Wellness support — Future of Sport in Canada Commission

The Commission is seeking to learn from those who have experienced or witnessed maltreatment or whose experience has otherwise revealed inadequacies in Canadian sport structures – and from others with experience and perspectives that contribute to the necessary reforms across the breadth of the sport community.

Maltreatment in sport has caused traumatic experiences and sharing your voice with the Commission may be difficult. If you need to speak with someone please consider reaching out to mental health and other wellness supports that are available.

Sharing with the Commission

Thank you for your willingness to participate in the Future of Sport in Canada Commission. Your voice is important to us. We recognize that sharing information with the Commission may be difficult. As you consider sharing your experience with the Commission by writing or in person, please find some suggestions below with the hopes you find them helpful.

  1. Prepare what you want to say: Think about what you want to share and how much detail you are comfortable providing. Some people find it helpful to jot down key points or practice what they want to say.
  2. Consider emotional reactions: Think about what strategies you can draw on if you feel distressed while meeting with the Commission.
  3. Have a support plan: Think about who may be a support for you. You may find it helpful to plan time with this person before and after sharing. For example, is there someone in your life who would be able to come along with you on the meeting date? Someone who can be your support person, such as a close friend, a family member, a mental health professional or an advocate.
  4. Set boundaries: Remember that you are in control and can decide what you are comfortable sharing and what you would prefer to keep private. You set the limits on the conversation.
  5. Give yourself time: Allow yourself time to process the conversation and the emotions that come up. Take breaks. Consider how will you know when you need to stop.
  6. Give yourself space to process. You might want to tell someone, such as a supportive person in your life, that you would like to plan a time to get together in the days after you have shared your experience so you can talk about what this experience was like for you.
  7. Give yourself permission to rest: It is important to allow yourself time to rest and recharge.

Your strength and commitment to share with the Commission will make a difference to the future of safe sport in Canada. Thank you.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, you can contact the services listed below.

Canadian 24/7 Support/Crisis Lines

Emergency assistance

Your safety is important to us. If you are in crisis and need to speak with someone immediately, please dial 9-1-1.


Ending Violence Association of Canada

Target: Youth and adults

Language: English and French

The Ending Violence Association of Canada is a national non-profit organization that works collaboratively with its member organizations and others to provide a unified, pan-Canadian voice on the issue of sexual violence. Through research, education, policy change, and advocacy, we identify and promote the solutions necessary to address the root causes of sexual violence.


Suicide Crisis Helpline

Target: Youth and adults

Language: English and French

Call: 988 Available 24/7

Text: 988 Available 24/7


Kids Help Phone

Target: Youth and adults

Language: English and French

Call: 1-800-668-6868 Available 24/7

Text: youth CONNECT to 686868/ adults CONNECT to 741741 Available 24/7

Live Chat - Kids Help Phone 7 pm to midnight ET

Note: Kids Help Phone does not have an upper age limit – however, most of services are for young people 5-30 years of age. The texting service is available for people of any age –adults to text 741741 and youth to text 686868. If an adult reaches out to phone service (which provides professional, single session counselling), will be referred to texting or to another service.

If individuals over 18 can phone, text, IM and peer-to-peer support. Also have in-community supports for schools/community groups and programs geared towards First Nations, Metis, Inuit, Black and newcomer youth. Parents can also receive support through our texting service.


Hope for Wellness Helpline

Target: All Indigenous people across Canada

Language: English, French, Cree, Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin) and Inuktitut

Call: 1-855-242-3310 Available 24/7

Live Chat - Hope for wellness Available 24/7

Future of Sport in Canada Commission

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2025-07-30