Claims of touching at B.C. Games investigated

Incidents investigated at dance held in Cowichan Valley for B.C. athletes

RCMP in the Cowichan Valley are investigating claims of inappropriate touching and behaviour at the B.C. Games last weekend.

The incidents are alleged to have occurred at a Saturday night dance held for the more than 2,300 elite athletes, aged 14 to 16 years, who competed in the Games last week.

“We are now taking stories from the female athletes who have come forward,” said Kelly Mann of Victoria, the B.C. Games CEO and president.

He said about 30 female athletes complained of being touched during the dance at the Cowichan Exhibition Park, which attracted nearly 1,000 of the Games athletes. Organizers immediately ended the dance and began gathering details, he said.

“The RCMP have opened a file and it is an ongoing investigation that is in the baby steps phase at the moment.”

B.C. RCMP spokeswoman Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau said more information is being sought by investigators.

“At this point, we’re encouraging anyone who may have witnessed anything or any victims who may have been inappropriately touched to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment,” Linteau said. North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP can be reached at 250-748-5522.

The society drafted a letter that was sent to athletes, coaches, parents and affiliated sports organizations, informing them of the situation, offering access to assistance for the young victims and setting up a confidential email to gather more information.

“We want the athletes and their families to feel supported,” Mann said.

Mann, who is retiring this fall after 19 years of running the B.C. Games, called the incidents “incredibly disappointing.”

“It is disheartening that young men think, in this day and age, that this is acceptable behaviour,” he said. “We have codes of conduct and rules in the Games for the athletes to adhere to. But how many codes and rules will it take?”

Although only a fraction of the large contingent of B.C. Summer Games athletes were involved, Mann said he wants the matter to be widely discussed. “I’m approaching this as an educational moment for all of us,” he said.

“We need to make sure that our codes of conduct are not just pieces of paper but they are in fact being enacted and reinforced, through whatever means.”

The society will also examine how the dance was set up and supervised.

“This wasn’t a dark room where somebody could get away with something,” he said. “But it was a crowded dance floor of, I’m going to say, 300 people.”

The B.C. Games are considered the gateway multi-sport event leading to the Canada Games and international competitions. Thirtyfive B.C. Games alumni competed for Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics.