New Warrant Issued for Graham James

Winnipeg police have issued a warrant for convicted sex offender Graham James. The warrant comes after new allegations of sexual abuse from a former NHL player, who recently wrote a book about his experience of abuse as a youth. During his book tour, he found that many of his fans would lean over and whisper to him, “me too.”

In the province of Manitoba, the screening process for hockey coaches has become more stringent than ever before. The establishment of the Respect in Sport program has provided greater protection to athletes through the use of criminal background checks. Another initiative, the Speak Out program, aims to target bullying and harassment in youth sports to ensure that players are heard.

Following the media coverage of Graham James’ pardon, the RCMP responded by tightening their procedures to ensure that a simple name change did not allow for sex offenders to obtain a position working with youth or vulnerable people. This change was necessary, as no national record of name changes exists, making it possible for pardoned criminals to alter their names legally and effectively clear their criminal pasts. While this change has caused delays for many volunteers, the focus is on the safety of our young athletes.

BackCheck works with many youth sports organizations to screen employees and volunteers and keep our youth safe. Our quick and efficient service will help you decide whether a coach is fit to work with children, whether through criminal record checks or by scrutinizing gaps in employment histories. Trust BackCheck to procure the most up to date information so you can make the right decision.