Integrity Protection Policy
Safe sport
Our commitment
Natation Gatineau is committed to providing a healthy, safe, respectful and violence-free environment for all its members. Integrity means the respect and protection of a person’s physical and psychological well-being — their safety, welfare and development within their sporting activities.
No form of abuse, harassment, neglect or violence — whether physical, psychological or sexual — is tolerated in the club’s programs and activities.
Our obligations
The regulatory framework
The protection of integrity in sport is governed in Québec by the Act respecting safety in sports and recreation. Since March 26, 2026, the Regulation to ensure the protection of the integrity of persons taking part in a recreational or sporting activity has set clear standards to promote healthy and safe environments, prevent situations that could undermine integrity, and encourage the reporting of concerning situations.
This regulation applies to everyone involved in sport: swimmers, parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, spectators, managers and administrators. Each has a role to play.
In accordance with this framework and the requirements of the Fédération de natation du Québec, the club has put in place: an integrity protection policy, a code of conduct and ethics, criminal background checks for its staff and volunteers, as well as awareness and training measures.
An independent recourse
The Protecteur de l’intégrité en loisir et en sport (PILS)
The Protecteur de l’intégrité en loisir et en sport (PILS) is an ombudsman that safeguards the physical and psychological integrity of people taking part in recreational or sporting activities throughout Québec. It acts in response to complaints or reports and may also act on its own initiative.
Independent of the club and the Federation, the PILS provides an impartial, confidential, accessible and effective recourse: it reviews the complaints and reports it receives, conducts investigations, and then issues conclusions and recommendations to the organization concerned.
An independent recourse
File a complaint or report a situation
When?
As soon as there are reasonable grounds to believe integrity has been compromised: abuse, harassment, neglect or violence — physical, psychological or sexual. Problematic behaviour may be physical or verbal.
Who?
Anyone who experiences or has witnessed such a situation, whatever their role: swimmer, parent, coach, official, volunteer, administrator or spectator.
How?
Directly with the PILS, in full confidentiality, via the “I REPORT” button below. There is no need to go through the club: the recourse is independent and free from reprisal.
