KL Hockey in Kawartha Lakes provides summer programming for kids and emphasizes delivering high-quality experiences both on and off the ice. However, the camp faced scrutiny this summer due to a lead instructor, Bradley Gibbs, a Durham Regional Police officer who pleaded guilty to assaulting children earlier this year.
Gibbs, acknowledged for his coaching and mentoring contributions in the region, voluntarily resigned from his role following inquiries from CBC News. The camp informed parents that they had supported Gibbs through a personal legal issue, without specifying if they were aware of his guilty pleas.
Summer camps in Ontario are not mandated by law to conduct thorough background checks on staff. After inquiries by CBC News, Premier Doug Ford’s office expressed intent to enforce mandatory criminal background checks for summer camps to prevent hiring individuals with criminal records.
The Ontario Camps Association (OCA) requires criminal record checks for its members but membership is voluntary, leaving non-member camps, like KL Hockey, without standardized vetting procedures. Gibbs, in a statement, took responsibility for his actions and stepped away from camp duties.
The absence of legislated staff screening requirements for summer camps raises concerns among legal experts like Puneet Tiwari, who advocates for mandatory vulnerable sector checks. While the Ministry of Education mandates checks for camps serving children under four, those for older children fall outside its jurisdiction.
Parents are advised to inquire about staff vetting at summer camps, especially those not affiliated with OCA. Camps have discretion in using background check information, but the lack of legislation poses challenges for parents seeking recourse if concerned about staff members.
