'I really felt a willingness and an urgency': Sheldon Kennedy meets with Winnipeg Jets leaders
CBC
A longtime champion in the fight against sexual abuse in hockey says he believes the leadership of the Winnipeg Jets is ready to join him in his cause.
Sheldon Kennedy said he had a three-hour meeting with Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and chairman Mark Chipman on Thursday, the same day he was to be inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.
"I really felt a willingness and an urgency to get better and become leaders in this community and this province," Kennedy said in an interview with CBC News before the ceremony.
The meeting comes two days after Cheveldayoff answered questions for the first time following a report on Chicago's mishandling of allegations of sexual assault against former video coach Brad Aldrich, during the team's Stanley Cup run in 2010.
Aldrich continued to work with the Chicago team throughout the finals. The report said he was then allowed to resign from his position, without an investigation into what happened.
Cheveldayoff was assistant general manager in Chicago during that time.
In a news conference alongside Chipman on Tuesday, Cheveldayoff said while he was in a meeting where allegations were discussed in May 2010, he wasn't aware of all of the details of what happened until this year. He believed at the time the allegations were dealt with by those above him, he said.
"Having had the opportunity to reflect after reading the report, and after seeing Kyle's moving interview, I am sorry that I cannot change what took place or how the process was handled back then, but I can learn from this and make sure that this never happens again," said Cheveldayoff.
On Tuesday, the Jets GM committed to making sure there are safe spaces and systems in place to ensure what happened in Chicago doesn't happen again.
Chipman said he would use his influence within the NHL to acknowledge there are systemic problems and improve resources to help "prevent future occurrences and foster a culture where victims of sexual harassment and abuse can safely share their stories and facilitate healing for survivors."
Kennedy is a survivor of sexual assault and the is the co-founder of Respect Group. The organization's mission is aimed at providing training to help people identify and prevent abuse, harassment, discrimination and bullying.
After meeting with Chipman and Cheveldayoff, Kennedy said he believes they are committed to helping to create a change in culture.
"We had a wonderful conversation and I'm very confident that a leadership vision is going to come out in regards to these issues and all these issues that impact us personally," he said.
"We've got to get a pot boiling before we can start boiling the ocean league-wide. But I think you know our focus is to help the willing and right now I think that there's a real desire to get this right within Winnipeg, within the ownership and the leadership within the Winnipeg Jets."
A surgeon who used to work at Flin Flon's hospital says residents in the northwestern Manitoba city have been left in a precarious situation after more than five years without general surgery services.
Moubarak Bokhit Ali's memories of his home country of Sudan are punctuated by flashes of violence.
The man behind the Moose Jaw health centre that has claimed “a 100 per cent success rate in stopping the progression and in restoring function of people with ALS” says a recent CBC story about his company is evidence that he is seen as “a direct threat to the ALS drug industry.”
The Neighbour to Neighbour Centre’s trans and non-binary grocery program, which offers free food and household products to community members once a month, began with a simple question: how do we get free menstrual products to trans people without being awkward?
Bill Van Vugt is living a life that's unlike most other people his age, and one which has seen him turn a longtime hobby into championship gold.
The provincial government is taking steps toward improving Alberta's lucrative sand and gravel industry.
As medical labs across Ontario remain understaffed, one medical association is calling on the province to expand labs’ capacity for student placements by funding positions to train them.
The year wrapping up means it's getting closer to tax season, and the federal Community Volunteer Income Tax Program will once again be offering free filing services for Islanders with modest incomes.
It's not so easy to remove a politician from office between elections in Canada.
Natasha Martin-Mitchell says creating art gives her a sense of calmness that acts as a medicine during stressful times.
Gabriel Vilardi scored twice and star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 24 saves in his first game back from injury to power the Jets to a 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday that snapped Winnipeg's three-game losing skid.
Alberta’s auditor general Doug Wylie says his office's budget will be $1.5 million short next fiscal year.
British Columbia has filed a civil claim against e-cigarette giant Juul Labs, alleging the company developed highly addictive nicotine products and fuelled youth nicotine addiction with “deceptive marketing practices.”