Alpine Canada admitted Tuesday it had put its interests before those of three young female skiers who were sexually abused by their coach in the 1990s.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national governing body for alpine and ski cross racing said it was B次元官网网址減rofoundly sorryB次元官网网址� in a news release announcing it had reached an out-of-court settlement with the former athletes over sexual abuse by one-time national ski coach Bertrand Charest.
Former skiers Genevieve Simard, Gail Kelly and Anna Prchal had accused the sports federation of covering up CharestB次元官网网址檚 sexual abuse in the interest of results on the slopes and sponsorship money.
B次元官网网址淎lthough we cannot undo what happened, we feel it is important to recognize and acknowledge that instead of providing support when the abuse was discovered, Alpine Canada put itself first, not the victims,B次元官网网址� the federation said. B次元官网网址滷or this, we are profoundly sorry.B次元官网网址�
The three women, who were minors at the time of the abuse, were demanding $450,000 each from the governing body. The lawsuit they launched last December accused Alpine Canada of failing to take the most basic steps to prevent CharestB次元官网网址檚 predations.
It alleged the organization was made aware of CharestB次元官网网址檚 troubling behaviour before it hired him in 1996.
Alpine Canada did not disclose the dealB次元官网网址檚 terms but the chair of its board of directors, Martha Hall Findlay, said the settlement was B次元官网网址渟atisfactory to both sides.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e understand the devastating impact this had on Ms. Kelly, Ms. Prchal, Ms. Simard and the others,B次元官网网址� Findlay said in a statement. B次元官网网址淲e wish to recognize their bravery in coming forward to ensure that sport is safe for future generations.B次元官网网址�
Charest was found guilty in June 2017 of 37 of the 57 sex-related charges he was facing, and was eventually given a 12-year prison term. The convictions involved nine of the 12 women whoB次元官网网址檇 accused him of crimes that occurred more than 20 years ago, when the victims and alleged victims were between the ages of 12 and 19.
CharestB次元官网网址檚 lawyers were in court last month appealing both his conviction and sentence, and he remains free on bail while the court decides his fate.
Neither Simard, Kelly nor Prchal were available for interviews Tuesday. In 2018, all three women obtained the right to be identified publicly after a judge granted their request to lift a publication ban.
Last month, another former Canadian skier launched a proposed class action lawsuit alleging Alpine Canada didnB次元官网网址檛 protect its female athletes from CharestB次元官网网址檚 sexual assaults.
Allison Forsyth filed in B.C. Supreme Court that Alpine Canada failed to property investigate the coaching history of Charest and is vicariously liable for his sexual misconduct.
Alpine Canada said it has made B次元官网网址渟ignificant improvements to its safety programs and is committed to continue to raise the bar.B次元官网网址�
The federation said some of those changes included instituting a code of conduct for all its coaches as well as a whistleblower policy. It said it now has B次元官网网址渮ero tolerance of athlete-coach sexual relationships.B次元官网网址�
Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press
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