Investigation reveals shocking sexual abuse statistics in Canadian youth sports

According to a CBC investigation, instances of amateurs sports coaches committing sexual offences against minors are disturbingly common.

The investigation says that since 1998 there have been 222 coaches convicted of sexual offences against upwards of 600 victims, with an additional 34 accused coaches currently facing trial.

These coaches come from across the athletic landscape representing 36 different sports in 10 provinces without an obviously discernible pattern — other than the vast majority of them being male (213 of the aforementioned 222).

“It’s pretty gut-wrenching to see the findings,” Lorraine Lafrenière, head of the Coaching Association of Canada told the CBC. “There is a misguided sense of security when you drop your child off at the clubhouse.”

The investigation hopes to shine light on the magnitude of the issue and help sporting organizations be transparent with parents. You can read it in its entirety here.