Rowing Canada to hold independent review into high-performance culture

Rowing Canada is planning an independent review of its high-performance culture and governance in the wake of "concerns" voiced by members of the rowing community in late 2021 and early 2022.

"We are committed to creating a healthy and respectful environment where our members feel confident to lead, compete, and coach," Rowing Canada president Carol Purcer said in an open letter published Friday. "We are committed to ensuring that RCA (Rowing Canada) fosters respectful interactions between all participants, free from all forms of harassment and abuse.

"The safety and well-being of all RCA athletes, coaches, staff, umpires, and volunteers is of utmost importance."

Women's head coach Dave Thompson was fired in February 2020, five months ahead of the original start date of the Tokyo Olympics. The dismissal came after a 2019 complaint filed against him under Rowing Canada's Prevention of Abuse, Harassment, and Bullying Policy.

No reason was given at the time, but a report by an independent third party, released in July 2020, concluded that Thompson violated the harassment and bullying sections of the policy.

Purcer sees the planned review as "the next step to making things right."

The RCA Board of Directors would like to address our members to inform them of our commitment to collaboratively and meaningfully address issues raised while building on the continuing efforts that the leadership group has undertaken and achieved.<a href="https://t.co/ATqwO5BwyW">https://t.co/ATqwO5BwyW</a>

She said while the governing body had planned a quadrennial review after the Tokyo Games, "some unresolved issues percolated back up again."

"We wanted our community to know that we heard them and we want to understand better how we can make