Hockey Canada’s interim board chair Andrea Skinner has tendered her resignation, the national body has confirmed.
Ms Skinner joined the Board as a volunteer for the first time in November 2020.
Last August, Andrea Skinner was appointed as Interim Chair of the Board until the end of the term of the current Board of Directors scheduled for November 2022. She then succeeded the resignation of Michael Brind’Amour.
“After careful consideration and in light of recent events, it no longer seems reasonable to me to continue volunteering my time as Acting President or Trustee for the organization,” Ms. Skinner said in a statement released by the ‘organization.
“I am grateful to the members of Hockey Canada who elected me to the Board of Directors and who gave me the opportunity to make positive changes for our sport and for Hockey Canada,” said the lawyer for Toronto in its statement.
She goes on to say that she appreciates the support she has received “from many Canadians, especially women, who are also looking to make a positive impact on hockey and the world of sport. »
Ms. Skinner said that despite recent challenges, she was happy to have worked with many volunteers, sponsors and other dedicated people.
Hockey Canada has been under scrutiny since May, when it was revealed an undisclosed out-of-court settlement amount was paid to a woman who alleged in a $3.55million lawsuit $ that she was sexually assaulted by eight players — including members of the country’s world junior team — after a 2018 gala in London, Ont.
Sexual assault allegations involving the 2003 World Junior Team surfaced in July. None of these allegations have been proven in court.
It was also revealed that Hockey Canada keeps a fund partly fed by minor hockey registration fees to pay for uninsured liabilities, including assault and sexual abuse claims.
Meetings are reportedly scheduled for this weekend to discuss further changes within the organization.
This week, pressure for a change in the leadership of Hockey Canada intensified during parliamentary hearings in Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the management of the sports organization must go and pointed out that people have lost faith in Hockey Canada. Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge also called for resignations.
However, Ms. Skinner said on Tuesday that she did not share the point of view of elected officials who are unanimously calling for departures. The Torontonian continued to reiterate that it was doable to change the culture within the national organization while maintaining stability in senior management.
In the wake of the revelations, many sponsors wanted to dissociate themselves from Hockey Canada. Companies such as Canadian Tire, Tim Hortons, Chevrolet Canada and many more have announced the withdrawal of their financial support for Hockey Canada.