Two months after the filing of sexual crimes charges against three Saint-Laurent high school basketball coaches, the world of basketball and sports is still in shock. While changes are underway, much work remains to be done to tackle a pervasive “culture of silence”.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
Over the past few weeks, certain actions have been taken at Saint-Laurent School in response to the crisis. “The season and the players’ tournaments have been canceled, but the school has set up training. Now there is a counselor who attends all practices, in addition to the coach,” said the father of a basketball player at the school, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Three coaches from Saint-Laurent high school were charged with sex crimes on February 3. The Press had also reported that a “super harmful” climate, marked by verbal aggression and intimidation, reigned within the women’s basketball program.
The Marguerite-Bourgeoys school service center confirms that it recently held a meeting with the parents of the students on the basketball teams. “They want to change the mentality so that it is no longer winning at all costs. They want to keep competitiveness, but focus more on the development of the athlete,” says the father.
The latter confirms that, for the past few weeks, Saint-Laurent School has been reviewing its selection process. “They want to put in place a system to choose the coaches. The process will not only be based on criminal history. There will be a more rigorous selection, ”he underlines.
Support victims
Well known in the world of school sports, Daniel Lacasse, the manager of Saint-Laurent’s basketball program, is accused of sexual exploitation. The other two coaches, Robert Luu and Charles-Xavier Boislard, face charges of sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault. Mr. Boislard was also charged with sexual exploitation.
The Press met a dozen women who had gathered at the courthouse on March 24, on the sidelines of a hearing in anticipation of the trial of the accused. “We are here to support victims of sexual violence. It’s really important for us to show our support, because it’s an issue that affects us, “says Clorianne Augustin, speaker and co-coordinator of the collective The voice of young people counts, which calls for a law to prevent sexual violence. in primary and secondary.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Clorianne Augustin, speaker and co-coordinator of the collective The voice of young people counts
Sexual abuse happens daily in schools, whether by teachers or coaches. We are asking to protect the young people of Quebec, because there is nothing to protect them.
Clorianne Augustin, speaker and co-coordinator of the collective The voice of young people counts
Several members of the collective were at the courthouse at the invitation of the Coalition of Big Sisters of Sport, a group of former basketball players whose objective is to put an end to the “culture of silence” in sport. “We wanted the defendants to see us. It’s important to show that, even if it’s going to be a marathon, we’re still going to be there,” said Joëlle Martina, spokesperson for the coalition. “Sports culture normalizes verbal abuse. And nobody talks about it, ”she adds.
break the silence
Fabrice Vil, general manager of Pour 3 points, an organization that trains coaches to support young athletes, recalls that a change in culture “takes time”, but that it is quite possible. “The first thing is to have spaces where we can talk about the issues and the prevention of sexual abuse. We have to break the culture of silence,” he says.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Fabrice Vil, general manager of the organization Pour 3 points
A change in culture does not only depend on the objective rules that we put in place, but also on the individuals who are there. The starting point is the clarity of the intentions of individuals.
Fabrice Vil, general manager of the organization Pour 3 points
Earlier this week, Baseball Quebec implemented a background check policy for its coaches. Any coach, coordinator or member of the board of directors will now have to go through an administrative process every three years “in order to verify offenses of a sexual nature, related to violence, theft and fraud and related to drugs and narcotics” .
“Organized sport must provide a healthy and safe environment for all those who practice it,” explains Baseball Québec director Maxime Lamarche. He says the case of Robert Litvack, a baseball coach accused in September of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy, has helped “speed things up.”
Have a policy, and apply it
According to the former school worker and health professional at Saint-Laurent school Anaë Bergeron, who worked there from 2013 to 2016, it would be wise to “develop a code of life” within the establishment.
“Young people are told that there are policies regarding bullying, but they are not enforced – or dare not be enforced – among adults. Have a real policy that works for coaches and the speakers too, it would be a good start,” adds Ms.me Bergeron.
Hiring “peacemakers” in schools could also be a solution, she suggests. “It takes someone who is there to make sure everyone is protected, and who is hired by an outside organization, who has nothing to gain from all this. »
Mme Bergeron finally calls on Quebec to simplify the complaint process, “often very heavy to bear for a young person, especially if he is facing an adult in a position of authority”, as was the case with Daniel Lacasse. “We have to tackle this form of silence that we see in several establishments. They are not [tenus de rendre des comptes] currently, these people. »