Scotiabank pauses Hockey Canada sponsorship

TSN Senior Correspondent

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The Bank of Nova Scotia said it is pausing its sponsorship of Hockey Canada as a federal government committee continues to further scrutinize the organization’s response to a 2018 sexual assault allegation.

“We have made the decision to pause our sponsorship of Hockey Canada until we are confident the right steps are being taken to improve the culture within the sport – both on and off the ice,” Scotiabank chief executive Brian Porter wrote in an open letter to Canadians that was emailed to media on Tuesday. 

“I was appalled by the recent reports of alleged assault involving younger ambassadors of Canada’s game. The alleged behaviour in this current case is contrary to the beliefs and values that hockey is meant to embody, and those that we champion at Scotiabank, as Canada’s hockey bank.” 

Porter wrote that Scotiabank expects Hockey Canada to cooperate with a government audit of the organization.

Hockey Canada has several tiers of corporate partnerships and lists 25 premier, international and national partners on its website, including Esso, Nike, Telus, TSN and Tim Hortons. Scotiabank is among the organization’s international partners.

Porter wrote that Scotiabank will cancel its planned marketing and events at the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton this August and redirect sponsorship investments to other programs, including the Hockey Canada Assist Fund, which is helping to eliminate financial barriers to hockey for young people, and the women’s world championship.

The bank will also donate to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, a charity that supports women who are the victims of gender-based violence.

“The time for change is long overdue,” Porter wrote. “We