Effective Date: May 31, 2018

Last Review Date: May 31, 2018

Applicable Laws, Regulations, or Other Identified Risks: Canadian Human Rights Act, The Ontario Human Rights Code, Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act

Policy Statement

This policy is to ensure that Skate Canada has a diverse and inclusive, barrier-free environment where every employee, board member, skater, official, coach, volunteer, and affiliate organizations of Skate Canada feels valued, respected and supported.

Background/Rationale

Our inclusion and diversity initiatives are only successful when they touch every area of our business. They focus on our employees, board members, skaters, officials, coaches, and volunteers and affiliate organizations of Skate Canada.

Inclusion in sport is a fundamental value for Skate Canada. As an organization, we recognize that having more diverse participants will only strengthen our sport. As a result, our organization is fully committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for all, regardless of any actual or perceived differences based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, language, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or disability.

Skate Canada recognizes that discrimination, prejudice, or harassment based on personal attributes, including gender identity and expression, is a violation of human rights and will not be tolerated. Our organization is fully committed to implementing inclusive policies and practices that ensure trans identified people are able to participate in a safe, open, and welcoming environment in our sport.

This policy is one part of Skate Canada’s LGBTQI2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, two-spirit) inclusion strategy.

The policy should assist in:

• Offering a work environment that is supportive of all people – where every employee has the opportunity to realize their full potential
• Ensuring our skaters, officials, and coaches are supported through the delivery of Skate Canada programs that embrace the fundamental value of inclusiveness and diversity
• Ensuring that we serve as an example to the skating community, investing in programs that seek to promote, celebrate, and recognize diversity in society overall
• Ensuring that we create a level playing field for diverse volunteers and suppliers of Skate Canada

Skate Canada must comply with relevant legislation and regulations as applicable, including the Canadian Human Rights Act (“Act”), the Ontario Human Rights Code (“Code”) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronics Document Act (“PIPEDA”).

Definitions

Ally is a term used to describe someone who is supportive of LGBT people. It encompasses non-LGBT allies as well as those within the LGBT community who support each other, e.g. a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community.

Board means the board of Directors of Skate Canada.

Cisgender (adjective) means an individual whose gender identity is in line with or matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender is the complex relationship between physical traits and one’s internal sense of self as male, female, both or neither as well as one’s outward presentations and behaviours related to that perception. Biological sex and gender are different; gender is not inherently connected to one’s physical anatomy.

Gender binary is a social system whereby people are thought to have either one of two genders: man or woman. These genders are expected to correspond to birth sex: male or female. In the gender binary system, there is no room for interpretation, for living between genders or for crossing the binary. The gender binary system is rigid and restrictive for many people who feel that their sex they were assigned/ labelled at birth does not match up with their gender or that their gender is fluid and not fixed.

Gender expression is how a person publicly presents or expresses their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearance such as dress, hair, makeup, body language and voice. A person’s chosen name and pronoun are also common ways people express their gender. Others perceive a person’s gender through these attributes.

Gender identity is each person’s internal and individual experience of gender. It is a person’s sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither or anywhere along the gender spectrum. A person’s gender identity may be the same as or different from their birth-assigned sex.

Intersex (adjective) is a general term used to describe a person whose genitals, chromosomes, and/or hormone levels do not seem to fit the typical definitions of male or female. Intersex is a socially constructed category that reflects real biological variation (Intersex Society of North America). Intersex is an assigned sex label, not a gender identity, and intersex people have a range of gender identities and sexual orientations.

LGBTQI2S (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, two-spirit) is an acronym that is often used as an umbrella term to encompass a broad spectrum of identities related to gender and attraction. There are different acronyms that people use (e.g., LGBT+, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+); this particular acronym includes intersex and two-spirit, specifically.

Non-binary/Gender non-conforming means a person whose gender identity and/or expression does not correspond with social and cultural gender expectations based on their birth-assigned gender. Individuals who identify as non-binary, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming may move between genders, identify with multiple genders, or reject the gender binary or gender altogether. Gender non-conforming and non-binary people may or may not identify as trans.

Organization means Skate Canada.

Sex means the classification of people as male, female or intersex. Sex is usually assigned at birth and is based on an assessment of a person’s reproductive system, hormones, chromosomes and other physical characteristics.

Sexual orientation is a term used to describe sexual and/or emotional attraction, from gay and lesbian to bisexual, pansexual, and heterosexual orientations. A person’s gender identity is fundamentally different from and not related to their sexual orientation. Because a person identifies as trans does not predict or reveal anything about their sexual orientation. A trans person may identify as gay, lesbian, queer, straight, bisexual or asexual, just as people who do not identify as trans.

Transgender or Trans (adjective) is an umbrella term that describes people with diverse gender identities and gender expressions that do not conform to stereotypical ideas about what it means to be a girl/woman or boy/man in society. Trans includes people whose gender identity is different from their birth-assigned sex, as well as people who identify as transgender, transsexual, gender non-conforming (gender diverse or genderqueer), and other identities. Trans is used as an umbrella term within this document but it is acknowledged that not all gender non-conforming people or persons whose gender identity differs from their birth-assigned sex self-identify as trans.

Two-spirit (adjective) is a term used by Indigenous people to describe, from a cultural perspective, people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans or intersex. It is used to capture a concept that exists in many different Indigenous cultures and languages.

Policy Scope/Applicability

All employees of Skate Canada; and all divisions thereunder shall adhere to the policy as outlined.
All members of the Board of Skate Canada.
All skaters, officials, coaches, volunteers, and affiliate organizations of Skate Canada.

Policy Requirements

As an inclusive organization, Skate Canada is committed to:

• Use of Name and Pronouns: We will make every effort to learn and use the name and pronouns that our staff, registrants, Members, and volunteers identify with.
• Use of Toilets, Change Rooms and Other Facilities: Skate Canada will make every effort to provide all individuals with safe access and use of toilets, change room, and other facilities in accordance with their gender identity and/or gender expression.
• Gender Inclusive Attire, Images, and Language: Skate Canada will ensure that our dress codes respect an individual’s gender identity and/or gender expression. The images that we use in our written, video, and online materials will reflect the diversity of our organization and will use gender inclusive language in all communications. Discriminatory language will not be tolerated, as addressed in anti-harassment policies and the Skate Canada Code of Ethics.
• Support for Transitioning Individuals: Skate Canada is committed to having in place the necessary support for individuals to successfully transition within our sport. We will ensure that all members in our sporting community are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with their expressed needs.
• Safeguarding an Individual’s Right to Privacy and Confidentiality: Skate Canada recognizes the privacy rights of all our members. We will only ask for information about gender from our staff and members when it is critical to the services or programs, in a manner that is inclusive, and for which there are no consequences for abstaining. We will respect and safeguard the privacy and confidentiality of any staff or member who is trans, recognizing that failing to do so may place that individual at risk.

Roles and Accountabilities

Organization

Ensure an inclusive, barrier-free environment where every employee, board member, skater, official, coach, volunteer, and affiliate organizations (including suppliers) feels valued, respected and supported.

Ensure a quality experience through our English and French services and materials, and accessibility of our services and events without barriers.

Controls and Monitoring

Skate Canada is committed to including trans and gender diverse people in the Canadian skating and sport community in the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the policy.

Vendor selection, as applicable, will follow all internal protocols related to the management of vendors/suppliers.

The primary controls and monitoring mechanisms for the record retention processes are as follows:

• in accordance with the Policy Management Policy, each division Director is required to attest to compliance to all policies, including the Trans Inclusion Policy.
• Eligibility Requirements for Participation in Events Under Skate Canada’s Jurisdiction
  • Skaters in Skate Canada’s events under our jurisdiction who identify as trans are able to participate in the gender category in which they identify. Individuals who identify as a girl or woman are eligible to compete on girls’, women’s, and mixed teams for such events. Individuals who identify as a boy or a man are eligible to compete on boys’ or men’s and mixed teams for such events. All identifications of gender identity by our athletes are believed to be made in good faith and do not require further disclosure or documentation.
  • Skating in Canada, like sport more generally, remains organized according to the gender binary; put another way, skating events remain segregated using two gendered categories (girls/women, boys/men). Skate Canada is committed to the inclusion of non-binary individuals (including genderqueer, gender non-conforming, gender diverse, Two-Spirit, and intersex individuals) and will be investigating ways to be more inclusive in this regard moving forward. For now, skaters who identify outside the gender binary and skaters with intersex traits are welcome to register for events in the gender category that makes the most sense to them. This policy will be updated in the future in accordance with developments made on policy and rules/regulations.
• Eligibility Requirements for Participation in Events Under ISU’s Jurisdiction
  • Skate Canada will stay informed of related eligibility policies in other jurisdictions that may impact on our trans athletes. We will ensure our athletes are knowledgeable about these eligibility requirements and we will work with our trans athletes at their request to fully support their eligibility choices. The eligibility guidelines of the ISU, and/or any major national or international Games Organization regarding transgender athlete participation will supersede the eligibility guidelines as outlined in this Policy. Current regulations related to eligibility requirements for participation in events under ISU’s jurisdiction do not address non-binary or gender non-conforming athletes. Skate Canada is committed to work with the ISU in this regard moving forward.
• Anti-Doping Requirements
  • Skate Canada encourages trans athletes to seek information regarding the status of any medications they are using to determine their Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE) requirements for the use of prohibited medications, and to ensure compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code requirements where necessary. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport provides assistance to all athletes with these aforementioned tasks.

Reporting and Escalation/Exceptions

There are no exceptions to this policy. Any issues or conflicts with this policy will be escalated to the CEO.

Governance/Oversight

This policy is reviewed and approved at a minimum every year, or sooner if there are legislative or regulatory changes, as part of Policy Validation in accordance with the Policy Framework.

Related Documents

Skate Canada Code of Ethics Policy
Skate Canada Accessibility and Accommodation Policy
Guide to Anti-Doping
Skate Canada Workplace Non-Discrimination Policy
Privacy Policy

Resources

International Skating Union (ISU) Rules
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS)
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES)
The 519 – Creating Authentic Spaces

Further explanation of the terms used in this policy and additional terms and additional resources can be found at www.skatecanada.ca.

Questions/Contact Information

For questions, please refer to Ilan Yampolsky.