Complete prohibition of any initiation, in sport or at university. This abusive practice to integrate newcomers is outdated and unacceptable.
Raymond Roy, Montreal
Not two forms of justice
The worst enemy is silence in this kind of situation. However, it must be denounced. There cannot be one justice outside sport and another for sport. We are sometimes spectators of acts which could be sanctioned with the criminal.
Luce Chamberland
An Athlete Protector position
There are many possibilities. Degrading initiations must be prohibited and the consequences very severe for those who organize them. Making whistleblowing mechanisms known, explaining them to players and managers and making them easily accessible is essential. Organizations must be responsible for what they condone and tolerate, both for toxic coaches and for unacceptable events. Creating an Athlete Protector position is an interesting possibility. Professionalizing minor sport is also an avenue.
Mathieu Lachance, Montreal
change world
To change the world, we must change the world. By maintaining the same management in office, we will end up with the same measures, the same culture, the same world.
This principle applies to any organization, private or public. If you want deep customer-driven changes, then focus on transforming management, otherwise, anything else will be useless. Those who lead will change function, title, responsibility, but will remain within this body.
This is why nothing changes in minor or junior hockey and nothing will change in health either, as evidenced by the problems of recent decades despite reforms and changes in governance.
The more it changes, the more it is the same and the tragedies multiply.
Easier to change the world than to change the culture with the same world in place.
Michel Damphousse