A former member of Nova Scotia’s Olympic sailing training program has filed a lawsuit against the national and provincial governing bodies for the sport, claiming they neglected to take action after she reported a sexual assault. The plaintiff, originally from British Columbia, asserts that she was assaulted by a teammate in July 2024 while she was training and working as a sailing coach in Nova Scotia at the age of 21.
The $9 million legal action alleges that the plaintiff informed supervisors at Sail Canada and Sail Nova Scotia about the assault 10 days after it happened, but they allegedly disregarded her report and retaliated against her. According to Mike Smitiuch, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, the sailing authorities did not treat the rape report seriously, failing to support his client adequately.
Following the sexual assault report, the plaintiff claims that her superiors at Sail Canada and Sail Nova Scotia excluded her from team communications and group chats, and some teammates blocked her on social media. She also states that she was excluded from training activities and isolated as a result.
The lawsuit characterizes the situation as an instance of an “Old Boys club” attempting to dismiss a young woman’s rape accusation. It further asserts that none of the defendants or the governing bodies reported the assault to the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, responsible for overseeing the code of conduct for sports organizations funded by the federal government.
Sail Canada’s Board Chair, Kate MacLennan, stated that the organization will cooperate fully with the legal proceedings and emphasized their commitment to ensuring a safe and inclusive sports environment. The plaintiff, who trained with the Nova Scotia Olympic skiff sailing team and worked as a sailing instructor at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax, alleges that she encountered ongoing harassment at work after reporting the assault.
The Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron refrained from commenting on the allegations due to the legal proceedings. However, they affirmed their commitment to prioritizing the safety, respect, and well-being of all members and participants, striving to enhance programs, policies, and culture to foster a safe and supportive sailing environment.
The lawsuit claims that in the fall of 2024, the coaches and employees of the sailing organizations conspired to conceal the assault, failing to report suspicions of sexual maltreatment, abuse, or retaliation. The legal action seeks $9 million in damages from the defendants and was lodged in the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, where Sail Canada is headquartered.
Sail Nova Scotia did not provide an immediate comment, and it is important to note that none of the accusations in the lawsuit have been tried in court.