Cheer Canada Update to Cheer Community – June 10, 2021
We are reaching out to inform you of a Discipline Decision that was posted on the Alberta Cheerleading Association (ACA)’s website about a suspended Alberta coach, Sean Aryee. Aryee has been suspended for five years after a Decision by a Discipline Panel that was hearing a complaint against him. Click here to view the Decision.
The suspension was part of a number of sanctions imposed on Aryee including being ordered to write formal letters of apology to the athletes he harmed and to the Alberta Cheerleading Association (ACA) demonstrating that he understands the damage to athletes and to the sport that were caused by his behaviour.
Cheer Canada extends our gratitude and support to each one of these athletes for having the courage to come forward. The safety of our participants is our highest priority.
“We know that our entire Cheer community will feel a spectrum of emotions about this case as well as a June 4, 2021 Statement by Edmonton Police Service asking for victims to come forward in a separate case. We share your concerns. We know our athletes, and everyone dedicated to our sport deserve better,” says Cheer Canada President Tara Savoie.
We support all our provincial partners across the country and ask our entire Cheer community to work with us to bring this much-needed conversation to the forefront. We believe this can help us all heal and grow. We are committed to creating safe and welcoming environments throughout the country. We can’t do it alone.
Please promote and use our resources on the Cheer Canada Safe Sport Hub. This includes a neutral third party who independently case manages any complaints that are brought forward. Cheer Canada’s Independent Safe Sport Officer, Brian Ward can be reached directly at safesport_wwdrs@primus.ca.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me personally. And please kindly refer any media inquiries to me.
Tara Savoie, President, Cheer Canada
