The Current

'No sport is immune': CBC investigation reveals scope of sexual abuse in Canada's amateur sports over 20 years

An investigation by CBC News and Sports reveals at least 222 coaches who were involved in amateur sports in Canada have been convicted of sexual offences against minors in the past 20 years.

CBC analysis shows charged and convicted coaches were involved in 36 different sports

As a child, Brian Jessup fell victim to a predatory coach in Canada's amateur sports system. (CBC)

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As a child, Brian Jessup was one of the top figure skaters in his home province of Ontario, but these days the ice brings up painful memories.

"I've always felt that it doesn't do me any good to recollect and think back because it brings up the feelings," he told CBC reporter Jamie Strashin.

Over six years in the mid-1980s, Jessup was sexually assaulted by his former figure skating coach Kevin Hicks. Hicks was convicted in 2015.

Jessup was one of the best figure skaters in Ontario by the age of 12. (CBC)

An investigation by CBC News and Sports reveals at least 222 coaches who were involved in amateur sports in Canada have been convicted of sexual offences in the past 20 years involving more than 600 victims under the age of 18.

"No sport is immune. We found cases across 36 different sports," said Strashin, who worked on the investigation.

"The swath of damage that is caused by these cases is tremendous because in every one of these cases you have someone who the community trusted," he told The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti.

"To have that trust broken affects everyone involved."

Click 'listen' near the top of this page to hear the full conversation.


Produced by Jamie Strashin, Lori Ward and Elizabeth Hoath.