It is the policy of the Ontario Hockey Association that all coaches, trainers, managers, officials and anyone else determined by the Risk Assessment Tool (Appendix A), shall be subject to certain Criminal Record Checks which includes Vulnerable Sector and Sex Offender Checks.
Individuals with outstanding Criminal Code convictions or charges pending for certain offences shall not be eligible to hold the above positions or those association positions determined by the Risk Assessment Tool.
The offenses include:
- Part VIII Criminal Code-Offences against Persons (3 yrs).
- All forms of assault including sexual assault, assault with a weapon, threats to a third party or causing bodily harm and aggravated sexual assault (3 years).
- Sexual Exploitation (No Time Limit).
- Sexual Interference (No Time Limit).
- Sexual Touching (No Time Limit).
- Child Pornography (No Time Limit).
- Current prohibitions or probation orders forbidding the individual to have contact with children under the age of 14.
- Using firearms in the commission of any offence (3 years).
- Possession, possession for purpose of trafficking or production of drugs, robbery theft and related offenses (position of treasurer).
- Impaired driving and included offenses (while license suspended) (3 years).
It is the responsibility of any person required to produce a Vulnerable Sector Search by virtue of this policy to advise their association’s professional designate responsible for Vulnerable Sector Searches in the Ontario Hockey Association of a charge or conviction of any offence listed in this Policy.
The OHA shall have a Professional Designate responsible for the collection and retention of Vulnerable Sector Searches to be secured in a safe storage area separate from Association files and under their control.
Ontario Hockey Association Vulnerable Sector Search Process
All individuals as outlined in the Ontario Hockey Association Vulnerable Sector Search Policy will obtain a Vulnerable Sector Search through their local Police Service.
Local Police Service Clearance
An individual wishing to use their local police services to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Search should go to local Police Service in the community in which they live.
The local police service may require you to produce two pieces of identification and ask you to sign a consent form to complete the check, you may also be required to produce a letter explaining you are a volunteer with a Junior Hockey team and are required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Search.
Depending on the volume of Vulnerable Sector Searches being processed, your local police service may take anywhere from 1 day to 3 months. A fee may also be charged by your local police service.
You may be required to pick up your Vulnerable Sector Search at your local police services once the search has been completed.
Upon receipt of your Vulnerable Sector Search you should place the completed forms in a sealed envelope identifying your name on the outside of the envelope and also mark the outside of the envelope Vulnerable Sector Search. Then you should send it into the OHA office. Upon receipt of the sealed envelope the OHA will record the name on the outside of the envelope and forward it to their professional designate for review. Upon review the professional designate will either approve the bench staff member for registration or reject them for registration.